A Manitoba foster father says he's doing his best to provide for a 16-year-old youth in his care, but that CFS hasn't paid him for over a month and he's running out of cash.

Francois Dufault says he's been spending his own money on the teen, whom the CBC is calling Mark.

The teen can't be identified because he's a ward of CFS.

Dufault says Manitoba Child and Family Services won't even help him get Mark to school, 25 kilometres away — a trip he makes four times a day.

"I can't even get a $100 cheque to put in my truck to drive him to school," he said.

Child and Family Services Minister Kerri Irvin-Ross said on Friday morning she had heard from foster families that there are issues about being paid in a timely manner and about empty foster beds going unused. She hoped that with the enforcement of standards and the establishment of a centralized foster resources desk, these issues will be resolved.

Dufault has been a foster parent for eight years, and says it's not the first time the CFS agency has left him hanging.

He's had to sell a classic car and cash out his RRSPs to care for the children placed in his home.

Dufault says he's out of options, now, after borrowing $20 for gas, then getting a flat tire on the way.

Foster parent Francois Dufault says CFS has not paid him for over a month and he's having trouble paying for things the teen in his care needs. (CBC) "Like, I'm pretty well tapped out with family and everything just to drive him to school. To have gas money to drive him to school. To feed him. I'm always scrounging for food for the house,' he said.

He's been to the agency a few times but he says the social workers get mad at him when he asks for the money he's supposed to be getting.

"I ask them and they say, 'Well, Frank, the money will come when it comes.'"

Irvin-Ross said she hopes responsible agencies, and the centralized desk. will ensure money gets to families quickly.

"All of our foster parent resources across the province, we're going to ensure that foster parents that have available resources will be matched with their appropriate child. I think that that will also ensure that we're able to provide them with timely finances that they need."

Payment, she said, is up to individual agencies, but her department will be working with the agencies.

"It's enforcing the standards that we have and ensuring that agencies are aware of the expectations and how the funds need to flow to foster parents," she said. "We need to treat them with respect and kindness and value the work that we've done."

Life better but money woes troublesome

Mark shows off his new home, where he arrived a month ago.

"My room is this way," he says, walking through the house. "This is my bed. This is my little couch here," he says.

Mark grew up on a Manitoba First Nation but dropped out of school because of bullying.

He moved to Winnipeg in hopes of finishing his education and stayed with relatives for a while.

But his uncle tried to force him to work as a drug mule. Mark didn't feel safe and told his teacher. The school contacted CFS and he was placed in a group home, then sent to Dufault's.

Mark, whose real name CBC is not using, says his social worker has not come to see him once since he arrived at Dufault's house and has been in his care. (Caroline Barghout/CBC ) The teen is in Grade 10 now. He says his life has improved a lot.

"Ever since I've been here, I've been liking it. It's fun. I get a lot of stuff to do outside," he said.

Still, the money problems make it is a struggle to get by, he says.

"I've been asking [the social worker] since ever since I was in care, 'Oh I need money for clothes because I've been wearing these exact pants for almost two months now.' [Dufault] can't help me pay [for] any new clothes. I'm already growing out of mine," he said.

Mark said he's actually had very little contact with his social worker.

"He said, 'Oh ya, I'll come check up on [you] once in a while.' But he never even came once," he said.

Mark said his principal has helped him more than CFS.

And instead of waiting for CFS to buy him clothes, the teen himself got a job washing dishes at a nearby restaurant.

"I just got to get stuff for myself. So I'm waiting for my first cheque so I can buy stuff for clothes," he said.

'I know these kids have suffered so much'

Dufault admits the money troubles make it tough, but he says the kids are worth it.

"I just love the kids. I love helping the kids and I know these kids have suffered so much," he said.

Dufault says he's had kids who have been through dozens of foster homes.

He says he makes sure the children sit around the table and have family dinners with him. Mark is his only charge right now, though.

Dufault says if the province wants to retain foster families to look after kids in care, this isn't the way to do it.

"The foster parents seem to be at the bottom of the chain and you feel like no matter what you do, you're the one taking care of the children and responsible for everything. And they [CFS] seem to forget you."