Foster families in Alberta are receiving a financial boost from the province. According to the government, it will be investing $22 million over three years.

"To make life more affordable for foster and kinship caregivers, and respond to their strong advocacy, Alberta is adjusting various caregiver rates, effective June 1," the province announced on Wednesday.

This will benefit almost 7,000 caregivers across the province and the 10,000 children, youth and young adults they care for. Families who adopt or become private guardians of children in government care will also be positively impacted by these changes. 

Temporary and permanent caregivers have received increases of 4.2 per cent in June to basic maintenance rates, skill fees, as well as babysitting and relief per diems.

"This increase aligns with increases to other government programs, including the Alberta Child and Family Benefit, Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH), Income Support, and the Alberta Seniors Benefit."

Searle Turton, Minister of Children and Family Services said that the government's investment will mean that caregiver families can worry less about their finances.

The government said that this investment builds on the more than $23.6 million in new supports and stability measures for foster caregivers and young people in care announced in Fall 2023, which includes coverage of counselling sessions, implementing the Refer-a-Foster Caregiver program, and extending daily skill fee and special rates to caregivers caring for Transition to Adulthood Program participants until age 22.

"The investment also builds on new adoption supports announced in spring 2023 to make adoption more affordable for Alberta families. These supports include investing $4 million a year over three years on increased tax breaks, subsidies to help cover the costs of licensed agency adoptions and increased health coverage for children adopted in Alberta."

There are currently 1,477 foster caregivers, 2,313 kinship caregivers and 3,013 families offering permanent homes through adoption or private guardianship.

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