Sarasota Family YMCA - Social Services

Sarasota Family YMCA - Sarasota, Florida

Fostering is a volunteer service; however, you will be provided support by the State for fostering children in your home. This support may include:

Monthly financial assistance(foster care board rate).
Medical assistance for the child thru age 18.
Mileage reimbursement.
Annual clothing allowance per child.
Monthly diaper allowances (determined by the age of the child).
Initial and on-going training opportunities.
Foster Parent Associations
FAST (Foster Allegation Support Team)
Support services provided by the Licensing Specialist and Case Manager may include: parent training; child care; in-home support services; assistance with clothing or other resources; etc.

Adoption subsidy payments may be available to parents adopting children with special needs. "Special Needs" refers to those children in foster care who meet one or more of the following criteria:

The child is at least eight years old
The child is mentally handicapped
The child is physically handicapped
The child is emotionally handicapped

The child is black or has racially mixed heritage
The child is a member of a sibling group being placed for adoption as a single unit

Medical assistance may be available for the child through age 18.
Most expenses related to the adoption (such as court costs and attorney fees) are eligible for reimbursement by the State of Florida. The State reimburses up to $1,000 for adoption finalization fees.

Children adopted from the SCC are eligible to receive up to four years of paid college tuition at Florida universities, colleges or vocational programs.
Support groups for families awaiting an adoptive match may be available in your county. In addition, other community-based support groups and services may be available.