Christian actress and singer Jen Lilley is raising concerns about financial incentives within the foster care system that she believes can unintentionally encourage harmful outcomes for vulnerable children.
Speaking on the Shawn Ryan Podcast, Lilley, known for her work on Hallmark and Great American Family productions, shared her experiences as a foster parent and recounted conversations that left her deeply troubled about how some individuals may exploit the system for financial gain.
According to LifeSiteNews, Lilley described meeting experienced foster parents at a conference in Los Angeles, where one woman openly discussed maximizing reimbursement payments through the foster care system.
Lilley recalled the woman telling her, “Oh honey, I make $28,000 a month off foster care … because I have this many kids.”
The actress said the woman went on to explain that foster parents can receive higher reimbursement rates for children classified as having greater medical, emotional, behavioral, or educational needs. Lilley recounted the woman advising prospective foster parents to seek what she described as a “D-Rate kid,” referring to children who qualify for higher levels of state support.
According to Lilley, the woman claimed, “You want to make sure they fail in school. If they fail in school and you can get them on medication, your rate goes up.” She further alleged that additional diagnoses and educational struggles could result in increased payments to foster caregivers.
While Lilley did not accuse the foster care system itself of intending such outcomes, she expressed concern that reimbursement structures designed to support children with greater needs can also attract individuals motivated primarily by money rather than by the well-being of children.
“This is a demonic situation that exists because the church closed her doors,” Lilley said during the podcast discussion.
According to a 2025 report from The Up Center, a Virginia-based nonprofit that supports foster families, reimbursement rates are influenced by several factors, including a child’s medical needs, emotional and behavioral challenges, age, level of care required, and local cost-of-living considerations. Therapeutic foster care placements and children requiring specialized services generally qualify for higher levels of financial support.
The Up Center notes that foster care payments can reach approximately $1,200 per month per child in some jurisdictions, depending on the child’s circumstances and the state’s reimbursement policies.
Lilley acknowledged that higher payments are likely intended to help foster families meet the increased demands of caring for children with significant needs. However, she warned that such policies can produce unintended consequences.
According to LifeSiteNews, Lilley stated that the goal may have been to “incentivise good people to stick with it,” but argued that it can also “incentivise all the wrong people — people who are in it for the money instead of for the love of a child.”
For Catholics, Lilley’s comments raise broader questions about the Church’s historic role in caring for vulnerable children and families. Catholic teaching has long emphasized the dignity of every child and the responsibility of Christian communities to provide loving, stable homes for those in need.
While the overwhelming majority of foster parents serve sacrificially and with genuine concern for children, Lilley’s testimony highlights concerns that systems built to protect vulnerable youth must remain vigilant against incentives that could place financial interests ahead of a child’s welfare.
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