Funding Increases includes Maintenance Support, Clothing and Diaper Allowances
The Missouri House of Representatives gave final approval to their version of the Fiscal Year 2022 budget on Thursday. The budget includes unprecedented support for the kinship and foster families caring for nearly 14,000 children currently in foster care in Missouri. Additionally, to encourage and support adoptions from foster care, the bill funds significant increases to guardianship and adoption subsidies.
“Foster parenting is a calling, and we are grateful for the commitment of the House of Representatives in providing additional support for those caring for children,” said Craig Stevenson, Director of Policy & Advocacy for Kids Win Missouri. “It also keeps children at the center by providing a 45% increase to the clothing allowance for teenagers who outgrow and wear out clothing at fast rates.”
“The House has made it a top priority to ensure every child has a stable, nurturing environment and these additional funds represent a much-needed investment in the many families who are willing to open their homes to young people in need,” Speaker Rob Vescovo (R-Arnold) said. “We hope this effort will help inspire prospective parents to take part in supporting kids so we can better serve the more than 2,500 Missouri children currently awaiting an adoptive home.”
The Fiscal Year 2022 state budget now goes to the Senate for deliberations. The spending plan begins on July 1, 2021, and must be approved by the General Assembly by Friday, May 7. If the additional supports are approved by the Senate and the Governor, resource parents would begin seeing the increases in July.
“Helping to ensure our most vulnerable children have a safe and supportive home, while working towards permanency, is an investment in our state’s future,” said House Budget Chairman Cody Smith (R-Carthage). Providing additional resources for children, resource parents, and adoptive parents will make our state stronger in years to come.”
The proposal increases monthly maintenance rates for resource parents starting at a 10% increase for infants through twelve-year-olds and a 25% increase for children thirteen years-old and up. Clothing allowances for children in foster care would increase between 28% and 45% depending on the age. Adoption subsidy rates would increase ranging from 36% to 52% depending on the age of the child. Additionally, the plan gives increases to emergency foster care rates, respite provider rates, children with greater medical needs, and also includes an additional 3% pay increase for field staff.
“Investing in adoption, kinship, and foster families is an investment in Missouri’s children in care,” said Mary Chant, CEO of the Missouri Coalition of Children’s Agencies. “We are grateful for the House’s foresight and dedication to some of Missouri’s most vulnerable. This investment will pay dividends in the lives of so many children and families.”
