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Cost Of Fostering Children Is Chasing Parents Away

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 12, 2007

It's an increasingly common refrain among foster parents: no more children. The stipend they get to raise someone else's child just isn't enough.

Currently, each state sets its own rate, and the money comes from a blend of local and federal funding. In Florida, the rate is $429 per month for children to 5 years old; $440 per month for 6- to 12-year-olds; and $515 a month for teens 13 and older.

According to a new study, known as Foster Care Minimum Adequate Rates for Children, national benchmarks should be set at $629 per month for 2-year-olds, $721 per month for 9-year-olds and $790 per month for 16-year-olds.
Foster parents are doling out thousands to cover that difference.

Metro, Page 4

•The District of Columbia, which pays $940 per month for its 16-year-olds, and Arizona, which pays $879 per month, are among the places providing the most help.

•Ohio, which pays only $275 per month for 16-year-olds, provides the least.

•The study also calculated the national averages: $488 per month for 2-year-olds, $509 per month for 9-year-olds and $568 per month for 16-year-olds.

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