The Campbells and Lasoffs each took three children from the Boulder City home and are serving as their foster parents. They have a long way to go to match Deanne Blazzard of Las Vegas. The president of the Foster Care Association of Nevada has cared for 150 foster children in her home over the past 12 years. The Legislature this year raised the foster child reimbursement rate 20 percent and increased the children's clothing allowance. There's also a respite care fund for foster parents who wish to take a vacation.
Some people complain that foster parents get involved only for the money.
Anyone who goes into foster parenting for the money is fooling himself, she says. Her once-hearty savings account has been drained. You need a bigger car, you're paying more for utilities and you need a bigger house. There's no other reason I have to have a five-bedroom house. One of the most serious problems foster parents face is the lack of adequate medical records for many of the children.