Basic Foster Care Board Rates
and the Cost of Raising a Child
Basic Foster Care Board Rates
and the Cost of Raising a Child
NYS Basic Rates Based on Mean Age of NYS Foster Children (10.6
years)
Rates below have been rounded and calculated from per diem rates
using a 365 day year.
NYS Department of Social Services
Regulation #427.6(b):
"State reimbursement shall be made only on actual payments to certified parents providing care for children in foster family boarding homes up to the maximum levels established by the department based upon data published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, and other generally accepted sources, relating to the cost of raising a child in a family of four with a moderate standard of living."
USDA Estimates of the Cost of Raising a Child in a Two Parent/ Two Child Families
2003 Urban Rates, Northeast Region, Moderate Cost Level (Before tax income from $40,900 - $68,500)
2003 Rural Rates, Moderate Cost Level (Before tax income from $39,600 - $66,700)
none
Ages 9-11 Urban Ages 9-11 Rural Housing
$3,840 $2,490 Food
$2,110 $1,900 Transportation
$1,220 $1,470 Clothing
$530 $480 Health Care
$770
$840 Child Care/Educ
$590 $730 Miscellaneous
$1110 $1,090 Total per year
$10,170 $9,000 Total per month
$847.50 $750 Total per day
$27.86 $24.66
Comparison of USDA Estimates to NYS Rates
Total USDA Urban USDA Rural NYS Metro Max NYS Upstate Max Mean of Metro Districts 2003 Mean of Upstate Districts 2003 Per year
$10,170 $9,000 $6492 $6048 $6383 $5174 Per month
$847.50 $750 $541 $504 $532 $431 Per day
$27.86 $24.66 $17.79 $16.57 $17.49 $14.18
Sources: Lino, Mark. 2003. Expenditures on Children by Families, 2002. U.S. Departmentof Agriculture, Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion. Miscellaneous Publication No. 1528-2002. NYS Office of Children and Family Services
NYS Citizens' Coalition for Children, Inc.
410 East Upland Road • Ithaca, NY 14850
607-272-0034 • office@nysccc.org