All of Dasani’s siblings have been placed in therapeutic homes, bringing the foster parents an average monthly income of up to $1,900 per child. For each day that these children remain in foster care, the Foundling agency receives another $93 for every child. In total, the care of Chanel and Supreme’s children is costing more than $33,000 per month—a figure that will approach $400,000 per year. The Foundling supervisor, Linda, often thinks about this math. It would cost far less to keep a poor family intact, sparing them the trauma of separation, by placing a full-time aide in the home to
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