How Much Do Foster Parents Get Paid in Georgia?

Foster parents in Georgia receive a daily per diem — not a salary. The distinction matters because the money is a reimbursement for a child's food, clothing, shelter, and daily supervision costs, not compensation for your time. That said, understanding exactly what you will receive, when, and for what is essential before you welcome your first placement.

The FY2025 Board Rate (Per Diem)

Georgia updated its Room, Board, and Watchful Oversight (RBWO) rates effective July 1, 2024, with a 3% increase over the prior year. The current daily rates by child age:

These are the base rates for traditional foster homes. Therapeutic Foster Care (TFC) placements — children with significant emotional or behavioral challenges — receive higher reimbursements. The exact therapeutic add-on rate depends on the child's documented needs and the level of care your home is licensed for.

The 45-Day Payment Gap

This is the piece most families are not told at orientation: your first payment typically arrives approximately 45 days after the first placement, not at placement. DFCS processes initial payments through a billing cycle, and the lag is real.

For a child aged 6 to 12, that means roughly $1,400 in unreimbursed expenses before you receive anything. Plan for this. Families who are caught off-guard by the gap sometimes request emergency removal of placements they could have managed financially — a disruptive outcome for the child that is entirely avoidable with advance preparation.

Clothing Allowance

Georgia provides an Initial Clothing Allowance when a child first enters your home. The amount varies by county and case, but it is intended to cover immediate clothing needs for a child who may arrive with little more than what they are wearing. There is also an Annual Clothing Allowance available — however, it must be spent by June 30 of each fiscal year. If you miss the deadline, the funds lapse.

Ask your DFCS worker about both allowances at the time of placement, not months later. Workers are not always proactive about flagging these.

Start-Up Funds

Small start-up funds may be available for specific items like car seats or bedding for new placements. Availability varies by county and fiscal year. Ask your RD (Resource Development) worker directly — these funds exist but are not systematically offered.

PeachCare for Kids (Medicaid)

Every child in Georgia foster care is enrolled in PeachCare for Kids, the state's Medicaid program for foster youth. This coverage is comprehensive:

• Medical, dental, and psychological services
• No premiums or co-pays for the foster parent
• Managed through Amerigroup, the sole care management organization for Georgia's foster children
• Preventive care, immunizations, and diagnostic services covered at 100%

You do not pay anything for a foster child's medical care. PeachCare activates at placement — you will receive an Amerigroup card for the child. Keep it current and always present it at every appointment.

Adoption Subsidy

If you foster a child and eventually adopt them, you may be eligible for an adoption assistance (subsidy) if the child is classified as having "special needs" — which, in Georgia, includes many children in foster care due to their trauma history, age, or sibling group status. This subsidy can include:

• Ongoing monthly maintenance payments (similar to the per diem)
• Continued Medicaid coverage through adoption and beyond (in many cases)
• One-time adoption expense reimbursement

The adoption subsidy is negotiated before finalization and is based on the child's needs. It is a separate agreement from your foster care license. If you are considering the foster-to-adopt path, start the subsidy conversation with your DFCS worker long before the adoption petition is filed — the terms are much harder to renegotiate after finalization.

Enhanced Rates for Therapeutic and Special Needs Placements

If a child in your care has documented emotional, behavioral, or medical needs that require a higher level of caregiving, Georgia may authorize an enhanced per diem above the base board rate. Therapeutic Foster Care (TFC) homes consistently receive higher rates. The exact supplement depends on the child's assessed needs and the level of care your home is licensed for.

To access enhanced rates, the child's needs must be documented in the DFCS case plan and approved by the placement worker. Do not assume enhanced rates apply automatically. Ask your worker at placement: "Is this child designated for a therapeutic or specialized rate?" If yes, ensure the designation is in writing before the placement begins. Correcting the rate retroactively is significantly harder than establishing it upfront.

What Foster Care Payments Are Not

The board rate is not taxable income in most situations (though consult a tax professional for your circumstances). It is also not counted as income for public benefits eligibility purposes. And critically — it does not cover your time. Foster parenting is unpaid in that sense. The per diem covers the child's direct expenses, not your labor.

Georgia's system is explicit that foster parents must have sufficient income to support their own household before the per diem is factored in. Do not enter foster care expecting the per diem to subsidize your family budget — it is designed to cover the child's costs, not to generate household income.

Financial preparation is one of the highest-value parts of the licensing process, and most DFCS orientations cover it in under 10 minutes. The Georgia Foster Care Licensing Guide includes a complete financial preparation checklist — covering the 45-day gap, clothing allowance deadlines, therapeutic add-on eligibility, and how to request start-up funds in your county.

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