Foster Care Stresses are Universal

Ireland is facing the same problems as the United States in keeping foster parents. A recent survey of Irish foster parents found that 76% of them would not recommend fostering to new families because of financial issues. The head of the Irish Foster Care Association noted that these problems are adding pressure to an already overwhelmed system. “This scarcity has led to children being accommodated in unapproved B&Bs and hotels, placing their well-being and safety at risk.”

Here in the U.S., a news article from West Virginia sets out similar complaints from foster parents. The state offers limited vouchers, but most retailers simply won’t take the vouchers. Walmart stopped taking vouchers in 2021, telling the state that “the reimbursement process is administratively burdensome.”  In the meantime, foster parents end up having to spend their own money to take care of children. Most foster parents know that they will have to spend money to take care of foster children, but the finances, especially for large sibling groups or children with complex trauma, can be prohibitive. This is yet another area that agencies need to pay attention to if they are to build a functioning foster care system.