question on new law HR 6893

[freefostercare]

I have a question regarding this law. We are currently placement for an 8 year old child who is related to our other two children (she is their half sister) mom lost parental rights, she was in foster care, was removed from foster care for alleged abuse last April (2008) we are in the "process" of adopting, it has been over a year now. We get no help (aka foster care support) this law was passed for people in our situation. We are not eligible for TANF or anything else. We have been told we are not eligible for "non needy relative care grant" more than once. Once she is adopted to us we will be eligible for adoption support. There is a technicality in the law fior non needy relative care that prevents us from being eligible as her two half siblings are in our custody. Once we adopt we would be eligible as the other children would not be "legally related to her" What can we do to get DSHS/DCFS to help us out? I am on unemployment right now and a full time college student. We need the money to be able to support these children. Their deadbeat mother only pays us $40.00 per month for child support, while my husband pays $150.00 per month in child support (arrears) even though we have custody of these children.

 

[Duranie]

you really are going to have to talk to the case worker for help it sounds like. Can they classify this child as special needs to failure to thrive or anything so you can get help? Can you get approval to be a foster parent so you can get paid? Otherwise you might have to go find a full time job if money is really tight now and you have tried all avenues to get paid.