House Approves Increased Payments to Foster Families
The Oklahoma House of Representatives has approved a measure to increase reimbursement payments to foster families for the first time since 2018. Rep. Nick Archer, R-Elk City, filed House Bill 2030 after a foster family in his district had to turn away a placement of three siblings because they didn't have the resources to take in all three children. He later heard similar struggles from his son's band teacher, who is also a foster parent. "Oklahoma families want to help, but we're making it too hard," Archer said. "Our current foster care shortage is driven in part by inflation and stagnant reimbursement rates. There are Oklahomans who want to take these children in and care for them, but with our current reimbursement rate, they simply can't afford to." HB2030 increases the monthly foster care maintenance payments by $5 a day. Under the measure, the current reimbursement rates would increase from $17.72 to $22.72 for children ages 0 to 5, $20.42 to $25.42 for 6 to 12-year-olds, and $22.62 to $27.62 for children 13 and older. Archer said the goal is to reduce placement disruptions, keep siblings together, and lower the number of foster children who later become homeless or incarcerated, ultimately saving the state money. "Every dollar we invest today saves us three dollars down the line," Archer said. "House Bill 2030 is about protecting kids, supporting the families who step up and doing what’s right—not just financially, but morally." HB2030 passed the House 90-4 and now moves to the Senate for consideration.