Current Issues of 2017

     Despite decades of campaigns fighting against child abuse, many children are still being abused, neglected, and/or unwanted. While many people think throwing the child in the foster care system is a quick and easy solution to the problem, they’re terribly mistaken. More often than not sending a child to foster care will have a negative effect, due to the lack of explanation and assistance they get, the feeling of rejection, and instability they feel when being removed from their home. There are steps that can be taken to help smooth these issues that collectively have major effects on children. Therefore, it should be required that all foster care systems in the state of Kentucky have an orientation program to help ease a child’s transition into foster care.   

    

     US Department of Health and Human Services reports that every year, 2 million children come into contact with the child welfare system due to investigations of parental abuse or neglect (“Removal from the Home: Resulting Trauma”). Most children enter the child welfare system because someone reported they were neglected or abused (“Kentucky’s Foster Care System Is Improving, but Challenges Remain”). The allegation is investigated and, if verified and removal is deemed necessary, the child enters foster care (“Kentucky’s Foster Care System Is Improving, but Challenges Remain”).

    

     Although some children don’t realize or understand they are experiencing abuse, the effects are still very harmful to their wellbeing. Removing them from their parents, and the only life that they’ve ever known, can be traumatic for them but is necessary for their protection at times. It can also cause developmental and behavioral problems. Foster care is meant to be a temporary solution, but the US Department of Health and Human Services found that children in foster care stay for an average of two years (“Removal from the Home: Resulting Trauma”). The orientation program will help children transition into foster care by providing therapy for the child and their foster family. In addition, it will help children stay on the right path by attending mandatory quarterly meetings that will give them assistance and advice. Children entering foster care will need the therapy the orientation program requires because children that are exiting a home where they have been abused or neglected often have behavioral problems, experience fear, anxiety, depression, aggression, or withdrawal (“Child Abuse”). The orientation program is set up to help foster children develop a sense of community, consistency, and structure. 

 

     Children that are entering foster care sometimes don’t understand why they are there. The orientation program would help explain why they were taken from their homes and parents in an age appropriate level of understanding, outlining what is and is not abuse, how to report abuse, and who you can report abuse to. It will also help children understand what they can expect and what is expected of them.  The orientation program should also help children understand what the future holds for them. The program is to help children of all ages understand what has happened and what is going to happen on an age appropriate level.

           

     Since some will argue that foster care parents are just in the system for the money, and couldn’t care less about the wellbeing of the children, much less how the child transitions into their home, the orientation program will provide solutions.  The program will help the foster parents learn how to make the transition better for the child. The program will hold a mandatory meeting that are quarterly. This will help the system by making sure the foster parents are taking care of the children responsibly and meeting the requirements.

 

     Although there isn’t any research about orientation programs for foster children, there are studies about exit programs. I have included a piece from an exit study that I believe can be projected to the potential success of an orientation program, if implemented.

 

     Studies show that many youth who exit foster care have difficulties as they transition to adult life. They are more likely than their peers to drop out of school, be unemployed or homeless, experience health and mental health problems and not have health insurance, become teen parents, use illegal drugs, and have encounters with the criminal justice system. One study examined a group of youth formerly in foster care and found that by age 23 or 24:

• Youth  formerly in foster care were three times as likely as youth not in foster care to not have a high school diploma or GED and one-fifth as likely to have a college degree.

• Fewer than half of the youth formerly in care had a job, and those working often did not make living wages.

• Almost one quarter of youth formerly in care had experienced homelessness.        

• Over 40 percent of males formerly in foster care reported contact with the criminal justice system. These and similar findings from other studies suggest that youth are leaving foster care unprepared. They often lack important knowledge and skills for living on their own, essentials for securing and maintaining employment, and critical health and support services.

    

     Research and experience tells us that youth are more likely to succeed if they are exposed to protective factors-conditions that buffer risks and improve outcomes. For example, a California study found that foster youth participating in campus support programs remain in college longer and graduate at higher rates than other students. The development of resilience and protective factors among youth in care are strengthened through:

• Close relationships with caring adults, such as foster parents

• High expectations

• Opportunities for positive contributions and recognition through participation in youth advocacy, school activities, and community volunteer experiences

   (U.S Department of Health and Human Services, and Children's Bureau.)

    

      I believe if we implemented an orientation program, we could lower the rates of children dropping out of school and entering the criminal justice system because they would be more receptive to building relationships with their foster families and social workers and many opportunities for positive experiences through the quarterly meetings.  The quarterly meetings will offer chances to build relationships with their peers, contributions and participation in youth advocacy, volunteering, different activities, counselling, recognition, career skill building, etc. If these things are introduced from the beginning, while transitioning into foster care, instead of just while exiting out of foster care, it could make an incredible difference in the lives of these children.

 

     Overall, the foster care system is meant to help children overcome the bad situations they’ve had to face. Although, the child leaving their home and parents can be tough, an orientation program would help the child transition into their foster home and may change their life. It will help children build relationships with their foster parents along with the employees that they will be working with.  Therefore, it should be required that all foster care systems have an orientation program in the state of Kentucky.  

 

 

Works Cited

“Child Abuse.” Safe Horizon, www.safehorizon.org/get-help/child  abuse/?                           utm_campaign=National&utm_source=ppc&utm_term=Child%2BAbuse&gclid=            Cj0KEQjwtu3GBRDY6ZLY1erL44EBEiQAAKIcvsi8xMKGZOlTNYR67618rx38OvXWeOY3bUZBbvrizkQaAmaj8P8HAQ#overview/. Accessed 29 Mar. 2017.

 

“Kentucky’s Foster Care System Is Improving, but Challenges Remain.” Legislative Research Commission, November 9, 2006, http://www.lrc.ky.gov/lrcpubs/rr342.pdf. Accessed 29  Mar. 2017.

 

“Removal from the Home: Resulting Trauma.” UPenn Collaborative on Community Integration,            tucollaborative.org/pdfs/Toolkits_Monographs_Guidebooks/parenting/Factsheet_4_Resulting_Trauma.pdf. Accessed 29 Mar. 2017.

 

U.S Department of Health and Human Services, and Children's Bureau. “Helping Youth  Transition to Adulthood: Guidance for Foster Parents.” Child Welfare Information Gateway, Apr. 2013, doi:10.1037/e553182013-001. Accessed 2 Apr. 2017.