[sandysis]

Hi,

I'm just beginning my research (after a false start a year ago). I'm in Essex county.

I see there is a "board" stipend per child. Does that include the child's food as well? Is the child entitled to WIC or food stamps?

I haven't taken my PRIDE course yet - I'm sure these questions will be answered. I just want to get a heads up.

Thanks,

sandysis

[vernellinnj]

Stipend is room and board. Foster children 5 and under are eligible for WIC. If you work they are also eligible for a daycare stipend.

[sandysis]

Thanks! I appreciate the info.

[DianeS]

The stipend is intended to cover the costs of having the foster child in your home and life. Depending on where you live and the exact needs of the child, it may or may not completely cover everything. Sometimes there may be a little left over, sometimes you may pay for something out of your own pocket.

Of course you'll be expected to treat the child well. The child should receive the same food as everybody else (with allowance for the child's age and need for formula, baby food, diet that avoids allergens, etc). The child's room should be similar to the other rooms. The child's access to utilities (lights, hot water, etc) should be the same as the others in the home. The child's clothing should be similar to the clothing of other children, and cared for in the same way. Extra curricular activites (sports, musical instruments, camp, etc) should be similar, if the child is interested and in your home long enough. And so on.

The stipend "should" cover all that. Hopefully it will.

In addition, foster children's medical needs are covered by Medicare. It's a pain finding a doctor to take it, but once you do it covers the medical costs (appointments, prescriptions, etc). And as the PP said, they qualify for WIC if they're young enough, so that helps cover expensive baby formula, and as the child gets older it helps with eggs/peanut butter/etc. And daycare if often covered if the foster parents work full time. Some areas have special things, such as school supply drives to help get mandatory school supplies for foster children. Other places put foster children on angel trees for additional Christmas presents. Other areas have funds that help pay for extra curricular things like sports or camps. You'll learn more in your PRIDE classes about the things that are available in your specific area.

Good luck!

[vernellinnj]

FWIW, the stipend has never covered my costs. They daycare stipend doesn't cover the cost of daycare either.

I pay out of pocket whatever is necessary.

[jp4ga]

You may find that the older the child the less coverage the stipend actually provides. For example: for the teenagers in my home I receive $13.25 per day which is 92.75 per week. Plus we are required to give the child a $10 weekly allowance which cuts the actual stipend to 82.75 per week. I have had some teen aged boys that eat that much in a week. Clothing for teenagers is also more expensive and the $250 I receive every six months does not go far especially if the child has a growth spurt., plus their sports are more expensive. Younger children have sometime have smaller stipends, sometimes it is more (just depends). With younger kids I can make the clothing budget stretch further than with teens.

What I have found is that as a foster parent you HAVE to be willing to sometimes spend some of your own money to cover the expenses of the kids.

Be sure to ask your agency about scholarship programs for sports, scouts etc. Also, be sure to ask if they have a Secret Santa program. Many of those are kicking off soon.

[sandysis]

Thanks for all the info. Of course I am assuming the stipend is to cover the child's expenses. I was just wondering what else the child was entitled to. I would love to foster, but unfortunately I'm not in a position to fund the child's expenses out of pocket. I hope I can make it work.

sandysis