Child Care

Missouri pays the daycare provider a set rate based on whether the kids are in daycare full time or part time. They pay the daycare directly. We do not have to pay anything out of pocket. In addition, the daycare CANNOT require you to pay extra fees just to attend such as enrollment fees, or a "co-pay." That is illegal in Missouri. Now for extra things, like field trips, etc., they can require you to pay or you can opt out. We use an after school program for our older foster child and it is the same thing, nothing out of pocket,and no enrollment fees. The director of the program here tried to have me pay an enrollment fee this year, and I had to politely tell him that the State of Missouri does not require foster parents to pay these, and that if he had a question about it, he could contact the licensing unit. He didn't give my any trouble about it.

Thanks for the response. We start classes next month but I want to know as much as I can now so I know what I am getting into.

Actually they can't require you to pay that either: [url]http://www.dss.mo.gov/cd/pdf/res_adopt_parent_faq.pdf[/url] Here's a good book for foster parents (childcare is on pg 20): [url]http://www.dss.mo.gov/cd/fostercare/pdf/fcresource.pdf[/url] This one says late pick up fees are the responsibility of the foster parent, but other fees cannot be charged.

Thanks MO_Single Dad! Good to know about the field trip fees! Now for things like having a dance teacher come in, art teacher to make things and the related supply fees, I am assuming they can charge?

I don' think they can charge anything extra (other than late pick up fees) [url=http://www.dss.mo.gov/fsd/iman/chldcare/1210-030-00_1210-030-40.html#1210.030.30]1210.030.00[/url] Licensed/contracted providers are prohibited from charging PS families additional fees above the reimbursement paid by the Children's Division. PS families and children include, but are not limited to, families or children receiving Adoption Subsidy, Family- Centered Out-of-Home Care (Foster Care), Family-Centered Services, Legal Guardianship Subsidy, and Intensive In-Home Services. Any additional funds include registration fees, co-payments, field trip fees, transportation fees, etc. When information is received indicating the practice of charging additional fees to these families by a licensed/contracted provider, report this information to the Children's Division, Contract Management Unit.

If the field trips are extra curricular, and not a requirement, you would have to pay additionally. These fees are outside of the daycare's facility, to a 3rd party, and everyone that goes has to pay. I.E. Summer Daycare offers several field trips to different outside facilities with varying fees to the 3rd party - like the city pool. Children are not required to go. If they do not sign up or pay, they can stay at the daycare with the other children. You would be paying the city pool, not the daycare - the daycare is only providing transportation and supervision.

The amount Missouri pays is no where near the cost of tuition. This does make it hard to find childcare for foster children. The best bet is a center that is United Way funded like the Y. Unfortuneately they seem to have a set amount of children they take When the funding in the budget runs out they take no new foster children. I am a family childcare provider and I use one or 2 of my openings for a foster child or a state pay child. But truthfully The amount the state pays is less than 2/3 of what I charge. I can not make a living if I take many at 12 a day. Many childcares will not take foster children unless they need some to apply for a grant. Sad but true.