Comparison Summary of NYS Local District
2003 Foster Care Rates and Benefits

Rate Compilation and Analysis by The NYS Citizens' Coalition for Children, Inc. Spring 2003
 

Detailed Comparison of Basic Rates

Detailed Comparison of Special Rates

Detailed Comparison of Exceptional Rates

Monthly basic, special & exceptional rates have been rounded and calculated
from per diem rates using a 365 day year.

Basic Rate - Upstate

The 2002/03 basic rate state maximum for children ages 6-11(mean age of those in care) in the upstate region is $504 per month. The following local districts pay the maximum or up to the maximum:

Albany	Dutchess	Hamilton	Putnam
Broome	Greene	Orange	Rensselaer
Allegany County at $300/month pays the lowest rate for this category in the state.

Basic Rate - Metro

The 2002/03 basic rate state maximum for children ages 6-11 (mean age of those in care) in the metro region is $541 per month. The following local districts pay the maximum or up to the maximum:

Nassau	Rockland	Suffolk	blank
Westchester County at $523/month pays the lowest rate for this category in the state.

Special Rate

The 2002/03 special rate state maximum is $1007 per month. The following local districts pay the maximum or up to the maximum:

Broome	Hamilton	Rockland
Dutchess	Putnam	Suffolk
Lewis County at $412/month pays the lowest special rate in the state.

Exceptional Rate

The 2002/03 exceptional rate state maximum is $1525 per month. The following local districts pay the maximum or up to the maximum:

Albany	Dutchess	Putnam	Rockland	Tompkins
Broome	Hamilton	Rensselaer	Suffolk	nothing
Yates County at $600/month pays the lowest exceptional rate in the state. There is no exceptional rate for Allegany County.

Finder's Fee

The maximum state reimbursement is $200. The following local districts pay some level of finder's fee for recruitment of new foster parents.

Albany	Fulton	Niagara	Rockland	Westchester
Cattaraugus	Genesee	Oneida	St. Lawrence	Wyoming
Chautauqua	Herkimer	Ontario	Schenectady	blank
Chemung	Jefferson	Orange	Schuyler	blank
Clinton	Livingston	Putnam	Suffolk	blank
Dutchess	New York City	Rensselaer	Tompkins	blank

Day Care/Babysitting

NYS reimbursement is available for Foster parent day care and/or babysitting expenses. All local districts pay for or reimburse foster parents for some type of child care except for New York City, Oneida County, and St. Regis-Mohawk.

Source: NYSCCC Telephone Survey of Local Departments of Social Services- April 2003

NYS Citizens' Coalition for Children, Inc.
410 East Upland Road • Ithaca, NY 14850
607-272-0034 • office@nysccc.org