Foster Care FAQ's
Why support foster families? Learn more about why we chose our mission below:
Q: How many kids in America are in foster care?
A: Each year, approximately 600,000 children experience foster care in the United States. (source: https://www.speakupnow.org/foster-care-statistics-resources/)
Q: What is the number one reason kids enter foster care?
A: Children usually enter the foster care system due to abuse and trauma in their home. Neglect is the number one reason children are removed from their home, followed by parental drug use. (source: https://americanspcc.org/foster-care/)
Q: Do foster families get paid?
A: Foster families receive a stipend for taking in a foster child, which differs state by state. These stipends are intended to help feed, clothe and otherwise support the foster child, though it rarely covers all expenses. The reality of fostering goes beyond providing a loving home; it includes handling health professionals, case workers, biological parents, judges and attorneys as well as attending judicial hearings, doctor appointments, parental visits and much more. (source: https://fostercare.net/foster-parents-get-paid/)
Q: How many foster children are special needs?
A: Studies suggest that at least one-third of foster children have disabilities, ranging from minor developmental delays to significant mental and physical disabilities. Most children that enter foster care have been exposed to conditions that undermine their chances for healthy development. Studies have found the following statistics:
- 40% born low birth weight or premature;
- 80% prenatally exposed to substances;
- 30-80% with at least one chronic medical condition [e.g., asthma, HIV, TB];
- 30-50% with dental decay;
- 25% with three or more chronic health problems;
- 30-60% with developmental delays;
- 50-80% with mental and behavioral health problems;
- 20% fully handicapped;
- 30-40% receiving special education services.
Though an additional stipend is provided for most special needs children, foster care children with special needs require frequent travel to therapy/health related appointments as well as out-of-pocket expenses from medical needs not covered by medicaid. (source: https://www.childrensrights.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/forgotten_children_children_with_disabilities_in_foster_care_2006.pdf)
Q: How can I help support foster families?
A: By making a purchase with Warm For All, you are helping our mission of supporting foster families since we donate a portion of the proceeds from each sale to a foster family. However, if you want to get involved beyond that, there are so many things you can do to support foster families in your area. A few examples include finding foster families around you and bringing them meals, donating supplies, volunteering your time to babysit and getting involved with local charities that do the aforementioned and more. (source: https://adoption.com/7-ways-to-help-kids-in-foster-care-without-becoming-a-foster-parent)
Q: How can I get involved with foster care?
A: There are many ways to get involved with foster care ranging from minimal volunteer work to becoming a foster parent. For example, you can volunteer your time to mentor and tutor foster children through various organizations and foster care agencies, or even with foster families you know personally. You can apply to be a respite care provider, which would mean temporarily taking foster children in for short periods of time to give those children and their foster parents an opportunity to rest and recharge. You can sign up to be a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) worker. CASA workers are volunteers appointed by judges who advocate for the best interests of children in courts and other settings. If it is on your heart, you can start the process of becoming a foster parent yourself. Regardless of how involved you would like to be, there are many ways anyone can get involved in helping to support foster children and foster parents. Go to your local foster care agency and ask what you can do to support your foster community. (sources: https://www.kennedykrieger.org/community/initiatives/therapeutic-foster-care/get-involved/how-you-can-help/provide-respite-care ; https://www.verywellfamily.com/what-is-respite-foster-care-26300 ; http://www.casaforchildren.org/site/c.mtJSJ7MPIsE/b.6350721/k.112A/What_Does_It_Mean_To_Be_a_CASA_Volunteer.htm)