How will I get the clothes I need?

The Department of Health and Human Services, as your legal guardian, wants to help you get the clothes you need and there are a couple of different ways this works.

Monthly Clothing Allowance

Every youth in care or with a signed V-9 agreement receives a clothing allowance. This clothing allowance right now comes to around $100 each month. Twice a month about $50.00 is sent to your care provider (that means a foster parent, group home staff, or someone like that). This money should be saved and used ONLY for clothes and footwear for you.

Note: if you are placed in an emergency shelter or in a hospital, you are not eligible to receive the clothing allowance, but you can receive purchase orders.

Purchase Orders

Sometimes, your caseworker can supplement your clothing allowance with a purchase order for specific needs. A purchase order is a letter that allows you to buy specific items for a specific amount of money. At many stores, you have to go to the customer service desk to buy items with a purchase order.

Some specific needs that a purchase order may be given for are:

•  If you gain or lose weight  

• If your clothes were destroyed or lost

• If you had to move to a new place to live without enough or the right clothes  

• If there is a special medical reason  

• If you need money for food or personal hygiene items  

• If you are placed in an emergency shelter or hospital