Clockwise from top left: Tristen Hunter, Ethan Harvey, Malerie McClusky, Katrina Edwards, Mateo Jaime and Alex Carter. Ash Adams for NPR hide caption
The Hidden Bill For Foster Care How states charge the poorest families and children for the cost of foster care
Special Series
The Hidden Bill For Foster Care
"This will help a lot of single parents out there," Daisy Hohman, a Minnesota mother whose tax refunds were garnished after her three children were placed in foster care, says of the change in federal guidance. Meg Anderson/NPR hide caption
Daisy Hohman was separated from her three children for 20 months when they were placed in foster care. When Hohman was reunited with her children, she received a bill of nearly $20,000 for foster care from her Minnesota county. Joseph Shapiro/NPR hide caption
States send kids to foster care and their parents the bill — often one too big to pay
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors passed a motion to make sure foster youth who receive Social Security benefits have access to those checks. County Supervisor Hilda Solis, co-sponsor of the motion, said the new directive is a "game changer." Sarah Reingewirtz/MediaNews Group via Getty Images hide caption