These foster care centers are operated by certified foster parents. Financial assistance is provided to foster parents in the form of monetary reimbursement towards maintenance costs and living expenses of the child. However, the amount of financial assistance provided differs from state to state. This difference is primarily due to variation in living costs, supplemental payments and the criteria that are used to determine different levels of care.

      Reimbursement rates for foster care in the United States are decided based on the guidelines of USDA report on family expenditure on children. The foster care rate structure has been designed to give foster parents flexibility to decide how to spend money for the children residing in their home. The age of the child and his special requirements are primarily taken into account while determining the foster care reimbursement rates. While some states provide additional payments for clothing, other states have annual allowances towards emergency clothing, books, school supplies, supplemental school fees, graduation expenses, respite allowance, holidays, birthdays, family vacations, birthday gifts, Christmas gifts, transportation and even camping.

      However, many times the objective of providing financial reimbursement is not fulfilled due to dysfunctional foster-care systems in many states. Foster parents in these states are paid far less than the actual rate determined by the U.S. government for the cost of raising a child. As a result, children in such foster care centers do not always receive the care and attention they need and require.