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Foster care is a system by which adults care for minor children who are not able to live with their biological parents. In the United States, many states have provisions for voluntary or involuntary foster care. Voluntary foster care may be in circumstances where a parent is unable or unwilling to care for a child. For instance, a child may have behavioral problems requiring specialized treatment or the parent might have a problem. Involuntary foster care may be implemented when a child is removed from the normal caregiver for his/her own safety.

Requirements to be a foster parent vary by jurisdiction, as do monetary reimbursement and other benefits which they receive. In some states, foster parents may be single or a couple, younger or older adults, with or without biological children in their home. Often, "empty nesters" whose children have grown up and left the home may choose to take in foster children.

Foster care is intended to be a temporary living situation for children. The goal of foster care is to reunify with their parent or guardian or find another suitable permanent living arrangement. This may include an adoptive home, guardianship, or placement with a relative. At times, the bond that develops during foster care will lead to the foster parents adopting the child. In some instances, children may be placed in a long-term foster placement. For older adolescents, a foster care program may offer education and resources to prepare for a transition to independent living.

Foster homes in the United States

In the United States, foster home licensing requirements vary from state to state but are generally overseen by the state's Department of "Social Services" or "Human Services".

In many states children, unable to function in a foster home, usually due to behavioral problems stemming from child abuse and neglect, are placed in Residential Treatment Facilities (RTFs) or other such group homes meant to treat children with similar backgrounds. The focus of treatment in such facilities is to prepare the child for a return to a foster home, to an adoptive home, or to the biological parents when applicable. However, adoption of children who are considered a special need in foster care is an ongoing social problem within the United States often due to the lack of funding that could pay to train foster parents to appropriately care for children with special needs.

Due to behavioral problems, family suitability, care availability, and other issues, the majority of foster care children move multiple times during their stay in state-mandated care. Most foster care children move between care families seven times during their entire stay in the system. Foster care children in some states face even more instability. In California, for example, one in ten foster care children move five or more times every single year.

"Aging-Out" of Foster Care

Nearly 20,000 foster care teens "age-out" of the foster care system each year. Many of these young adults lack the support and life skills necessary to live on their own. Foster care studies have shown that in just four years after leaving foster care, 25 percent of "aged-out" youth have been homeless, 42 percent have become parents themselves, fewer than 20 percent are able to support themselves, and only 46 percent have graduated from high school. “Aged-out” foster care youth are at high risk for substance abuse, domestic violence and poverty.

Recent United States Foster Care Legislation

On November 19, 1997, President Bill Clinton signed a new foster care law (The Adoption and Safe Families Act 1997, ) which dramatically reduced the time children are allowed to remain in foster care before being available for adoption. The new law requires state child welfare agencies to identify cases where "aggravated circumstances" make permanent separation of child from biological family the best option for the safety and well-being of the child. One of the main components of The Adoption and Safe Families Act (ASFA) is the imposition of time limits on reunification efforts. In the past, it was common for children to languish in care for years with no permanent living situation identified. They often were moved from placement to placement with no real plan for a permanent home. ASFA requires that state identify a permanent plan for children who enter foster care.

Effects of chronic maltreatment & children in foster care

The National Adoption Center found that 52% of adoptable children (meaning those children in U.S. foster care freed for adoption) had symptoms of attachment disorder. A study by Dante Cicchetti found that 80% of abused and maltread infants exhibited attachment disorder symtoms (disorganized subtype). Cite error: The <ref> tag has too many names (see the help page).

See also

Adoption

Attachment theory

Child Welfare

Complex post-traumatic stress disorder

Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy

Reactive Attachment Disorder

References

• Littlefield, Jamie (2006). "Help 'Aged-out' Foster Care Teens Become Productive Adults" Retrieved Jun. 27, 2006.
• Hurley, Kendra (2002). "Almost Home" Retrieved Jun. 27, 2006.
• Charity Guide (2006). "Collect Suitcases for Foster Care Children" Retrieved July 7, 2006.

1. Carlson, V., Cicchetti, D., Barnett, D., & Braunwald, K. (1995). Finding order in disorganization: Lessons from research on maltreated infants’ attachments to their caregivers. In D. Cicchetti & V. Carlson (Eds), Child Maltreatment: Theory and research on the causes and consequences of child abuse and neglect (pp. 135-157). NY: Cambridge University Press.

External links

• Too many stops Audio documentary documenting former foster child's life story. Aired on CBC Radio Outfront on September 12, 2002.
• International Foster Care OrganisationThe only charitable NGO solely devoted to the development of Foster Care with members in 50+ countries. Web site is in English & Spanish.
• Adoptioninformation.com - Wiki-style site for everything adoption and foster.
• FosterParenting.com Extensive resource about foster parenting and foster care
• FosterCares.org Non-profit organization providing free clothing, toys, and equipment to foster children throughout the state of Georgia.
• Alabama Baptist Childrens Home Baptist agency that provides private and public foster care
• Aging Out Aging Out is a documentary produced by PBS that chronicles the obstacles faced by teens who 'age out' of the foster care system.
• Foster Care of Family Care for Children and Youth. A private, nonprofit social service agency providing children with specialized, community-based foster care services.
• Aspira Foster & Family Services The largest, non-profit out-of-home care ageny in California, provides foster care and adoption services from a network of over 25 local offices throughout the state.
• (http://www.fostering.net The Fostering Network is the UK’s leading charity for all those involved in foster care, and exists to ensure that fostered children receive the highest standards of care.
• Fostering - Adopting Older Children. A community of foster and adoptive parents and prospective parents of older children, sibling groups, teenagers, and other special needs children.
• Bethany Christian Services Nationwide non-profit agency that provides private and public foster care.
• extendedReach Software Provides web-based software to manage foster care services.

References

• Family