Foster Parents: Do you know your value as a volunteer?

Ever wonder about the value of the volunteer time you give as a foster parent?  What might it cost the state to care for that child, youth, or young adult if you and others like you don't step forward and volunteer to care for these most vulnerable children?

Stay tuned. You might be very surprised. 

I regularly hear foster parents who are frustrated that they are giving their all and it seems that no one puts a value on the hard work they do. As volunteers, there is no salary and the reimbursement from the state only takes care of a portion of what it costs to bring a child into your home. 

It can feel like the hard work, worry, and often tear,s are not recognized by those who could not do their work without the volunteer energy of foster parents.

The bald fact is that foster parents are some of the most dedicated volunteers in the world. And, while some would argue that knowing that is enough, it never hurts to have one's contributions acknowledged. 

Now, for the good news. Every April, Independent Sector publishes an updated national value of each volunteer hour. The current national value is $25.43 per hour, up 3% since last year. Each state also has a standard value for each hour of time. Oregon's current valuation is $25.40 per hour, a 2% increase since last year. 

We'll use Oregon figures to take a look at the monetary value of foster parent contributions. And, in our efforts to be conservative, we will only look at one foster parent and won't increase the numbers for multiple children. 

One full 24 day of volunteering to foster is worth $585.60.  (24x$24.40=$585.60)

Keep the child for a full week, that amount goes up to $4099.20. Multiply the days by the value for a month (we'll use 30 days) and it's a comfortable $17,568 per month.  Since many children end up staying in foster care for a year (we will assume the same home for ease of figuring) that takes our voluntary value to $213,158.40.  

More than $200,000 per foster parent volunteer is being contributed to the State of Oregon to care for children who are the State's responsibility. From a different perspective, compare this annual per foster parent 'donation' to Oregon's 2018 median income for a family of four at $74,022.

Of course, we can factor in the reimbursement which will lessen the total. Still, the contributions made by foster parents cannot be denied. Knowing the valuation placed on volunteer hours quantifies the contributions made every day – 24/7/365 and may help counter the feeling of not being valued.  

It's time that foster parents stand tall in the knowledge that not only are they doing the work of keeping children, youth and young adults safe, and strengthening community; they are donating a significant amount to the state's financial coffers.

In the recent past, several decisions have been made by legislators and those in DHS's Central Office that make it easy for foster parents to choose to leave the system over risking their families and their futures. Raising the recognition of the value that foster parents bring to those in charge may lead to more careful thought about the impact of the choices and decisions made. When decision-makers see that the loss of a foster parent means not only the loss of a home but the loss of more than $200,000 (often multiplied by two in a 2 parent home) to the Child Welfare coffers, perhaps foster parents will be truly valued and no longer treated as a renewable resource.  

In the meantime, foster parents can celebrate knowing the monetary value of their volunteer contributions.