An NPR investigation digs into the practice of billing parents for their children’s foster care — something that happens in every state in the country.

It’s a bill many cannot afford to pay, which in turn makes it even more difficult for parents to get their lives back on track and reunite with their children. On top of that, research shows government actually loses money when it tries to collect on foster care bills.

NPR investigative correspondent Joseph Shapiro reports, in collaboration with Teresa Wiltz of POLITICO.

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