[Mama Julie]

I have a foster son who is supposed to be going to his grandma very soon (the mom & dad are not suitable at this time.) I think the grandma isn't suitable either, but she does meet the minimum requirements, so my FS probably will be moved in with her.
It makes me wonder, will the grandma get a monthly stipend, since *D* has now been in foster care and a rate has been set? I'm suspicious about if the grandma is just doing it for the money.

[mommytoEli]

i think it may depend on the state, but in CA, relatives are eligible for money. but it is not always the same rate as the foster care pay, sometimes it is less and may depend on their income. here it is called kinship. i've known a few people who have done this, and i know they personally got about 1/2 the fostercare rate and medical.

[greenrobin]

Our family served as kinship care for a teen here in TX. Everything was on us--we received no stipend. Don't know if that's usual here or if it was a special case.

[stevenstwin]

I'm not sure...we were kinship and go a stipend equal to about 1/3 what a regular foster parent would get. I was told that if DS's aunt would have taken him, she would have got the same rate. (Not enough to make it worthwile to do it for the money, anyway!)

[JSAUNTIE]

We get the same as a regular fosterparent would for our nephew. But we went ahead and got liscensed thru the state because we had talked about fostering before he came into care. We also did all the guardianship paperwork a few weeks ago thru the state and we will get the same amount we are getting now with the guardianship. And we will get his medicaid and his clothing allowence as well. So I guess it depends on the state.

[hkolln]

Originally Posted by Mama Julie

I'm suspicious about if the grandma is just doing it for the money.

You can't be serious?! It's like saying foster parents do it for the money and we all know that just isn't so. And with kinship care the monthly money is alot less then regular foster care so I doubt she's doing it for the money. It won't even cover monthly costs to take care of her grandchild.

[stevenstwin]

Originally Posted by hkolln

You can't be serious?! It's like saying foster parents do it for the money and we all know that just isn't so. And with kinship care the monthly money is alot less then regular foster care so I doubt she's doing it for the money. It won't even cover monthly costs to take care of her grandchild.

But Helen..there ARE some people who really do just do it for the money. They are few and far between, and obviously they live in areas where the money is a little better, but I can assure you it DOES happen. I have a co-worker who openly ADMITS that is why she fosters (she gets $56/day, and otherwise would have to get a second job) and I'm pretty sure that is the only reason that my FS was with his uncle, because at the time uncle took him he though he'd be getting a monthly stipend. His own parents say that was his reason.

[Mama Julie]

Thank you all for your replies :-)

[mommytoEli]

some people 100% do it for the money. one of my older children's relatives collected their SSI money for a while when they lived with them. it equaled to about 100 dollar per child per month. when they got their clothes as hand me downs, the kids got free lunch at school, wic at home, no toys, and didn't get to do anything fun. the 200 was pure profit. after school when they came home, they made the kids stay outside until dark, then fed them and put them to bed....in a closet with a sleeping bag. no one truly cared for them. so taking in children for money does happen. no matter how small the payment is.

[ALfostermom]

in AL the only way that a family member gets a board check is if they go through the fp classes. Other than that they are on their own....might get help with an occasional utility bill to keep the placement but if that happens too much the kids come back into care.