Welcoming your first foster child can bring a mixture of excitement, compassion, and uncertainty. Preparing your home, building a reliable support network, and understanding the approval process can help you feel more confident. It is also important to understand how foster parent reimbursement works, which expenses it covers, and what additional financial and practical support may be available.
Build Your Support Network and Prepare Your Home
A calm first night starts with a ready room and reliable support. Give each helper a clear job, such as school pickups, dinner, or texting support. If your extended family lives far away, lean on other foster parents or agency support groups.
Before the call comes, set up the basics:
- Bedroom setup: Have a bed, clean linens, and drawer space ready.
- Childproofing: Lock away medications and cleaners and cover outlets at the child’s eye level.
- First-night bin: Pack pajamas, a toothbrush, a nightlight, and a comfort item.
Complete Your State’s Foster Family Approval Steps
A ready home is only part of the process. Every state sets its own process for approving foster parents, and the name changes from place to place. Some states call it licensing, while others call it certification or approval.
Training hours vary by state, too. For example, Ohio requires prospective family foster caregivers to complete 24 hours of preplacement training. After certification, caregivers must complete at least 30 hours of continuing training every two years. Requirements can differ for specialized foster homes, so applicants should confirm the rules that apply to their circumstances.
How Foster Parent Reimbursement Works
Foster parent reimbursement is a monthly payment for the child’s care, not a salary. Federal law calls these maintenance payments, which cover food, clothing, shelter, and school supplies, plus these costs:
- Daily supervision and personal items
- Liability insurance
- Travel for family visits or school stability
A winter jacket and gas for a parent visit both count. Rates vary from state to state, often by the child’s age and needs. For example, Connecticut’s reported foster care maintenance rates range from approximately $27 to $86 per day across different placement categories. The highest listed rate, $86.10, applies to Class 4 technology/medical-dependent care. These figures reflect rates effective April 1, 2024, so prospective foster parents should check the latest state guidance for current rates.
Reimbursement payments are generally excluded from your income under IRS rules. Payments made only to keep a bed open for emergency placements are taxable.
Foster Care Financial Support Beyond the Monthly Payment
Beyond the monthly payment, foster care financial support includes health and childcare help. An estimated 99% of children in foster care had Medicaid coverage in fiscal year 2023, through foster care-related eligibility or another Medicaid eligibility pathway. An ear infection visit typically goes through Medicaid.
If a child arrives on Tuesday and you return to work on Wednesday, childcare arrangements can become an immediate concern. Depending on your state and eligibility, you may qualify for childcare assistance through a state-administered program. Ask your caseworker which programs are available, whether foster children qualify, and how quickly assistance can begin.
Foster Family Agencies Prospective Parents Can Turn To
Private foster family agencies work alongside public child welfare offices to train, approve, and support foster parents. The three below show what that support looks like in different parts of the country.
Knotts Family Agency
California-based Knotts Family Agency (KFA) has served foster families in Riverside and San Bernardino counties for over 30 years. The agency reports that staff is available around the clock for emergencies, such as a 2 a.m. fever. Its Get Paid to Get Trained program may offer additional stipends for 40 or more hours of annual training, and it also provides respite care.
Bethany Christian Services
Bethany Christian Services, based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, offers local foster care and adoption through offices across the U.S. It also runs short- and long-term foster care for refugee and immigrant children, a fit for families open to kids from other countries.
KVC Health Systems
Kansas City-based KVC Health Systems provides foster care in Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, and West Virginia. The nonprofit has held accreditation since 1991 from The Joint Commission, an independent healthcare quality reviewer.
Frequently Asked Questions
A few questions come up before a first placement. Here are some simple answers.
What should you have ready before your first placement?
Line up helpers for pickups and meals. Set up a bed and a first-night basket with pajamas and a comfort item.
Does foster parent reimbursement cover medical costs?
No, reimbursement covers daily living costs. A child’s healthcare typically runs through Medicaid.
Is foster parent reimbursement taxable?
Payments received solely for keeping space available for emergency foster care placements may be taxable, depending on the circumstances.
Your Next Step Toward Welcoming a Child Into Your Home
Readiness includes your people, your home, your state’s approval steps, and finances. Reimbursement covers daily costs, while Medicaid and childcare help fill other gaps. A licensed agency in your county can help you use available foster care financial support and prepare a ready home for a child in need.
