History on Foster Care Foster care is when a minor is put into a ward or home, where the child will be taken care of by a certified caregiver. Foster care has been used for many years (History of Foster Care in the United States). The earliest documentation of foster care would be in the new testament of the bible but in the United States 1562 was the year laws made foster care a legal option. Laws in 1562 allowed poor children to be placed into indentured care until the child became of age. As time passes foster care has more laws and guidelines to it. The process of putting a child is or can be a long procedure. Foster care started when people would put children that they no longer could take care of in almshouses. Almshouses was a place where poor people lived in …show more content…
Abuse was very common on all children placed in almshouse and even in foster care systems after alms houses were no longer used. When children were put in these foster homes it was typically because the parent of the child passed away, not because they had experienced abuse. These children usually first experienced abuse after being put in to an almshouse. The government or president would never stop abuse to children because at that point in time abuse was legal and accepted. Even today thousands of children who are in the foster care system get reported of being neglected or abused today. One of the most popular cases of child abuse in foster care was Mary Ellen Wilson in the 1800’s. She had daily whippings and beatings. No organizations protected abuse then, so an attorney from the animal abuse society took her case. The attorney stated if there is a law about abusing animals there should be one on abusing children. He foster mom was sentences 1 year for assault and battery. 4 But over time the abuse has improved as well as the foster care system and is not as bad as it was in the 1500’s. But abuse in foster care is still a big problem in America