Increased payments are a welcome relief for the fostering community.

Earlier this month, the province announced an increase to the rate for kinship, out-of-care, and foster caregivers caring for children 11 and younger from $1,024.64 to $1,465.86. Payments also increased for caregivers caring for children age 12 to 18 from $1,124.19 to $1,655.91.

Inflation has impacted everyone in the province, but foster parents have been struggling for many years, said foster parent Julie Holmlund.

Holmlund, president of BC Foster Parents Association (BCFPA) located in 91原创, has been a foster parent with her husband for 14 years.

Foster parents received a small increase in the maintenance fee in 2017, but have not had a service fee increase since 2008, she said.

鈥淭his increase means healthier choices in the grocery store, ability to to pay household bills and not dip into credit cards to make monthly payments. For some families it meant they could now afford the professional photos for their youth who are graduating,鈥� explained Holmlund.

Foster and care providers make a huge difference in the lives of children and youth. Our BC NDP government is raising caregiver support rates by up to 47% so there's more help with costs like food, clothing, and transportation.

鈥� BC NDP (@bcndp)

The additional pay allows room in the budget for a new bike, dinner out for special occasions, or family activities like the movies or bowling, or a vacation, she added.

鈥淲ith utilities and groceries increasing so fast and inflation in every aspect of our lives, it has been next to impossible to make ends meet.鈥�

The increase comes four years after the last increase for foster parents in 2019, which provided an additional $179 per month. This year鈥檚 increase is the second implemented since the NDP was elected to office in 2017.

鈥淏oosting payments for kinship, out-of-care, and foster caregivers is crucial to making sure they can continue to deliver the safe and caring homes children and youth need to develop, thrive, and lay the foundation for healthy adult lives,鈥� said Mitzi Dean, the minister of child and family development.

The number of children and youth in care for the 2021/22 year was 5,037.

鈥淲e love that we have grown our family through adoption. We have learned many things from the children we have fostered. Fostering has made me a better human being,鈥� Holmlund said.

Budget 2023 provides $84.9 million to the Ministry of Children and Family Development to boost monthly caregiver rates, which will benefit approximately 4,700 caregivers.

There are about 70 active foster caregiver homes in 91原创.

Service payments for caregivers supporting children or youth with increased physical, mental, behavioural or emotional needs also received about a 30 per cent increase 鈥� the first since 2009.

The maintenance rates for foster and kinship caregivers increased as well by up to 47 per cent, which gives extended family members caring for children who can鈥檛 reside at home support too.

鈥淲e are so relieved and so appreciative of this increase,鈥� Holmlund said.

Holmlund and her husband have adopted seven of the children they initially fostered, which she said can be a long process but worth it.

鈥淓very town in B.C. would welcome more applications for foster parents. I would ask anyone that would consider this lifestyle to give your local ministry of child and family development office a call and ask questions and find out if this is a good fit for you and your family.鈥�

The service fee payment increase went into effect on April 1.

For more information about fostering, people can visit https://bcfosterparents.ca/foster-caregiving/.

READ ALSO: VIDEO: Youths from foster care system call on province for more action

RELATED: Foster-care system improved following Abbotsford teen鈥檚 2015 suicide, province says

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