Being a foster parent can be a personally enriching experience, but that should be your primary motivator. Are you wondering, how much do foster parents get paid in California? Don't expect to get rich by becoming a foster parent, since the stipends paid to foster parents generally only cover a foster child's living expenses. If you're considering becoming a foster parent in Northern California's Placer County, you should first know what you can expect to be paid for the care of a foster child.
Financial Support for Foster Parents
Placer County, California, states that a stipend is available for parents who choose to foster a child. This monthly stipend will be paid to participants in the Emergency Placement program for the number of beds they are contracted for under the program. When a child is placed through this program, the foster parents receive both the stipend and the prorated monthly foster care rate. By setting up the arrangement this way, foster parents keep space for emergency placements at all times, and the state knows they have families they can count on in an urgent scenario. These families are expected to be on call all day, every day, with only four days off per month.
As of the date of publication, California pays between $25 to $30 per day, per child, explains Knotts Family Agency. They go on to state that foster parents in California get about $1,000 to $2,609 per month to help with the expenses they incur in caring for the child or children placed with them.
Being a Foster Parent in California
Wondering the foster parent pay rate for California? Foster parents in California, as in all other states, are paid on a per-child basis. That means that a family that has three foster children could receive $2,700 per month. The money is paid out monthly in the form of a check by the California Department of Social Services, which administers the foster care program.
Money paid to foster parents by the state of California is not considered a salary, per se. Rather, it's called a board rate or stipend, and is meant to cover the costs of caring for the foster children. This includes increases in utility costs, food, clothing and transportation. In essence, the state is reimbursing foster parents for the typical costs associated with caring for and raising a child.
While some foster parents find that they have a little extra money left from the board rates after paying all expenses associated with a foster child, others find that they still need to come up with money out of pocket for the care of their foster children.
Other Considerations for Fostering Children
Foster children are a lot of work because they are often abused and traumatized. Thus, foster parents rarely choose to get involved in the foster system because of the money, especially since the board rate sometimes doesn't cover the full cost of raising a child.
Despite that, foster parents who wish to get more money for the time and energy spent on fostering children can pursue additional training to take care of children in the foster care system with special needs.