By Kathy Chaffin
Salisbury Post
The Rowan County Board of Social Services wants to increase monthly board rates and allowances for foster parents.
Board members voted 4-0 Tuesday night to ask Director Sandra Wilkes to look into adding a personal allowance to the standard monthly board rates and increasing the amount of annual gift cards given to foster parents when developing the 2008-2009 budget.
Board member John Blair said he would like to see the county add a monthly personal allowance of at least $5 to $10 to the standard board rate set by the state.
Blair said it’s important for the department to show foster parents that they care about them.
Carl Ford said he would like to see the annual $35 gift card given to foster parents every May increased to at least $50. The board also agreed to consider giving gift cards to foster parents in May and December.
Micah Melton, foster care supervisor for the department, reviewed its payment plan for foster parents at last month’s meeting at Blair’s request.
Melton reported at the December meeting that Rowan ranks in the middle statewide when it comes to the recommended minimum supplements.
Blair said then that he would like to see a comparison between Rowan and counties of comparable size. At Tuesday’s meeting, Melton distributed information about the supplements paid foster parents in Cabarrus, Catawba, Davidson, Iredell and Union counties.
“We stack up fairly well,” Melton said.
When it comes to the board rate, Rowan, Cabarrus and Davidson pay the state standard: $390 a month for ages 0-5, $440 for ages 6-12 and $490 for ages 13 and up.
Union County pays the highest, the state rate plus an additional $50 for each age group. Iredell pays additional personal allowances of $5 for ages 0-5, $10 for ages 6-12 and $15 for ages 13 and up. Catawba pays additional personal allowances of $3 for ages 3-4, $10 for ages 5-10, $15 for ages 11-13 and $20 for ages 14 and up.
Melton said the state standard rate will be going up July 1 if state legislators approve a proposal by the N.C. Division of Social Services. The new rates would be $475 for ages 0-5, $581 for ages 6 to 12 and $634 for ages 13 and up.
Blair said the state has improved increases before, “but not that big of a leap.”
In the area of clothing allowances, Rowan pays $100 initially and $150 three times a year for ages 0-11 and $200 a year for ages 12 and up. Catawba pays close to the same amount, and Union and Davidson pay slightly less.
Iredell County pays the highest with an initial payment of $200 for all age groups and monthly board payments of $40 for ages 0-5, $50 for ages 6-12 and $60 for ages 13 and up.
Cabarrus’ allowances could not be compared because foster children are initially provided clothes from a donation closet. Allowances are paid monthly at the following rates: $35 for ages 0-5, $40 for ages 6-12 and $55 for ages 13 and up.
Davidson pays initial amounts of $100 for ages 0-5, $150 for ages 6-12 and $200 for ages 13 and up and twice-annual payments of the same amounts.
None of the counties pay supplements on a regular basis, but four, including Rowan, have paid occasional supplements for children with special needs.
Four of the six counties pay incentives to foster parents. Rowan gives them an annual gift card every May for $35. Iredell pays $50 to foster parents who refer another family which becomes licensed, and Union gives foster parents $25 twice a year.
Catawba offers an annual $200 “Foster Parent of the Year Award,” with the Department of Social Services staff selecting the winner.
Ford responded, “They’re all foster parents of the year. That’s a job right there.”
In the area of travel, four of the six counties help foster parents work out Medicaid reimbursement for out-of-county travel such as to a medical specialist. Rowan provides case-by-case assistance at the state rate.
Contact Kathy Chaffin at 704-797-4249 or kchaffin@salisburypost.com.