Florida foster gets funding cuts & affects thousands of kids

Southwest Florida’s WINK News reports on the current financial struggle of the state’s foster care system. According to the news source, “deep cuts in the state budget” could damage the lives of thousands of children in Florida’s foster network.

According to Tampa’s WMNF 88.5: “the state Legislature will cut services to children by $18.9-million below last year’s levels, and will slash $30.3-million more that’s needed to pay for a growing number of adoptions and youths too old to stay in foster care.”

Meanwhile, WFTV Orlando reports that state budget cuts are so devastating that the leader of Community Based Care of Seminole County said the agency doesn’t have enough money for even one adoption. Money would also be cut from adoption subsidies.

CBS4.com announced that legislators plan to slice $50 million away from the foster care system.

The Children’s Network of Southwest Florida says it helps nearly 1,900 children a month – many of them abused or neglected. The service which reaches 5 counties may lose a million dollars in funding.

There are approximately 11,000 children in Florida who need a home.