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causes and effects of foster care
foster care research essay
foster care research essay
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Foster care is an agency that takes in more than 250,000 children EVERY year. With this many children entering the system every year; the amount of problems on finding the right caregiver for the child increases tremendously. When these problems are created there are many effects that can happen to the child that can last short-term and unfortunately long-term. Fortunately, there are multiple solutions for these problems that everyone can do so that everyone's position is improved. Foster care agencies can create negative situations due to the selection of the caregiver and the plethora, deluge, profusion, surplus, vast, prodigious, immense of problems that are created; however, there are several pathways that either party can take to improve the unpleasant situation and its effects. In order for a possible successful future to take place, an appropriate selection of the caregiver must take place (Blythe et. al 88). Whenever an inappropriate foster parent is given responsibility over a child, all sorts of issues for the parent and child are created that could have been easily avoided. Foster care agencies must select foster parents that are completely capable to care for the health and safety of their new kids (Blythe et. al 88). This means that the foster parents must be able to supply all of the child’s essential needs so that they may be a valuable citizen in society one day. Research has discovered that foster parents will experience more anxiety and stress when compared to adults in their surrounding communities (Blythe et al. 88). This is directly because the foster parent was incapable of being a sufficient parent for the foster child. Since every child is special and unique in their own way it makes sense that the foster p... ... middle of paper ... ... Children: Challenges Of Mothering In The Australian Foster Care System." Contemporary Nurse: A Journal For The Australian Nursing Profession 44.1 (2013): 87-98. Academic Search Premier. Web. 23 Dec. 2013. "An Interview with Gabrielle Eulenfeld." Personal interview. 8 Jan. 2014. Salazar, Amy M. "The Value Of A College Degree For Foster Care Alumni: Comparisons With General Population Samples." Social Work 58.2 (2013): 139-150. Academic Search Premier. Web. 23 Dec. 2013. Williamson, Lisa A. "Providing Support And Stability To Students In Foster Care." Education Digest 79.3 (2013): 62. MasterFILE Premier. Web. 23 Dec. 2013. Zlotnick, Cheryl, Tammy W. Tarn, and Laurie A. Soman. "Life Course Outcomes On Mental And Physical Health: The Impact Of Foster Care On Adulthood." American Journal Of Public Health 102.3 (2012): 534-540. Business Source Premier. Web. 23 Dec. 2013.
“About two-thirds of children admitted to public care have experienced abuse and neglect, and many have potentially been exposed to domestic violence, parental mental illness and substance abuse” (Dregan and Gulliford). These children are being placed into foster care so that they can get away from home abuse, not so they can move closer towards it. The foster children’s varied outcomes of what their adult lives are is because of the different experiences they grew up with in their foster homes. The one-third of those other foster children usually has a better outcome in adult life than the other two-thirds, which is a big problem considering the high percentage of children being abused in their foster homes. Although, the foster care system has most definitely allowed children to experience the positive home atmosphere that they need there is still an existed kind of abusive system in the foster care program that is unofficial but seems to be very popular. Foster care focuses on helping children in need of a temporary stable environment; however, foster care can have negative impacts to the children and the people around them concerning the foster child going through the transition, the parents of the foster child, a new sibling relationship, and problems that arrive later influencing the foster child long-term.
Jeune, G.P, McCall, S., and Hamilton, L. (2007) Understanding Looked after Children: An Introduction to Psychology for Foster Care. London: Jessica Kingsley Pub.
Though foster care was originally established to help children who were orphaned, abandoned, neglected or abused, it has also caused problems for children. Agencies often have difficulty providing adequate, accessible, and appropriate services for the families in their care. (Chipungu and Goodley, pp. 76, 2004) This paper will examine the negative impact of foster care on children as a social problem and how it is viewed and understood. Also this paper would point out the key figures and groups that are affected by problem. This paper would analyze past attempts to better the foster care system and current policies that exist to face this problem. Throughout this paper the goals and objectives of the current polices would be addressed.
There is nearly 400,000 children in out-of-home care in the United States right now (Children’s Right). Just about every day children are being shipped in and out of foster homes and group homes. Most people want the best for children in foster care and decide to take care of them until their parents can possibly recover. The foster care system can have both a negative or positive effect on children, foster parents, and biological parents because of the gaps in the system. Foster cannot not be avoided but the some aspects of the foster care system can be avoided if the missing gaps were filled.
In the observation there were 14 other foster parents in attendance, 10 foster parents were non-kinship and 4 were kinship foster parents including myself. In observing we discussed the transition of children coming into foster care for the first time vs. long term instability of placement. A lot of the children are confused they are unaware of the wrong their parents have done to be removed. They become scared or fearful because the home they are placed in can be a stranger. Not all children go to kinship homes. Some children come into foster care with insecure detachment or the inability to eat, sleep or be normal functioning children. In learning that bonding and attachment of a mother/ caregiver and child during the first five years of the child’s life is important. That a child who is abused or neglected by parent or caregiver will form Insecure disorganized disoriented which is confusion about approaching or avoiding mother/caregiver, upon reunion acts confused and dazed (Site This). The foster parents in the training did not say much but when spoken about daily stressor of a child towards acceptance we had the same idea of trying to make the foster home as comfortable as possible. That is when we all was inform no matter how welcoming the home is or the pleasant smile at the door a child will still need time to adjust to the situation he/she is placed in.
One of the most common questions asked to children is: “What do you want to be when you grow up?” Responses typically include professions such as teachers, firefighters, police officers, doctors, etc. Foster children are no different; they too have hopes and dreams, aspirations to be someone in life. As with anyone else, they must first go through the proper curriculum and training to establish a career. The problem, however, is that early on foster children start falling behind academically. Research Highlights on Education and Foster Care (2014) provide numerous data based on studies throughout the states that exemplify the magnitude of the issue and the need to address it through modified policies and interventions. First, it recognizes
Low educational achievement for foster youth was a pressing concern. A study completed by Ehrle and Geen (2002) using a phone survey of 44,000 foster care providers across the United States found that 55% of voluntary kinship care providers did not have a high school degree, this indicated that may care providers lack the knowledge and understanding to help foster youth be prepared academically. After studying over 1000 foster youth Pecora et al (2006) found, about one third of all foster youth repeated a grade in school. In addition, Vacca (2007) identified reasons that foster youth struggled in the school setting. “Foster youth will typically not have any consistent parent advocacy or representative in the creation and implementation of the educational plan for graduation” (p. 67). With primary and secondary education a struggle for foster youth, it was no surprise that higher education was not something foster youth had been prepared for. In a combination survey and interview study titled “Pathways to College for Former Foster Youth: Understanding Factors That Contribute to Educational Success” Merdinger, Hines, Osterling, and Wyatt (2005) studied more than 200 former foster youth and found that “overall 63.8 percent [of former foster youth] reported that the foster care system did not prepare them very well for college” (p.
Everyone knows about foster care but do not realize the impact it has on humans ' lives. “More than 400,000 children are placed in foster care annually, with more than 200,000 moving in and out of foster homes in giving year” (Brozak, 1). Foster care changes and benefits people live, from the child to the parent. By foster care you save more lives than just the foster child. Although, foster parenting come with barrage of challenges. It provides many advantages for the people in need. Having foster children in your home is a blessing to the child, foster parents, and birth parents.
To many outsiders, the foster care system may appear to be a safe haven for those children that are abused or abandoned by their birth family. This is correct, but the system with which it is based, has many flaws. A background check is mandatory for all foster parents, but a test to see if a child 's temperament matches that caregiver 's parenting style, is not. Now, this is seen as a minor issue, but there is not enough evidence to support this. Plus, there are many other, much worse reasons, why the system is not perfect. Altogether, the foster care system and a multitude of its rules are flawed and may actually be negatively affecting foster children.
Moving into adulthood comes with its challenges for any teen. Of the 300,000 youth in foster care, the 25,000 currently facing transition experience even more challenges. Most youth leaving the foster care system do not receive enough support to succeed while living independently. Youth that have been placed in the foster care system are more likely to be imprisoned, unemployed, and uneducated. Together, those three things often lead to homelessness. These kids are thrown into a system that they do not understand, leaving them unprepared for the challenges that adult life includes. The issue is whether or not the foster care system provides a sufficient transitional living program for youths that are beginning to age out of the system (Courtney).
The survey mainly focused on how well they were supervised, provided with things they needed, sexual abuse, and physical abuse. The study showed that most children in the foster care system suffer from abuse or neglect more than other ordinary families. The results also showed that most of the kids have health problems are behind in social and cognitive development. Foster children were shown to be way below average in their cognitive and social skills in every single level that they measured. The study also showed that the older kids who had been in the system and were either abused sexually assaulted or in group homes had a low risk for well
Adoption prevents children from being in the foster care system. The foster care system is seriously broken and children can major consequences in the future. Many children are moved from one place to another, never knowing when they are going to be placed in another home. According to Children’s Rights, in 2014, more than 22,000 children aged out of foster care without permanent homes. This increases the likelihood of children to experience homelessness, unemployment, and incarceration as adults. Most of the time, children placed in foster care have experienced a terrifying childhood and abandoned by the people who were supposed to care for them. As a result, children will not have any form of stability because they are being moved from one home to another in just a few weeks. Stability is necessary for child development because they need to create physical and emotional bonds. Children who experience disruptions in the first
Researches have shown that children in foster care( where a designated adult temporarily cares for a child or children whose birth parent is unable to care for the child.)have a higher risk of physical and mental health problems like ADHD ,Asthma, and depression.We were not surprised by our results considering these children's difficulties researcher Kristin Turney said.This study justifies that kids in foster care are particularly vulnerable to face risks of physical health problems like obesity,asthma, hearing difficulties,and seeing problems. The researchers also found that foster children 7 times more likely to have behavioral problems or anxiety and depression.” We can not determine if fostercare created these problems or
Okpych, : Nathanael. "Policy Framework Supporting Youth Aging-out of Foster Care through College."Children Youth Service Review (2012): n. pag. Science Direct. Web.
Taking on the role of a foster parent is no easy task, children in foster care have often experienced trauma in their lives creating additional needs compared to the average child. These needs have the potential to take an emotional toll on foster parents leading them to compassion fatigue or burnout. However, the need for foster parents is great. Foster care was created with the intention of reunification in mind so that children could safely return to their biological families when Child Protective Services deemed the household a safe place for the children. Until that time children are placed in foster homes where, within recent years, the average length of stay in foster care has been increasing for the children (Brown, 2008). Although the length of the placement itself isn’t an issue the additional toll the extended time period takes on foster parents is. Evidence has proven that it is challenging to retain foster parents especially after their first year (Fees et al., 1998, p. 348). Unfortunately social workers within Child Protective Services frequently have high turnover rates because of this the case managers that remain are often overwhelmed by the caseloads, due to underfunding of the programs (Meyers, 2002). This limits the case manager’s ability to effectively support foster parents as they care for a child. This review of the