Prompted By A Question Here About Orphans.

[sandyRoe]

When a child is in foster care does the support to the fosterers, financial and otherwise, stop abruptly when their ward reaches a certain age?

[ummmm]

I would assume it's the same as parental responsibility and support stops as soon as they hit a certain age or until they are out of education.

[sandyRoe]

If the support and funding stopped at age 18, say, wouldn't there be an incentive to show the youngster the door?

[andy-hughes]

sandyRoe - //If the support and funding stopped at age 18, say, wouldn't there be an incentive to show the youngster the door?//

If you regard your foster child purely as a cash cow, then yes.

Hopefully the vetting system weeds out such people, and foster families have enough emotion and love and care invested in their relationship that would mean that their family member is not required to vacate the premises on attaining the age of majority.

[Mamyalynne]

The same is true of natural parents Sandy - some do indeed show their offspring the door.

As Andy says most parents both natural and foster don't - thank goodness.

[sandyRoe]

I half remember a TV documentary where teenagers who'd been fostered were shown struggling to survive alone on low benefit rates. Maybe they'd decided to try a taste of independent living. But it wasn't easy on benefits.

[daveygh]

this might answer your question
http://www.fosterline.info/leaving-foster-care/