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Foster Care Literature Review

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Literature Review Throughout the years, research has been conducted on the effects that foster care can have on children. In the United States alone, there are roughly 670,000 children who have spent time in the foster care system each year (“Foster Care,” 2017). Of those children, approximately 33% of them age out of foster care system. Studies then show that the foster care system has had varying effects on the children who are/have been a part of it. In many cases, studies have noted the effects of attachment for children in foster care. Additionally, research had also compared the effects of foster care to that of institutionalized care in which foster care proves to present more suitable environment for children. Ultimately most …show more content…

Without this attachment, children can often experience varying emotional, social, and behavioral effects. In contrast to children placed in institutional care, those who were formerly in foster care “had a higher percentage of secure attachment representations and a lower percentage of insecure representations” (Nowacki & Schoelmerich, 2010, p. 556). Another study had also found a correlation between the presence of social support mental health in youth who are aging out of foster care and who were victims of maltreatment. The youths who were perceived to have higher levels of social support showed fewer symptoms of depression (Salazar, Keller & Courtney, 2011). In addition, research has examined the adult outcomes of children in foster with at least one mentoring relationship. These relationships have created numerous positive outcomes for the youth as they enter adulthood, which includes increased educational attainment, improved self-esteem, improved functioning in a relationship, etc (Ahrens et al., 2011). By establishing this type of relationship, children feel more inclined to seek out and/or accept help from the person during a vulnerable time for them. Forming relationships and bonds can be critical to the development of a child, especially one who has been a part of the foster care

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Foster Youth books often expand on the complexity of psychosocial transformations and trials and tribulations children face in the process of being placed in foster care system, but authors do not incorporate testimonials from the youth. An example of such book is called To the End of June, in which the Cris Bream sheds light on the foster care policies and the meaning of family without expanding on the life history of foster children. In order to be able to understand one of the most vulnerable members within society, foster youth, it is important to have contextual evidence, such as personal testimonies from the youth. Yes, it is significant to understand the statistics and policies that play a role in the foster youth community, but it is vital for stories to be shared in order to humanize the group.

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Their family staying together is what kept them going “But we always fought back, usually as a team” (165) and no matter what problems they faced, at the end of the day, they had each other “‘we may not have insulation,’ Mom said as we all gathered around the stove, ‘but we have each other’”(176). It should come to no surprise that researchers found that “Children usually do better psychologically and that the placement is commonly more stable when they are put into the same foster care home with each other, especially when the children are familiar with each other and have a pre-established positive relationship” (Smith). This type of transition would disrupt what normal family life the children had before foster

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The Effects of a Broken System Foster care is a system in which a child under the age of eighteen, is placed in a temporary home away from one’s parents due to physical or mental neglect. Children from as young as a few days old to teenage years are placed in foster care every day. The amount of children in the system affect how needs are met and how high these youths are placed on a need of special care for problems that were developed before and while in the system. Most of which occur because they are abused and that is why they were taken away. Foster care is an escape for those being mistreated.

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673 Words | 3 Pages

According to a Child Protective Investigation, there are approximately half a million children in the U.S. foster care system, otherwise known as congregate care (group homes and institutions). Children are placed in congregate care when they are found to be in an unsafe environment. Usually children of abuse or maltreatment are placed first (Font, 2015). Out-of-home-care causes increased problems of attachment, behavioral, and psychological disorders in the developing child. Child safety is the primary goal of out-of-home-care; however, maltreatment investigations are still reported in those institutions.

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599 Words | 3 Pages

Although the system is intended to assist children in need, numerous people contend that it is far from being a flawless solution. To better support the needs of vulnerable children, it is important to comprehend the potential risks and drawbacks linked with the foster care system and strive to develop solutions. The system of foster care has become corrupt and does

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a. Foster parents can have an impact on the lives of a foster child by giving them a safe place to stay where they can feel loved and cared for. Foster parents can also provide the love and support that these children need especially if they came from an abused or neglected home. According to (Hasenecz, 2009) there have been several shocking stories about children being abused and neglected while in foster care or even worse reports of social workers who knew of the abuse and neglect and failed to report it or do anything about

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Common misconceptions associated with being in foster care portray youth in the system as orphans. Youth in foster care are supposedly delinquents, and will perform poorly in academics compared to their peers who are not placed in these institutions. In society, these stereotypes are often pretended, but very little people understand the circumstances and factors the youth in the foster care system are facing. Youth in care are often juxtaposed to their community counterparts, to signify the impact of being a ward of the state, rather than being with a family member.

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Most children are entering foster care in the early years of life when brain growth and development are most active. It is known that emotional and cognitive disruptions in the early lives of children have the potential to impair brain development. Child maltreatment during infancy and early childhood has been shown to negatively affect child development, including brain and cognitive development, attachment, and academic achievement. The experiences of infancy and early childhood provide the organizing framework for the expression of children 's intelligence, emotions, and personalities. When those experiences are primarily negative, children may develop emotional, behavioral, and learning problems that persist throughout their lifetime, especially in the absence of targeted interventions.

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In addition to the maltreatment of children in foster care, another issue that arises is that children are moved from one foster care home to another on an average of every six weeks (NCANDS, 2012). With the changes in the caregivers of children in foster care experience, the more likely they are to exhibit oppositional behavior, crying, and clinging. With that being said, in 2012, 23,396 youth aged out of the U.S. foster care system without the emotional and financial support necessary to succeed. Nearly 40% had been homeless or couch surfed, nearly 60% of young men had been convicted of a crime, and only 48% were employed. Seventy-five percent of women and 33% of men receive government benefits to meet basic needs.

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Advocates of foster care programs are declaring that the need for foster parents is greatly needed. In New Orleans alone there was a ten percent decrease in foster families. In addition, children needing to find a temporary home has increased. Some obstacles affect the outcome of this system, but not many people would guess that environment changes the situation drastically.

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Our foster care system was developed in the 19 century, and it all started with Charles Loring Brace taking in homeless children. The system has come a long way since it started by passing laws, such as the child abuse prevention and treatment act, that protect children, and among another things, however, it still has problems. Some of the major issues they have are children placements, preparing them for adulthood, the rules and regulations with the foster parents, and drug abuse among teens in foster care. Child welfare promises these kids a place to call home, to be loved, supported and cherished, as every child should. Some of these kids go from foster home to another one, which affects them in their development.

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The second theme collaboration and better communication consisted of the challenges that caseworkers faced when attempting to communicate with the youth’s support team included, social workers and foster parents. From the results lack of communication with the youth’s support team was prevalent in most of the youth in foster care. In addition to the lack of communication, foster youth expressed since they have been in foster care, numerous caseworkers have been in their lives, which also could have an impact on the accuracy of knowledge of supports in services for the youth aging out in foster care

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750 Words | 3 Pages

Children and adolescents in foster care represent a highly traumatized population and are at an elevated risk of developing Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). These youths experience a wide range of trauma ranging from familial separation, physical/emotional/sexual abuse, neglect, bereavement, and domestic/community violence. As of September 30, 2014, there were approximately 415,129 children placed in foster care (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2015). The number of children entering the foster care system has dramatically increased in recent decades, and research suggests the surge is due to the rising number of neglect cases associated with parental drug/alcohol abuse, poverty, homelessness, AIDS, and domestic violence

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713 Words | 3 Pages

When children are taken from their homes at a young age and placed in a foster home they are already create a form of disconnection, yet when taking them from their siblings their familial connections are torn away ten times faster. Siblings provide leadership, care, and challenger in each other's lives, siblings are meant to guide one another and help their family in tough times. When one doesn't have their sister or brother to be their guide, the child may not join the right crowd. Then the serious issue of full disconnection from all relationships. When one is separated from so many things all at once, it is very rare for that child to form a bond, with the adults or the other foster children.

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1766 Words | 8 Pages

Experiencing rejection and parental unavailability can cause, children develop behavioral patterns that have negative consequences for social-emotional development. Multi placement in foster care is linked, to poor social functioning as well as, emotional difficulties. There are also negative impacts on child behavior when there are multiple placement changes. It makes it hard for children to have a good relationship with their foster parents when they 've, had multiple changes in placement.(Hodges 2156). There are frequent, anxiety and depression diagnoses among foster children.

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