The state plans to increase payments to the approved caregiver relatives of children taken from their parents, even when the relatives aren't licensed.
The move is meant to close the gap between non-licensed caregivers who receive a basic payment, and relatives who become licensed and often earn hundreds of dollars more per month. A 2017 federal court ruling said the payments must be made to relatives recognized by children service offices as caregivers, regardless of whether they are licensed. The opioid crisis has resulted in a large increase in the number of children taken from homes because of parents' or guardians' addictions.
