Local Foster Families Face Tough Decisions

SAN DIEGO -- With more than 25 years of foster parenting between them, almost nothing surprises Brenda Jones and Tammi Tilley -- until they received the mail on Monday.

"I open it and I begin to read it and I was like ... stunned!" said Tilley.

They each received a letter from San Diego County warning them of the state's intention to reduce or withhold their monthly stipends, forcing many foster families to tighten belts already on the last notch.

"It will be a strain on our family. It definitely will be," said Jones.

"We do not do foster care for the money, but without the funding ... we could not provide the care," said Tilley.

Foster families are reimbursed for expenses and the amounts of their respective stipends vary.

But any amount withheld from these families could force some of them to make excruciating decisions that could lead to a crisis in the county.

"I'm trying to keep my home. I'm having trouble with my gas and electricity. I'm just going to take them back," said Jones.

"We have almost 5,000 children in our care. So if even one-quarter of our foster families are not able to continue caring for the children, we would be seriously overwhelmed," said Mary Harris of the County Health and Human Services Department.

For most foster parents, returning a child is not an option.

"What would you say to that child? To look in that child's face and say, 'I'm going to have to give you back because I can't afford to keep you' ... I can't imagine saying that to any of my children," said Tilley.

The county is encouraging foster families to let their voices be heard by contacting the governor and members of the state legislature.

There are over 7,500 total foster families in San Diego County.