How Much Does Foster Care Pay in Indiana?

Choosing to become a foster parent in Indiana is a meaningful chance to provide a loving home for a child in need.

There is a dire need for foster parents in Indiana, and foster parents help make an incredible difference in the life of a child in care.

As foster parents share in letters to the children in their care, the bonds are immeasurable.

Even with all the love in the world, there are still expenses that come with raising a child — food, clothing, hobbies, and activities are all a part of providing great care.

Potential foster parents in Indiana will receive a stipend to help them cover these costs. However, it’s important to remember that this financial aid from the state is to be used to care for a child and provide a stable home — not considered a job or employment.

For this reason, foster parents need to have a reliable source of income beyond support from the state. This is also one of the basic requirements for becoming a foster parent in Indiana.

What Influences the Stipend Amount in Indiana?

In the state of Indiana (and elsewhere throughout the US), there are two primary factors that change the stipend amount:

1. The age of the child in care
2. Their medical care plans

Indiana’s stipend is measured on a per-day basis. The base amount that foster parents are given every month by the state goes up as a child in care gets older — as a child grows, they have different care needs. 

A child in care may also be living with trauma. Caring for a child recovering from neglect and abuse often calls for specialized support with higher costs. In these cases, foster parents may be given a larger stipend to be able to provide the best possible care.

Some children in care may be living with special medical needs that are more complicated and costly. In this case, foster parents in Indiana will also get a larger stipend to help them give a foster child living with complex medical needs the care they need to live life well.

Indiana’s Foster Care Stipend Rates

As of December 27th, 2022, the Indiana foster care stipend amounts are as follows.

Traditional Foster Care

Traditional foster care has a set per-day stipend rate. Here’s what to expect:

• For kids aged 0-4 years, foster parents receive $23.95 per day.
• For children aged 5-13 years, foster parents will receive $25.99 per day. 
• For teenagers in care and young adults aged 14-18 years, this is the highest at $30.00 each day

Therapeutic Foster Care

Therapeutic foster care services, such as the services provided by Mentor Foster Care, may have additional costs — which is why there’s an increased stipend in Indiana.

• For kids in therapeutic care aged 0-4 years, foster parents receive $43.86 per day.
• For children aged 5-13 years in therapeutic care, foster parents will receive $45.85 per day. 
• For teenagers and young adults aged 14-18 years in therapeutic care, foster parents will receive $49.76 each day.
  
  

Additional Financial Help for Foster Care in Indiana

Foster parents in Indiana have access to additional support from the state outside of just the stipend. Here's an overview of the different types of help available:

• Expense allowance - Foster parents may receive up to $300 per year for a child in care’s expenses, available after 8 days of placement. 
• Initial clothing and personal items - Foster parents may receive up to $200 for initial placement of a child in care to help purchase clothing and other necessities.
• Special occasion allowance - Foster parents may receive $50 for a child in care’s birthday and $50 for holiday gifts if the child is in care on their birthday and December 25th.
• Bedding allowance - Foster parents may receive up to $400 for a bed/bedding for a child in care as a one-time payment. 
• Child care and daycare allowance - Foster parents may receive up to $18 a day or $90 a week for licensed/registered child care for six months.

Talk to an Expert For More Information on Stipends

When deciding to become a foster parent, no question is too big or too small.

Get answers specific to you and your life circumstances: Talk to a foster care expert for personalized insights, next steps, and what you can expect when starting the foster parenting process. 

You don't need to be a superhero — just someone willing to provide the love and care a child needs.