system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
ELi5: How does fostering kids work?

I always hear about how foster kids are sometimes abused and I want to know what the foster system works. Is it a job or do people get chosen like they do for jury duty? Is it volunteer work, and if so, why are there so many people volunteering to abuse these kids?
gpt
You sign up. Social services does some routine investigations to qualify or disqualify you. Then then place a child with you...and you get a monthly stipend of $600-800/mo plus some amount of foodstamps to feed the kid.  
Theres a caseworker assigned to you that has waaay too many foster kids to pay proper attention to each case. When theres a complaint or problem they respond and evaluate whether there is an actionable issue or not.   
Abuse happens sure. BUT most foster parents take good care of the kids they foster. Most kids in foster care are a lot better off than they would be in group homes. Like anything you hear more about the failures and flaws than the success stories.