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Re: In some states, an unpaid foster care bill could mean parents lose their kids forever
Posted: Tue Jan 31, 2023 8:46 pm
by Momto2boys973
Traci_Momof2 makes a good point, though. If the parents can’t afford this fee, how are they expected to pay for a child’s basic needs? I find it hard to believe the fee is higher than the cost of raising a child.
jessilin0113 wrote: ↑Tue Jan 31, 2023 7:52 pm
Carpy wrote: ↑Tue Jan 31, 2023 6:57 pm
jessilin0113 wrote: ↑Tue Jan 31, 2023 1:40 pm
Kids get taken in to foster care every day but they goal is to reunite them with parents. If parents have done all the necessary work to get their kids back (supervised visits, substance abuse treatment, parenting classes, etc), then they should have the chance to be parents again. Unpaid bills over debt they did not even expect to accrue is not a reason to revoke parental rights.
I worked that system for10 years. That is why it's the bigger question to me.
I work for it now. Unexpected bills would cripple 50% of the population in general. I don't think it's a reason to terminate rights if they can otherwise meet basic needs and have corrected the problem that sent the kids away in the first place.
Re: In some states, an unpaid foster care bill could mean parents lose their kids forever
Posted: Tue Jan 31, 2023 9:41 pm
by WellPreserved
Momto2boys973 wrote: ↑Tue Jan 31, 2023 8:46 pm
Traci_Momof2 makes a good point, though. If the parents can’t afford this fee, how are they expected to pay for a child’s basic needs? I find it hard to believe the fee is higher than the cost of raising a child.
jessilin0113 wrote: ↑Tue Jan 31, 2023 7:52 pm
Carpy wrote: ↑Tue Jan 31, 2023 6:57 pm
I worked that system for10 years. That is why it's the bigger question to me.
I work for it now. Unexpected bills would cripple 50% of the population in general. I don't think it's a reason to terminate rights if they can otherwise meet basic needs and have corrected the problem that sent the kids away in the first place.
$19,530 was the bill one of the parents in the story received. Presumably, you would have to pay that in addition to paying for your child's current basic needs. I couldn't do it.
Re: In some states, an unpaid foster care bill could mean parents lose their kids forever
Posted: Tue Jan 31, 2023 10:11 pm
by Momto2boys973
I didn’t see any cases for that amount. I saw $17,000 for 3 years for 2 boys. That’s about $240 a month per child.
It seems to me that one big issue is that apparently parents aren’t being told of these bills.
WellPreserved wrote: ↑Tue Jan 31, 2023 9:41 pm
Momto2boys973 wrote: ↑Tue Jan 31, 2023 8:46 pm
Traci_Momof2 makes a good point, though. If the parents can’t afford this fee, how are they expected to pay for a child’s basic needs? I find it hard to believe the fee is higher than the cost of raising a child.
jessilin0113 wrote: ↑Tue Jan 31, 2023 7:52 pm
I work for it now. Unexpected bills would cripple 50% of the population in general. I don't think it's a reason to terminate rights if they can otherwise meet basic needs and have corrected the problem that sent the kids away in the first place.
$19,530 was the bill one of the parents in the story received. Presumably, you would have to pay that in addition to paying for your child's current basic needs. I couldn't do it.
Re: In some states, an unpaid foster care bill could mean parents lose their kids forever
Posted: Tue Jan 31, 2023 10:32 pm
by jessilin0113
Momto2boys973 wrote: ↑Tue Jan 31, 2023 8:46 pm
Traci_Momof2 makes a good point, though. If the parents can’t afford this fee, how are they expected to pay for a child’s basic needs? I find it hard to believe the fee is higher than the cost of raising a child.
jessilin0113 wrote: ↑Tue Jan 31, 2023 7:52 pm
Carpy wrote: ↑Tue Jan 31, 2023 6:57 pm
I worked that system for10 years. That is why it's the bigger question to me.
I work for it now. Unexpected bills would cripple 50% of the population in general. I don't think it's a reason to terminate rights if they can otherwise meet basic needs and have corrected the problem that sent the kids away in the first place.
50% of Americans don't have enough in savings to survive a blown tire or a medical emergency. Doesn't mean they aren't able to meet basic needs. Just means they are paycheck to paycheck. A few years ago a surprise bill of thousands would have sunk me. I was still able to provide for my kids. It was just tight.
Re: In some states, an unpaid foster care bill could mean parents lose their kids forever
Posted: Wed Feb 01, 2023 1:40 am
by Della
Is this a child support payment the parents are required to make to the state?
Re: In some states, an unpaid foster care bill could mean parents lose their kids forever
Posted: Wed Feb 01, 2023 5:44 am
by Carpy
jessilin0113 wrote: ↑Tue Jan 31, 2023 7:52 pm
Carpy wrote: ↑Tue Jan 31, 2023 6:57 pm
jessilin0113 wrote: ↑Tue Jan 31, 2023 1:40 pm
Kids get taken in to foster care every day but they goal is to reunite them with parents. If parents have done all the necessary work to get their kids back (supervised visits, substance abuse treatment, parenting classes, etc), then they should have the chance to be parents again. Unpaid bills over debt they did not even expect to accrue is not a reason to revoke parental rights.
I worked that system for10 years. That is why it's the bigger question to me.
I work for it now. Unexpected bills would cripple 50% of the population in general. I don't think it's a reason to terminate rights if they can otherwise meet basic needs and have corrected the problem that sent the kids away in the first place.
And how many times have you seen children returned and taken again?
Re: In some states, an unpaid foster care bill could mean parents lose their kids forever
Posted: Wed Feb 01, 2023 9:15 am
by jessilin0113
Carpy wrote: ↑Wed Feb 01, 2023 5:44 am
jessilin0113 wrote: ↑Tue Jan 31, 2023 7:52 pm
Carpy wrote: ↑Tue Jan 31, 2023 6:57 pm
I worked that system for10 years. That is why it's the bigger question to me.
I work for it now. Unexpected bills would cripple 50% of the population in general. I don't think it's a reason to terminate rights if they can otherwise meet basic needs and have corrected the problem that sent the kids away in the first place.
And how many times have you seen children returned and taken again?
Never because of an unpaid, surprise bill. Debt is not a reason to terminate parental rights.
Re: In some states, an unpaid foster care bill could mean parents lose their kids forever
Posted: Wed Feb 01, 2023 3:09 pm
by Carpy
jessilin0113 wrote: ↑Wed Feb 01, 2023 9:15 am
Carpy wrote: ↑Wed Feb 01, 2023 5:44 am
jessilin0113 wrote: ↑Tue Jan 31, 2023 7:52 pm
I work for it now. Unexpected bills would cripple 50% of the population in general. I don't think it's a reason to terminate rights if they can otherwise meet basic needs and have corrected the problem that sent the kids away in the first place.
And how many times have you seen children returned and taken again?
Never because of an unpaid, surprise bill. Debt is not a reason to terminate parental rights.
I find that hard to believe. But I didn't ask you about it being due to debt.
Re: In some states, an unpaid foster care bill could mean parents lose their kids forever
Posted: Wed Feb 01, 2023 6:12 pm
by Lemons
Carpy wrote: ↑Wed Feb 01, 2023 3:09 pm
jessilin0113 wrote: ↑Wed Feb 01, 2023 9:15 am
Carpy wrote: ↑Wed Feb 01, 2023 5:44 am
And how many times have you seen children returned and taken again?
Never because of an unpaid, surprise bill. Debt is not a reason to terminate parental rights.
I find that hard to believe. But I didn't ask you about it being due to debt.
Parents whose children were taken for neglect or finances should be able to get their kids back with assistance. Physical abuse on the other hand doesn’t just go away.
There was a case in Michigan where a child was in foster care for about 7 years. The foster couple wanted to adopt him because returning him failed before. The Judge returned the child to the parents because she wasn’t going to be the first Judge to give a Native American child to a White couple. The child was dead within weeks of horrific torture and abuse.
I don’t think parents owing money is a red flag.
Re: In some states, an unpaid foster care bill could mean parents lose their kids forever
Posted: Wed Feb 01, 2023 8:11 pm
by Carpy
Lemons wrote: ↑Wed Feb 01, 2023 6:12 pm
Carpy wrote: ↑Wed Feb 01, 2023 3:09 pm
jessilin0113 wrote: ↑Wed Feb 01, 2023 9:15 am
Never because of an unpaid, surprise bill. Debt is not a reason to terminate parental rights.
I find that hard to believe. But I didn't ask you about it being due to debt.
Parents whose children were taken for neglect or finances should be able to get their kids back with assistance. Physical abuse on the other hand doesn’t just go away.
There was a case in Michigan where a child was in foster care for about 7 years. The foster couple wanted to adopt him because returning him failed before. The Judge returned the child to the parents because she wasn’t going to be the first Judge to give a Native American child to a White couple. The child was dead within weeks of horrific torture and abuse.
I don’t think parents owing money is a red flag.
It happens a lot and I know of that case. That's why my top priority is why the child was removed. CPS generally doesn't send those kids back. Judges do.