When I was a foster kid 20 years ago my clothing stipend was $150 at Kohl’s. I remember it clear as day! So exciting to pick out brand new clothes for myself. Never experienced anything like that before, my clothes before foster care always came from donations or thrift stores.
That's awesome that you can remember that as an exciting day in the midst of what I'm sure was a crazy time in your life. And $150 at Kohl's 20 years ago could get you a lot of great things - especially if you shopped the deals :)
We’re in a waiting stage again with fostering which is such a weird thing and weird feelings. Anyway in Iowa it’s just under $200 per child the first year they’re in care then the second calendar year they receive $100. It can be any store as long as the items are new and have the receipt as it’s a reimbursement not a voucher. I’m enjoying all the foster content. We’re at 5 kids with possibility of just 1 more.
Oh my goodness god bless yall for all that you are doing for these kids and there families 🥰 I'm currently trying to help my sister out as she is a single mother who just got out of a bad relationship 🥺🥰
Maryland: One time only/not previously claimed (meaning if kids were in care before and got it, they won't get it again coming into care/new foster family): Infants to age 5 $60, ages 6-11 $75. ages 12 and up $100. All additional is to come from stipend. Ours is reimbursement - submit receipts. I know states give quarterly clothing vouchers which would be super helpful for the younger kids who grow so fast.
Oh that's interesting to know how Maryland does it - thanks for sharing! It's also nice that you can shop at the store of your choice for reimbursement. Yeah, when they grow so fast, a quarterly voucher would be nice. Our area has several foster care closets which has been great as I get the next size I need and then once those are outgrown, take them back and get new sizes! I have also shopped for needed and fun outfits at second hand stores, Walmart or online deals. Lots of great options for kids clothes :)
@@HappyHoppe The after Christmas clearance sales are great as my Feb/March kids always changed sizes around Dec. So, you can buy on clearance next size- they wear spring and sometimes to fall. Red things (with no Santa design) roll right to Valentine's Day.
We're in WA state and generally it's a 200 clothing voucher. However with our current little guy his caseworker just gave us 150 bucks worth of Walmart giftcards. It was really cool! He literally came with nothing and it really helped us.
Aww, that's so great that you got gift cards to use right away! Does the $200 clothing voucher have to be used at a particular store or do you just get reimbursed?
@@HappyHoppe I'm honestly not sure lol! With our first placements we never got one. And because we got gift cards this time around we didn't need one. I guess we'll see what happens in the future lol!
Also here if you go over on the voucher you can't pay the rest so you have to just take an item away and pay for the full thing yourself! Like if somethings $20 in it put you over $10 you can't just pay the extra $10 you have to pay the whole $20 and miss out on $10 with a voucher
So we did our shopping spree at the end of March 2021, I just now finally made a video about it 👍 So yes, we did have them this summer, but even if we hadn't had them then I wouldve been able to send all the clothes with them ☺️ End of December will be 1 year with the sibling group of 3.
I’m in Indiana as well and heard that Kohls also accepts vouchers. Is a voucher like a debit card, where you can use $100 at one store and then spend the remaining amount at another store? Also, do you know if items can be purchased online or is it only in-store?
Oh, I've not heard of Kohl's too? That'd be cool. No, it's not a debit card, it's a piece of paper that has Burlington on it and can only be used once. They check your driver's license to match it up to the name on the voucher that the caseworker gives to the foster parent.
It's just for initial placement of a child. So it's possible a child already used it if they were in a precious home before yours. But then ongoing you get a daily per diem to be used for everyday expenses like clothes :)
When I was a foster kid 20 years ago my clothing stipend was $150 at Kohl’s. I remember it clear as day! So exciting to pick out brand new clothes for myself. Never experienced anything like that before, my clothes before foster care always came from donations or thrift stores.
That's awesome that you can remember that as an exciting day in the midst of what I'm sure was a crazy time in your life.
And $150 at Kohl's 20 years ago could get you a lot of great things - especially if you shopped the deals :)
We’re in a waiting stage again with fostering which is such a weird thing and weird feelings.
Anyway in Iowa it’s just under $200 per child the first year they’re in care then the second calendar year they receive $100. It can be any store as long as the items are new and have the receipt as it’s a reimbursement not a voucher.
I’m enjoying all the foster content. We’re at 5 kids with possibility of just 1 more.
I like that the second year if the child is still in your care, you get something again for clothing voucher.
Thanks for sharing!
I'm glad most states give vouchers. I'm sure it helps out a lot. Y'all were able to get a lot of cute clothes for the kiddos.
A stole the show at the end!!! How adorable!!! ❤️
😂 yes, she would love to be a UA-cam star one day! Both girls are very animated on camera!
Oh my goodness god bless yall for all that you are doing for these kids and there families 🥰 I'm currently trying to help my sister out as she is a single mother who just got out of a bad relationship 🥺🥰
Maryland: One time only/not previously claimed (meaning if kids were in care before and got it, they won't get it again coming into care/new foster family): Infants to age 5 $60, ages 6-11 $75. ages 12 and up $100. All additional is to come from stipend. Ours is reimbursement - submit receipts. I know states give quarterly clothing vouchers which would be super helpful for the younger kids who grow so fast.
Oh that's interesting to know how Maryland does it - thanks for sharing!
It's also nice that you can shop at the store of your choice for reimbursement.
Yeah, when they grow so fast, a quarterly voucher would be nice.
Our area has several foster care closets which has been great as I get the next size I need and then once those are outgrown, take them back and get new sizes!
I have also shopped for needed and fun outfits at second hand stores, Walmart or online deals.
Lots of great options for kids clothes :)
@@HappyHoppe The after Christmas clearance sales are great as my Feb/March kids always changed sizes around Dec. So, you can buy on clearance next size- they wear spring and sometimes to fall. Red things (with no Santa design) roll right to Valentine's Day.
Good recommendation! Yes, red is a great color for holidays - Christmas, Valentine's, Memorial Day, 4th of July!
We're in WA state and generally it's a 200 clothing voucher. However with our current little guy his caseworker just gave us 150 bucks worth of Walmart giftcards. It was really cool! He literally came with nothing and it really helped us.
Aww, that's so great that you got gift cards to use right away!
Does the $200 clothing voucher have to be used at a particular store or do you just get reimbursed?
@@HappyHoppe I'm honestly not sure lol! With our first placements we never got one. And because we got gift cards this time around we didn't need one. I guess we'll see what happens in the future lol!
In West Virginia our vouchers used to be for Walmart but they just recently switched to JCPenney's
Also here if you go over on the voucher you can't pay the rest so you have to just take an item away and pay for the full thing yourself! Like if somethings $20 in it put you over $10 you can't just pay the extra $10 you have to pay the whole $20 and miss out on $10 with a voucher
And we're not allowed to exchange or swap or anything
Oh wow, a lot more restrictive. How much is the voucher for?
I’m in TX.
We received $75 per child to Walmart.
Thanks for sharing :)
I'm a foster in California and I never received a clothing voucher
I know every state is different 🤷 I'm not sure how California does it.
Are you guys certain you'll have the kids through summer? I may have missed it but I don't think you've updated on your case in a while 😊
So we did our shopping spree at the end of March 2021, I just now finally made a video about it 👍
So yes, we did have them this summer, but even if we hadn't had them then I wouldve been able to send all the clothes with them ☺️
End of December will be 1 year with the sibling group of 3.
@@HappyHoppe Crazy!! That went so fast
@@RelatableMotherhood yes! This year has flown by 😅
I’m in Indiana as well and heard that Kohls also accepts vouchers. Is a voucher like a debit card, where you can use $100 at one store and then spend the remaining amount at another store? Also, do you know if items can be purchased online or is it only in-store?
Oh, I've not heard of Kohl's too? That'd be cool. No, it's not a debit card, it's a piece of paper that has Burlington on it and can only be used once. They check your driver's license to match it up to the name on the voucher that the caseworker gives to the foster parent.
is the $200/per child clothing voucher a once a year thing or how often does the State send you such voucher ?
=)
It's just for initial placement of a child. So it's possible a child already used it if they were in a precious home before yours.
But then ongoing you get a daily per diem to be used for everyday expenses like clothes :)
Here's a video about all things money & foster care ❤️ ua-cam.com/video/kWb4tR5onL4/v-deo.html
@@HappyHoppe you and your husband are remarkable people. May God continue blessing you always.