Older children also need sport specific shoes, uniforms, sport pictures, formal dance clothing, money for field trips, one meal at a sit down restaurant uses up the daily stipend, etc. We fostered a teen and the stipend definitely did NOT cover all the needs. But he brought our family so much joy.

The opening statement of this made my heart happy, I was a foster child who was thankfully adopted into an amazing family with my 2 blood siblings. When I was adopted I was wearing shoes that my toes were literally poking out of, I was dirty, malnourished and it was literally the worst experience of my life. Watching your videos show me how it should have been for me as a child, instead the money was used to take themselves and their children on holiday while I stayed behind. We were completely abused physically and mentally.

We are at the end of our certification journey. The home study is next. We plan to foster age 0-5 years. Our community has gathered around to support us. I’ve received bags and bags of clothing. I’m in the process of sorting. My mom is sewing cute pillow cases. My dad is the king of the claw machine. Lol! I have a box full of cute stuffed animals. I’m picking up any nice clearances our duffel bags and luggage I can find. No child will leave my house with a trash bag. Lots of thinking ahead about what the kids might need. Our ultimate goal though is to give each child a loving and stable home while they are with us. We hope that’s the biggest thing they take with them.

Thanks for this vid. Foster parenting should never be "profitable". If it is, the foster parent is failing that kid TREMENDOUSLY. Sometimes I wish foster 'rents were forced to show expenses to either the GAL or the judge to prove the $ is being used to care for the kid. Ugh.

I absolutely love when you say right from the start!!!! If you are doing it right you won’t make money! I’m a foster parent and cringe when people ask how much money foster parents “make.”

Okay so honestly I’m a child myself I’m only 20 but all of this made me realize once I’m financially stable enough in my career and have my degree. This something I seriously want to do. Much love 💞💞

I am a foster mother of 2 beautiful babies. There is hardly ever any money left over after all of the expenses caring for these 2. Between diapers, wipes, child care, clothing, activities, food, toys, & formula it’s hard to believe anybody has money left over

I told my mother about wanting to be a foster mom and she only told me it because I would get money. I told her that foster parents get money to take care of the child.

Thank you for explaining that fostercare is not to make you money but to help and be the village!

Woman, you are BRAVE to have (what looks like) fabric white chairs at your kitchen table with your little kids 😱 as soon as we had a baby, everything we got was dark and leather 😂

I have heard the term “fostering to adopt.” Can you talk about that and what exactly it means?

I’m almost 21. And I’ve know since I was 15 I’ve wanted to foster/adopt my children. And I want to thank you for all the info you are giving!

U r making a wonderful impact on Miss A & who knows she may become a foster parent one day. Talking about 2nd hand stores , my 13 year old daughter loves going to the Goodwill store. She says they have neat stuff there. When my daughter had my granddaughter Lacie 28 years ago we bought all the baby clothes there. U & your husband are doing a GREAT JOB. 🥰🥰🥰🥰

I was happy you put it out there “if you are doing it right”. In our county or area There are many folk that don’t do it right! They do it for the money so some poor children are not treated right. They have been working on getting rid of those people! Thank goodness! We just need more wonderful people like you snd John to become foster parents! God will bless you both!

My Sister and her husband were Foster parents about 11 years ago. They had 2 placements. Her son had just turned 1. The first were 2 Sisters, age 3 months and 15 months. She had them for 4 months. Second placement was only for a week for a 15 month old girl. She got script (wic) for essentials like formula (which took up most of the stipend) and then milk, eggs etc... and then (if I remember right) a certain amount for other things like diapers, shoes and clothes. The 2 sisters came with a suitcase full of clothes. And right before she got them, my sister and I went to a garage sale, we got a couple bags full of good clothes for just a few dollars! I think a pair of shoes or boots was one of the only things we bought new for the older one. I still think about the sisters from time to time. My family was sad to see them go, they had become part of our family, they left right before Christmas. But we were also happy that they were able to go live with their Grandparents until the parents were able to have them again.

Oh Whitney. 😭 I could tell you some horror stories about people not doing it right and not getting rich but certainly getting ahead at the expense of the kids.

In Australia the money a foster carer can receive is not taxed and certainly is a fair amount, and single foster carers can get a payment of 700 a fortnight so they don't have to work (in addition to the foster allowances and rent assistance if you rent) so you can use it as a form of full income here if you're single, but it's to pay for the costs of running a home. Rent, food, car- all things you

You are blessed with some adorable children! Love seeing how big they are getting! And how hood you are with Miss A! She seems so happy there, as far as she can away from her family.

As someone from Connecticut who works in foster care and adoption , it’s so interesting to hear how it works in other states! Thank you for sharing your story open and honestly.

You and John are simply AWESOME!!!♥️♥️