Minister in the Ministry of Finance, Ryan Straughn, has proposed an increase in the weekly stipends for foster parents, effective April 1, 2025.
Under the new proposal, foster parents will receive $200 per child, regardless of the child’s age. This is a significant rise from the previous stipends, which ranged from $100 to $110 depending on the child’s age.
The proposal comes in response to the growing need for foster care, particularly for children with special needs and aims to ensure that children placed in foster homes are adequately fed and engaged in activities that support their development.
The Foster Care Program is designed to provide care and protection for children at risk by placing them with families rather than in residential care.
This initiative is a partnership between the Child Care Board, which will soon transition into the Social Empowerment Agency, and approved individuals or couples who are willing to open their homes to children in need.
Currently, 16 children are in foster care, and the increase in stipends is seen as necessary to help foster parents adequately meet the children’s needs.
