Arizona boosts foster family financial support by 50% to address shortage

PHOENIX – The Arizona Department of Child Safety is addressing a shortage of foster homes by significantly boosting its financial support for families that take kids in.

The state announced Thursday that DCS is raising the daily rate for licensed foster homes, including kinship families, by 50% in an effort to place more children in family-like settings instead of group homes. It’s the largest increase since the agency’s creation in 2014.

The change will bump up the rate for each child, which is based on age and need, by an average of $1,000 to $1,700 per month.

“When children cannot safely remain with their biological families, it is vital that we provide them with the opportunity to grow and heal in nurturing family environments,” DCS Director Kathryn Ptak said in a press release. “By increasing reimbursement rates, we can recruit and retain more families and support licensed kinship families by providing better care for children and reduce our reliance on costly congregate care settings.”

How big is Arizona’s foster home shortage?

According to DCS estimates, the state will need more than 1,000 additional foster homes for children ages 6-17 over the next year.

When there aren’t enough foster families, children in DCS custody get placed in group homes, which are more expensive and don’t provide the same level of stability.

“Fostering a child is a selfless and meaningful act, and I encourage Arizonans who are willing and able to consider doing so,” Gov. Katie Hobbs said in the release. “I’m proud to deliver this much-needed support to families who open their homes to care for children they foster.”

Potential foster families can find information about the process on the DCS website.

Another way to help foster children is by volunteering as a Court Appointed Special Advocate.

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