When a biological parent fails to provide court-ordered child support, the case is referred to the state Office of Recovery Service.
So what is the remedy when the state fails to adequately provide for children in its custody or, worse, faces the prospect of reducing the already pitifully low stipends paid to foster-care families?
Most Utah foster parents know the answer to that question. They will foot the uncovered costs of caring for children the state has removed from homes amid allegations of neglect and/or abuse. The state counts on that benevolence.
It is true that people who foster children are a special ilk. But it does not rationalize the paltry stipends paid by the state for the care of foster children. The state provides foster families $15-$18 a day per child, depending on the age and other needs of the child. This doesn't come close to covering the basic needs of these children, such as clothing, food and other necessities.
And it's embarrassingly low, considering that it costs about $25 a day to kennel a dog along the Wasatch Front, or compared with the $54 per diem paid to state lawmakers during their general session.
As state lawmakers face the daunting challenge of addressing a projected $850 million revenue shortfall when the 2010 Legislature convenes in January, foster parents fear the worst. Most cover the excess expenses of caring for foster children out of their own pockets. If funding holds steady, most probably could make do during the economic downturn. But if reimbursements are cut to help balance the state budget, some foster parents may be forced to stop accepting children into their homes, because they will have been priced out of providing the nurturing and stability the 2,600 Utah children in state custody desperately need.
The truth of the matter is Utah foster parents need — and deserve — a significant increase in monthly reimbursements for providing this important service. One report by the University of Maryland School of Social Work and the National Foster Parent Association says Utah foster families need a 45 percent increase in the reimbursement rate simply to provide minimum care.
Given the state budget forecast, such an increase is not feasible in the near future. But state lawmakers need to take extreme care not to cut reimbursements to families who already make significant personal sacrifices to care for children in state custody.