Payments going up

Sandra Elam says she can't begin to calculate her expenses regarding the care of her four foster children, ages 3, 2, 1 and 3-weeks.

She makes sure the children have everything they need, even when it means supplementing the state stipend she receives for taking care of the children with her own money.

Beginning Thursday, Alabama foster families will get at least 5 percent more per child each month, but family advocates say that still isn't enough to meet all expenses.

Checks will range from $432.50 to $468.50 depending on the child's age. Foster parents currently receive $410 to $446 depending on age. There are more than 6,000 children in foster care in Alabama.

"It should definitely help with recruitment and retention of foster families statewide," said John Bradford, a communications officer with the Alabama Department of Human Resources. "The state wasn't happy with the reimbursement rate and this increase makes it better. Everyone appreciates the work that foster parents do, so hopefully this will show that appreciation."

Elam and her husband, Gary, live in Tuscumbia. They have been foster parents for 10 years. During that time, they've had children with physical and emotional problems and others whose primary need is to have stability in their lives.

With four foster children in their care, the needs are plentiful and constant. A trip to Wal-Mart for the Elams means diapers at $14 a box and snacks and drinks suitable for three toddlers, not to mention the simple luxuries in life that parents want for their children, such as the latest toys and games.

Then there's the equipment necessary for raising toddlers - high chairs, cribs and child safety seats. Those things have to be replaced periodically because of basic wear and tear. The costs can mount beyond state reimbursement, they said.

Buddy Hooper, president of the Alabama Foster and Adoptive Parent Association, said Alabama's recent increase to foster parents is welcome but needs to be greater.

"The increase works out to about 70 cents a day, and that won't buy a Happy Meal," said Hooper, who pointed out that one of the facets of Gov. Bob Riley's 2010 plan was a 25 percent minimum increase in foster parent payments.

The November increase will cost $1.7 million, with $1 million coming from the state and $700,000 from federal sources.

Children's Rights, a nonprofit group that studies child welfare issues, recommended in its study earlier this year that Alabama, which is one of 49 states found needing an increase in foster parent payments, should double its foster allowance.

Sandra Elam is employed at Leighton Elementary as an aide in the special needs classroom. She says her favorite role in life is mothering, but financially, she's always had to work.

"(The Department of Human Resources) is wonderful to provide help where they can," Elam said. "I don't let my (foster) children go without, no matter what it takes. You do what you have to in meeting the children's needs. We get so involved with our children and what they're going through that it's about making them feel loved and cared for, not about money. I've never kept up with what I spend on these children. It doesn't matter."

With two biological adult children of their own, the Elams are fulfilling not only a personal need within themselves to help children, but they're also helping the foster-care system that sometimes struggles to keep up with the demand for services.

For years, Alabama has ranked somewhere in the middle among other states regarding foster-care reimbursement to families. It's not the lowest, but it's not among the highest either such as the District of Columbia with its average reimbursement of $869 per month.

Although state and local child welfare systems are required by federal law to reimburse foster parents for the cost of providing for the basic needs of children in foster care, there is no standard federal minimum reimbursement rate. States and localities are free to set their own rates on whatever basis they choose.

A joint study released this month by the National Foster Parent Association and the University of Maryland School of Social Work shows that evidence is mounting against current reimbursement rates in states like Alabama and Nebraska, where the rate is $226 per month. Those states are struggling to recruit and retain foster-care families, according to the study.

Jerry Groce, director of Franklin County's Department of Human Resources said foster parents don't take on the responsibility for the money. "They just want to help children," he said. Franklin County has 50 children in foster care. There are 18 foster homes throughout the county.

"We would always like to have more homes," Groce said. "We've been pretty successful in recruiting families because people look on it as a calling. They're willing to provide care in spite of being paid less than many other states. This pay increase will show that we're committed to our foster parents."

Lauderdale County has the most children in foster care and the most licensed foster homes in the area. Jennifer Berry, the foster-care resource worker for the county's DHR, said she doesn't expect the payment increase to affect recruitment or retention.

The payments from the state are expected to cover basic living expenses, such as the child's part of electricity, rent and groceries. The state helps the families by providing resources for the children for everyday life events such as extra-curricular activities at school or other outside expenses that help them live as normal a life as possible while in the foster-care system.

"In my opinion, the reimbursement is adequate money," Berry said. "It could certainly stand to be more, but the attitude among our (foster) parents is surprising. Many of them don't even realize they receive a payment for the children. That tells me they're not concerned about the money. If a family is in it for the money, we pretty much know it immediately and they don't stay. We have 35 people currently going through training to become foster parents."

The Group Preparation and Selection course is a 10-week training program that prepares prospective foster parents. It's a comprehensive overview of the system and according to Groce, "pretty much helps them determine if they're cut out for foster parenting."

All 11 of Colbert County's foster homes are full. Recruitment has been difficult, said Tiffany Wilson, a resource worker for the Colbert County program.

"The financial aspect hasn't been such a big deal, but occasionally someone will ask how much they get," Wilson said. "Those parents with biological children certainly know it's not enough. The big drawback for us in recruiting parents is that people are scared of the behavioral problems of children or don't want to work with the biological parents."

According to the most recent federal data, Alabama has more than 6,900 abused and neglected children in its foster-care system.

"The best result for any child in our nation's foster-care system is placement in a healthy, stable, permanent home whether through a safe return to their biological families or adoption," said Diane DePanfilis, a professor at the University of Maryland School of Social Work. "Inadequate foster-care rates set off a chain reaction of problems that undermine that objective."

Lisa Singleton-Rickman can be reached at 740-5735 or lisa.singleton-rickman@timesdaily.com

The Associated Press contributed to this report.