"this isn't about saving money, this is about saving lives. Just focusing on foster care is too late. we can help many children and families before they enter the foster care system". -marianne udow (udow)
WHO: Who is in foster care?
Foster care is one of many issues this world is faced with. Although recent concern has interested many, foster care itself is no recent issue. Foster care was first introduced in 1853 by Charles Loring Brace, the founder of The Children's Aid Society (Foster Care History & Accomplishments). In that time, there were around 30,000 homeless/neglected children in New York City. He had the great idea to send the children on trains to live with families on farms. This created the Orphan Train Movement (1853-early 1900s) which brought over 120,000 children to new families (Foster Care History & Accomplishments). This was the beginning of the foster care we know today. Foster care includes children ages 0-18 with an issue at home (Foster Care and Adoption).
WHAT: What is one issue with foster care? (author's opinion)
Children are bounced from home to home with no sense of stability (author's opinion). A 1/3 of children in foster care are found to have behavioral, emotional, or developmental problems. (Foster Care) This is a huge stress added to children's lives, and clearly takes a toll on them. The worst part of foster care is the effect is has on the children going through all the struggle and pain of all the detached emotions and insecurities.
WHEN: When are children in foster care?
Children can go into foster care from birth through age 18 (Foster Care and Adoption).
Foster care is one of many issues this world is faced with. Although recent concern has interested many, foster care itself is no recent issue. Foster care was first introduced in 1853 by Charles Loring Brace, the founder of The Children's Aid Society (Foster Care History & Accomplishments). In that time, there were around 30,000 homeless/neglected children in New York City. He had the great idea to send the children on trains to live with families on farms. This created the Orphan Train Movement (1853-early 1900s) which brought over 120,000 children to new families (Foster Care History & Accomplishments). This was the beginning of the foster care we know today. Foster care includes children ages 0-18 with an issue at home (Foster Care and Adoption).
WHAT: What is one issue with foster care? (author's opinion)
Children are bounced from home to home with no sense of stability (author's opinion). A 1/3 of children in foster care are found to have behavioral, emotional, or developmental problems. (Foster Care) This is a huge stress added to children's lives, and clearly takes a toll on them. The worst part of foster care is the effect is has on the children going through all the struggle and pain of all the detached emotions and insecurities.
WHEN: When are children in foster care?
Children can go into foster care from birth through age 18 (Foster Care and Adoption).
WHERE: Where do they go?
Many children return to their parents overtime, but unfortunately that is not the result in all cases (The AFCARS Report). Some children go to foster homes with relatives as their guardians (The AFCARS Report). Some go into group homes or institutions (The AFCARS Report). Most children go to regular foster families that they have never met (The AFCARS Report). On occasion, there is a runaway reported (The AFCARS Report). When old enough, some teenagers can request supervised independent living, so they are able to live in like apartments on their own (The AFCARS Report).
WHY: Why are they in foster care?
Children in foster care are always there for a reason, no kid ever chooses to be in foster care. The main reasons a child is put in foster care, is because of child abuse/neglect, abandoned, a physical, emotional or mental illness, incarceration of the parent, AIDS, substance abuse, and death (Foster Care).
Although governments are trying to improve the difficult process of foster care, it is still clearly an issue. Being a huge issue, people should read up on information, become aware of the issue, and become a part of the solution. All children deserve a stable, loving home. "Having children, and providing a quality care for children adds such an incredible layer of purpose to your life." -Kashif (What You Can Do To Help FOSTER CHILDREN).
Many children return to their parents overtime, but unfortunately that is not the result in all cases (The AFCARS Report). Some children go to foster homes with relatives as their guardians (The AFCARS Report). Some go into group homes or institutions (The AFCARS Report). Most children go to regular foster families that they have never met (The AFCARS Report). On occasion, there is a runaway reported (The AFCARS Report). When old enough, some teenagers can request supervised independent living, so they are able to live in like apartments on their own (The AFCARS Report).
WHY: Why are they in foster care?
Children in foster care are always there for a reason, no kid ever chooses to be in foster care. The main reasons a child is put in foster care, is because of child abuse/neglect, abandoned, a physical, emotional or mental illness, incarceration of the parent, AIDS, substance abuse, and death (Foster Care).
Although governments are trying to improve the difficult process of foster care, it is still clearly an issue. Being a huge issue, people should read up on information, become aware of the issue, and become a part of the solution. All children deserve a stable, loving home. "Having children, and providing a quality care for children adds such an incredible layer of purpose to your life." -Kashif (What You Can Do To Help FOSTER CHILDREN).