Foster Care Rate Increase Coming July 1st

When Governor Nathan Deal’s 2018 budget was introduced earlier this year, it included a 57 percent rate increase for DFCS foster families – but nothing for families with private child placement agencies.

FaithBridge’s President Bob Bruder-Mattson and other representatives from private agencies spent hours with Georgia’s house and senate. They went through an extensive process to add an increase for private agencies, including Bob testifying in front of the House.

“We highly value our foster families. They are important to us, and we wanted to make sure the state knows how important they are,” Bob said. “Because of our efforts, the house and senate agreed there needed to be some equity.”

Effective July 1, families with private foster care organizations will see a $5 increase in their per diem payments.

“We are fighting for our families,” Bob said. “Governor Deal and others did not understand that we are doing the same things [for foster children] as DFCS but with less money.

“We are hopeful that they will get another $5 increase in July of 2018, but that is not official. During the next legislative session we will again advocate vigorously for our families. We may need our foster families’ help, so everyone needs to be ready to do what they can.”