In it for the $

Hi <Anonymous>!

This is April at Olympic Angels.

It sounds like you’ve got a real heart for kids experiencing foster care. I love that you’re asking these questions with such curiosity and an open heart. I’m happy to try to clear up a little from our Olympic Angels perspective. Fair warning, this response is long - it’s a quite complex subject.

I should start by saying Olympic Angels is not affiliated with the State, CPS, or any foster licensing agency. We are not religious or political - we are simply a nonprofit working toward improving how kids and caregivers experience foster care and changing (the statistically bleak) outcomes for children who have experienced foster care.

Further, we are in the relationship business - focusing on real human connection and being another healthy, consistent presence in a child’s (who has experienced significant instability and trauma) life. We don’t focus on “stuff” - no new pair of shoes, coat, or backpack can affect outcomes for kids the way a consistent, caring adult can.

Our volunteers actually give foster parents very little in the way of direct financial support. Most of what they get is people.
🙋 People to help make all the appointments possible.
🙋‍♂️ Someone to go out and get the groceries while the caregiver holds a grieving child.
🦮 Someone to walk the dog, so the caregiver can meet with the court-appointed advocate.
🙋‍♀️ Trusted, familiar people to babysit while the caregiver reads up on bedwetting for 12-year-olds.
...Real, messy, trauma-fueled life that caregivers bravely say yes to.

Think of a time your world has been shattered or someone close to you's world was turned upside-down. So many appointments, things vying for your attention, and big, big emotions. What we do is “journey with.” We take things off plates. We give rides, pick up the birthday cake, give a date night, and bring the pizza. 🍕

To more specifically answer your questions - this is the source we have on-hand regarding the compensation for licensed caregivers.

Here is the link if you’d like a closer look: https://www.dcyf.wa.gov/sites/default/files/pdf/ProviderPaymentsFAQ.pdf
​
But that information ^^ is for LICENSED caregivers. The majority of the families in our programs are actually in informal care. They’re grandparents who thought they were done caring for young kids, they’re aunties who very unexpectedly took in their drug-addicted newborn nephew, they’re distant relatives who had never planned on parenting. In these situations, most often they receive NO assistance from the State.

So when these unsuspecting caregivers (and licensed caregivers as well) take on the important role of fostering kids whose families have failed them, Olympic Angels steps in. Volunteers from the community figure out how to make life easier and be an extra set of eyes and hands to ensure a child’s heart is held and needs are met.

The “statistically bleak outcomes” I referenced earlier plague some of our country’s most fraught issues - take a look at our resource page to see why we’re so committed to changing these kids’ lives: 
​https://www.olympicangels.org/resources.html

I hope this helps explain the need, and Olympic Angels’ role in the foster care community. And while the need for more foster homes is very real, we know not everyone can take that on. If you’d ever be interested in volunteering and walking alongside kids in foster care and their caregivers, we have two simple programs and would love to meet you! https://www.olympicangels.org/programs.html

Thanks, <anonymous> - happy to keep the conversation going if you have any more questions. Have a great day!
April