Iowa — Iowa saw more children in foster care who were referred to a home last year than there were licensed foster families, according to Four Oaks, the state’s contractor for licensing foster and adoptive parents. Kai McGee, director of foster care and adoption at the nonprofit, says the gap is actually worse, as not every home is always readily available to take in a child. McGee says children who don’t have relatives to stay with must leave wherever they live, then…
Last year, there were about 24 hundred referrals for children needing a foster home and only about 17 hundred licensed foster families. Four Oaks CEO Mary Beth O’Neill says rates need to go up to recruit more parents. The typical rate is about 600 dollars a month per child, depending on the child’s age and needs. The nonprofit says last year was the first time since 2013 the rate was raised. Legislation in an Iowa House committee would require the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services to review the rates every three years. McGee says foster parents are essentially unpaid volunteers.
McGee says most people are recruited to foster by word-of-mouth or small presentations in faith communities, organizations and community centers. She says a majority of foster parents are not motivated by money. However, she says because it can be challenging, sometimes low reimbursement rates can be the reason people stop fostering.
(Meghan McKinney, Iowa Public Radio)
