Foster Parent Stipend in Pennsylvania: What You Actually Get Paid

Pennsylvania foster parents receive monthly maintenance payments, not a salary. The distinction matters more than it might seem. The payments are designed to cover the cost of caring for the child — food, clothing, transportation, school supplies — not to compensate the foster parent for their time. Understanding what you'll receive, how it's calculated, and what it doesn't cover will help you make a realistic financial decision about fostering.

How Pennsylvania Foster Care Payments Work

Maintenance payments in Pennsylvania are set at the county level, not the state level. Each of the 67 county children and youth agencies (CYAs) sets its own rate schedule within ranges permitted under state regulations. This means your monthly payment depends on which county you're licensed in, the age of the child in your home, and the child's level of need.

Payments are not taxable income — they are reimbursements for expenses incurred in caring for the child. The IRS treats foster care payments as non-taxable, which is one meaningful financial benefit. If you have questions about how this applies to your specific situation, a tax professional familiar with foster care can clarify.

Rate Ranges by Region and Age (2024-2025)

Pennsylvania does not publish a single statewide rate, but based on county data from 2024-2025, the ranges look roughly like this:

Philadelphia consistently pays among the highest basic rates in the state, reflecting the city's higher cost of living and the complexity of placements managed through its Community Umbrella Agency system.

Rural counties often pay at the lower end of the range. If you're in a rural county and the rate seems low relative to actual costs, ask your agency about any supplemental supports or regional adjustments that may be available.

What Level of Care Means for Your Payment

Pennsylvania's licensing system recognizes different levels of care, each with a corresponding rate:

Basic Foster Care: The standard license for general foster care. Rates fall in the ranges noted above. Most first-time resource parents begin here.

Specialized Foster Care: For children with more significant behavioral, emotional, or developmental needs that require additional training and support. Specialized rates are higher and typically require that the foster parent complete additional certification or training.

Therapeutic Foster Care (TFC): The highest-support level, for children with significant mental health needs. TFC parents work closely with behavioral health professionals and provide intensive home-based therapeutic support. Payment rates for TFC placements are substantially higher than basic care, reflecting the level of skill and time involved.

Medical Foster Care: For children with complex medical needs who require daily medical procedures or monitoring. Rates are negotiated based on the child's specific medical requirements and can be the highest of any category.

Kinship Care: Relatives who become licensed foster parents receive the same maintenance payments as non-relative foster parents. Emergency or provisional kinship placements may receive reduced rates until full licensure is complete.

Other Financial Benefits

Beyond the monthly maintenance payment, foster parents in Pennsylvania may receive:

Clothing Allowance: An initial clothing allotment when a child is first placed, plus an annual clothing allowance to ensure seasonally appropriate attire. The amount varies by county and child age.

Medical Assistance (Medicaid): All children in Pennsylvania foster care are automatically enrolled in Medical Assistance through the ACCESS card. This covers medical, dental, vision, and behavioral health services. Foster parents are not responsible for these costs — they are covered by the state's Medicaid program.

Child Care Subsidy: Foster parents who work may qualify for child care subsidized through the Early Learning Resource Center (ELRC), subject to local availability and provider supply. This is not guaranteed in all areas — ask your agency about current availability.

Mileage Reimbursement: Some counties provide mileage reimbursement for transportation to medical appointments, visitation with birth parents, or court hearings. The rate and availability vary by county; confirm with your agency.

Respite Care Support: Foster parents can request temporary respite care, where a certified respite provider cares for the child for a short period while the foster family takes a break. Respite is a licensed activity — the provider must be approved — but the cost is not borne by the foster parent.

What the Stipend Is Not

The maintenance payment is not designed to generate income. After accounting for food, clothing, school supplies, transportation, and the additional costs that come with caring for a child who may have experienced trauma — the reality is that many foster parents spend at least as much as they receive, and some spend more.

Therapeutic and specialized placements come with higher payments, but they also come with significantly higher demands. Foster parents who pursue higher-level placements because the payments are larger, without accounting for the intensity of the care required, tend to burn out quickly.

Pennsylvania foster care is not a financial strategy. For families who approach it as a genuine commitment to a child's wellbeing, the payment system covers real costs and reduces financial strain — it does not eliminate it.

Therapeutic Foster Care in Pennsylvania

If you're interested in the specialized or therapeutic tier, ask your agency about what additional training and certification are required. Many private child-placing agencies (CPAs) in Pennsylvania specialize in therapeutic foster care and offer structured training, ongoing support from clinicians, and wraparound services for both the child and the foster family.

Therapeutic foster parents typically receive both a higher maintenance rate and a professional fee (sometimes called a therapeutic foster care fee or treatment rate), reflecting the professional-level involvement the role requires.

Getting the Numbers for Your County

The most accurate rate information for your specific county comes from your county CYA or the private CPA you're working with. When you attend an orientation or information session, ask directly what the current basic and specialized rates are for your county, what the clothing allowance looks like, and what supplemental supports are available.

If you want to understand the full financial picture of fostering in Pennsylvania — including how maintenance rates connect to the Adoption Assistance Program if you move toward adoption, what county-level variations look like, and how therapeutic licensing works — the Pennsylvania Foster Care Licensing Guide covers the complete financial framework alongside the licensing process itself.

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