“Organization is what you do before you do something, so that when you do it,
it’s not all mixed up.”
― A.A. Milne
About Foster Care Stipends and Resources:Children in Foster Care are in the care of the state. With this, their medical needs are covered through the welfare program, Medicaid. Foster families are given a small stipend for the child's living expenses based on age and possibly other needs. For the little ones, this stipend typically does not fully cover food and diapers, let alone clothing or other needs. Foster families are also required to take the child(ren) to medical and therapy appointments, parental visitation one to two times weekly, attend meetings and court dates, trainings, and more. The Foster family must supply for the child's needs - crib or bed, car seat, stroller, clothing, hair cuts, school fees for older children, recreational costs, etc.
Truly loving and nurturing a child in foster placement is not a way to increase your income (only a few people who foster many children at the same time can walk away with a slight remainder after stipends are utilized for the kids). Foster families know this going in, yet, still, they proceed joyfully. It is an unbelievable help to foster families if those around them can contribute no longer needed items. Cribs and beds; car seats, boosters, and strollers; clothing, sports equipment, and diapers. Items purchased with the stipend go with the child when or if the child leaves the foster home. Items "owned" by the foster family are kept in their home and can be utilized by each child who comes through their doors on their path to a stronger life. |
Current Needs and Helps:As our family is just beginning our foster care journey, there are many things we need and desire to make our home a safe and loving place for the children who will come here to be loved. Once we are settled, we hope to use this space, not only for our needs, but those of other foster families as well. If we can collect items that others no longer need and were planning to donate to a worthy cause, we can utilize the child's full stipend for their direct care. What a blessing that will be to the children and oh, how it will allow us to spend increased time nurturing additional children over time.
Often times, children come into the care of a foster home with only an hour or a day's notice, and have only the clothing on their backs. There are children who have arrived in only a diaper - nothing else, and siblings with a grocery store bag for all their belongings. Because of this, having a few items on hand makes for a more relaxed and comforting transition. Below is a list of items we would love to accept on behalf of the children whom God is preparing to come to our home. You can contact us by leaving a message on the contact form on this page, give us a call, or, if you know where we live, you can always leave a surprise on our doorstep! Necessities & not-really-necessities, but things that would be great: √ = someone has generously blessed us with this item. x = found a used item on sale, so we now have this. o = started shopping ;-) •Crib - We thought we had 2 cribs, but one given to us was a drop side and cannot be used. At least we have the mattress. √ •Crib mattress (we have 2 cribs & 1 mattress) √ •Convertible Infant / Toddler Carseat √ •Second carseat – convertible or Infant or Toddler •High Chair √ •Baby gate for upstairs √ •Baby gate for downstairs √ •Baby gate for front room stairs •Crib bedding have one, need one •Clothing – both genders, any sizes for age newborn-2years. It would be good to have a couple of outfits & PJ's here when any child arrives. √ and o •Stroller – single and/or double o (purchased 3) •Medication lock box (locking is required) √ and o (purchased) •Cabinet locks √ and o (purchased) •Childproof door locks √ and o (purchased) •Outlet plugs/covers x •Locking cabinet for cleaning supplies (required) (hubby's employer sold off old office equipment and we got a large metal garage cabinet!) o •Cushion Pad for changing table (using a modified dresser, just don’t have a cushion for the top). o (purchased some cloth) •Diapers – cloth or disposable, any size age 0-2. Even if you just have a few, this would allow us to have a variety on hand for emergency placements. (found a sale on some cloth diapers that externally snap to change sizes. This way we'll hopefully have the size needed for those first days when they arrive). o (purchased a couple) •Bottles o (purchased) •Toddler cups (like travel mugs for adults, not sippy cups) •Infant/Toddler toiletry items •Mini photo albums or baby books or small empty scrapbooks to send home with those kids who are reunified with their birth family so they have a record of the time spent with us. Any other helpful infant / toddler items you may have been planning to donate, such as: √ •Playpen / Pack & Play (does not need to be portable) •Toys o •Bath tub •Diaper bag √ •Baby monitor √ •Someone offered us a potty chair! •Rocking Chair •A vehicle which holds 6+ people, 2 in carseats and 2 in boosters – LOL! Hey, you never know what someone might like to give away :-) Thanks for reading. If you have something you were planning on giving away, we'd love to help you out and come pick it up for us or another foster family. Email or use the contact form to the left to be in touch. |