What does it cost to foster/kinship or to adopt, and how do the finances work?
Foster/Kinship parents receive a monthly check to help cover the cost of the child’s food, clothing, and personal allowance. The Children?s Division offers reimbursement according to a set structure of rates. The first check will not come until a month or so after the child arrives, so foster/kinship parents need enough extra money in their budgets to support their own family and the new child or children–until the reimbursement arrives. People who receive public assistance or who are on small or fixed incomes may find it difficult to foster/kinship. This is because our reimbursement system is “delayed.” This means that you receive the payments after you have spent the money. This could cause some hardships for some families. In addition, many foster parents meet some of the cost of fostering from their own resources. Adoptive parents may be able to obtain an adoption subsidy. This means that they can continue to get financial support from the Children?s Division, even after the adopt
