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PRELIMINARY RESEARCH OF THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM

PRELIMINARY RESEARCH OF THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM. ITS CONSEQUENCES ON ADULT CHILDREN . Ties to Feminism. When there is a couple, they are a couple (regardless of gender) When a child enters the picture, the couple and child become a family Children are what make a family

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PRELIMINARY RESEARCH OF THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM

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  1. PRELIMINARY RESEARCH OF THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM ITS CONSEQUENCES ON ADULT CHILDREN

  2. Ties to Feminism • When there is a couple, they are a couple (regardless of gender) • When a child enters the picture, the couple and child become a family • Children are what make a family • Only women can give birth to a child

  3. History of Foster Care • Foster care has been used as a community-building tool • In the Middle Ages, boys were fostered to neighboring homes in a round-robin, to build community between the feudal lords • Foster care today is used to protect children from harm • Foster care is often a step in the adoption process

  4. Hypothesis • The current Foster Care System is inherently flawed • The damage to children and families is long-lasting – to the next generation • There are better ways to handle family distress and challenges • Funding is the issue, not results • Long term assistance is required, and may be low cost

  5. The Current Statistics • Point in Time. On September 30, 2010, there were an estimated 408,425 children in foster care. • Entries. During FY 2010, 254,375 children entered foster care. • Exits. During FY 2010, 254,114 children exited foster care. • Trends. From FY 2000 to FY 2010, the numbers of children in foster care on September 30 and the numbers of children who entered and who exited care during the year decreased

  6. 1) Reported abuse, neglect, or abandonment of a child • 2) The death of disappearance of both parents, the only parent, or the custodial parented coupled with the failure to make provision for the child's custody and care • 3) A parent's request that the state place the child • 4) The request by a child's long-time caretakers to relinquish a child to his parents or to a state agency • 5) The parent's refusal to authorize life-saving medical care for the child (Albert J. Solnit, MSW and MA). The Typical Reasons for Child Removal From the Home # 1 is subjective, and prone to over-reaction when presented to inexperienced DHS workers # 2 is when custodial parent has not created a guardianship document in conjunction with a will or trust # 5 is often used by the courts, and can step over a parent’s religious views or a child’s wishes

  7. Temporary State Custody • Often as a result of single parent custody • Used in the case of Rehab or Accident of the parent • Temporary guardianship arrangements are easy to set up • Unhappy or vindictive relatives may fight the parent when it’s time to take back custody of children, but courts usually find in favor of the parent

  8. Two Hidden Examples of Foster Care • A parent, typically the mother, has passed in childbirth or shortly after. The father is pressed to make a living while grieving the loss of his wife. He makes arrangements for care of the infant in his home. This surrogacy is a type of foster care. Multiple surrogates weaken attachments. • A busy couple hires a child care taker to live in the home and raise the children. Interaction with the mother is possible, but attachment is weaker.

  9. Moderate or Serious Problems in Foster Care Inmates The table refers to group home settings and private foster care settings. Children in foster care experience more than normal challenges in health and learning situations, and their social/emotional problems grow when in state custody. While many problems can be helped, the social well-being of children is seriously challenged and worsened in most cases. Private home foster care is preferable to group home foster care.

  10. Health, Leaning and Social Challenges in Children Discharged from Foster Care This table shows the difference between private foster homes and group homes. It is preferable to put children in private homes than in group homes. However, some children are unable to adjust to private home settings and must be kept in group homes. The most prevalent of all mental disorders of former foster care inmates is PTSD. The trauma of foster care cannot be over-stated. Involvement of parents in the lives of children in foster care is extremely important. A child with regular visitation and involvement is better off mentally and emotionally.

  11. Provide counseling of various types • Provide financial assistance • Provide legal help • Provide housing assistance • Provide health care • Provide educational opportunities • Provide child care and after school activities Early Intervention as a Way to Avoid Foster Care This innovative and successful program has received little or no funding in most areas. Success rates vary, but a five-year study showed promise.

  12. A young South Asian looked after child holding her black foster carer’s hand in the supermarket presents a visible difference within the child’s community. The visibility and the difference appear to the child to be reflected back to her through the gaze of her onlookers. At home, when the same child refuses to speak to, appreciate or engage at all with the man in the house, this puts a strain on the couple’s relationship. The child’s lack of engagement leads the male foster carer to believe he is failing to support his partner or get through to the young child – but the young child learnt with her mother that men don’t see her and will take her mother away and leave her abandoned. The child is aware of the strain that shows in the female foster carer and doesn’t understand why she gets so angry with her – the child’s mother wasn’t like this Case Study Visibility can lead to feelings of being misunderstood and then marginalized. However, in different circumstances visibility can also lead to positive effects and feelings of validation. Invisibility, or not being seen, can either lead to the feeling of being marginalized, or it can have the effect of being led to feel normal and so validated. Again, it is dependent on the set of circumstances, or context. The scenario above shows how a looked after child, who, in his community, is not distinguishable from his foster carers’ own children, experiences a validating effect as a result of his invisibility. (Guishard-Pine)

  13. After five years in foster care, it is very doubtful that a child will be returned to his or her family. • The Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Actmakes it easier for a state to pressure parents to relinquish their rights, since the state has been paying for foster care and other aid, such as AFDC or Medicaid programs for many years. • By removing a child from foster care and placing it in a permanent adoptive home, the child can be removed from the state dole, thus saving the state money for other children still in the system Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act A study shows that 74.3 percent of adopted children receive subsidies while only 48.3 percent of children in nonrelative foster care placements receive payments with federal matching funds. This can lead to pressure by the state for parents to relinquish rights to the child. (Dalberth, Gibbs and Berkman) (italics mine)

  14. Aging Out "Many former foster care adults have never finished high school or achieved their GED by 10 years after leaving foster care. Many lack adequate housing, or are homeless at some point between 1 and 10 years after foster care. These adult children of foster care lack the skills to become self-sufficient, and end up needing further assistance. This is a far greater population than the rest of their generation (Fagnoni)."

  15. Aging Out Films • Aging Out is a documentary by Roger Weisberg, featuring three teens getting ready to age out of the foster system. • The first clip is from “No Tomorrow” a documentary about the film Aging Out (0:33) • The second clip is Billy Boylan, a young man who aged out, telling his story (2:53) http://youtu.be/Cpv2NIZg1EY http://youtu.be/FdNRLg_QqWU

  16. Conclusion • Foster Care as we know it is flawed • There are promising intervention methods available to keep families together • Pressure on parents to relinquish rights to children is legal and done to save money • Former Foster Care Inmates need long term assistance

  17. Works Cited • Albert J. Solnit, MD, Barbara F Nordhous MSW and Ruth Lord MA. When Home Is No Haven. New Haven and London: Yale University Press, 1992. book. • Child Welfare Information Gateway. "Foster Care Statistics 2010." Children's Bureau (2011): 12. pdf document. • Children's Defense Fund. Fostering Connections. Unknown, 5 oct 2013. <http://www.childrensdefense.org/policy-priorities/child-welfare/fostering-connections/>. • CLASP. Hearing on the Implementation of Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act. pdf report. Washington DC: CLASP (Lobby), 2009. pdf report. <http://www.clasp.org/admin/site/publications/files/CLASP-Statement-for-the-Record-Fostering-Connections-to-Success-and-Increasing-Adoptions-Act.pdf>. • Connecticut, State of. Department of Children and Families, State of Connecticut. 19 July 2007. Internet website. 05 10 2013. <http://www.dir.ct.gov/dcf/Policy/court46/46-4-2.htm>. • Cusick, Gretchen Ruth, et al. Crime During the Transition to Adulthood: How Youth Fare As They Leave Out-of-Home Care. Washington DC: US Department of Justice, 2010. pdf document. • Dalberth, Barbara, Deborah Gibbs and Nancy Berkman. Understanding adoption subsidies: An analysis of AFCARS data: final report. pdf report. US Dept of Health & Human Services. Washington DC: US Dept of Health & Human Services, 2005. pdf report. 2013. <http://aspe.hhs.gov/hsp/05/adoption-subsidies/report.pdf>. • Fagnoni, Cynthia M. Foster Care: Challenges in Helping Youths Live Indepently. Testimony to Federal Committee. Washington DC: US Dept of Ways and Means, 1999. pdf document/microfiche (not found). • Fanshel, David and Eugene B. and Shinn. Children in Foster Care: A Longitudinal Investigation. NY: Columbia University Press, 1978. book. • Festinger, Trudy. No One Ever Asked Us. New York: Columbia University Press, 1983. Book. • Guishard-Pine, Jeune, McCall, Suzanne, Hamilton, Lloyd. Understanding Looked After Children : An Introduction to Psychology for Foster Care. London: Jessica Kingsley, 2007. eBook . <http://ehis.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?sid=b0c36a86-2114-40a5-a909-6528b937d368@sessionmgr12&vid=1#db=nlebk&AN=216739>. • Jones, Mary Ann. A Second Chance for Families: Five Years Later. NY: Child Welfare League of America, 1985. book. • Kinship Summit, Nashville TN. "Kinship Summit 2006: Keeping Families Together...Supporting the Natural Bridge." Kinship Summit 2006: Keeping Families Together...Supporting the Natural Bridge. Nashville: TN State, 2006. Unk. Paper Report. 2013. • Smith, Wendy B. Youth Leaving Foster Care: A Developmental, Relationship-Based Approach to Practice. NY: Oxford University Press, 2011. book. • TennCare. A Guide to TennCareofr Children in state custody. Print Booklet. Nashville: Tennessee, 1999. Print Booklet. • WomansDivorce. Temporary child custody. 2 10 2013. internet website. 5 10 2013. <http://www.womansdivorce.com/temporary-child-custody.html#STATE>.

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