Facts:

Merriam Webster’s definition: A situation in which for a period of time a child lives with and is cared for by people who are not the child’s parents.

The primary goal of foster care is the reunification of families. The federal government supports spending and legislation of foster care. All children, age range from 0-18, are protected by the government. In states, the age has increase to 21.

  • 3 million reports of child abuse in one year within the United States. 2,160,000 were never investigated

    • estimated 1,299 of these children died

  • More than 420,000 children are in foster care in the United States

  • A major problem within the system is the Department of Children and Family Services fails (DCFS) to do their job. 72% of children the in foster care system were not checked on after it was reported they had experienced abuse or neglect.

  • 40-80% of children face developmental disorders

  • With little foster parents in the United States, children are often sent to juvenile centers or group homes

  • Children who age out of the system are left with little experience and no support system

  • 90% of children in foster care experience trauma

    • trauma affects the body, the brain and the behavior

  • Disorders related to foster care

    • Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

    • Anxiety

    • Depression

    • Eating Disorder

    • Reactive Attachment Disorder

    • Social Phobia

    • Borderline Personality

    • Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Sources

Justice For Children. “System Is Failing Children.” Justice for Children, 23 Nov. 2015, justiceforchildren.org/about-us/system-is-failing-our-children. Justice For Children

“How Does The Foster Care System Work? – iFoster.” iFoster, www.ifoster.org/blogs/how-does-the-foster-care-system-work/. Accessed 20 Aug. 2022. iFoster

“Mental Health and Foster Care.” Mental Health and Foster Care, www.ncsl.org/research/human-services/mental-health-and-foster-care.aspx#:%7E:text=Up%20to%2080%20percent%20of,percent%20of%20the%20general%20population. Accessed 20 Aug. 2022. Mental Health and Foster Care

Statista. “Adoption in the U.S.: Parents' Belief in Abuse/Neglect of Child Prior to Placement.” Statista, 20 Jan. 2021, www.statista.com/statistics/255819/percentage-of-us-children-adopted-by-parents-belief-in-abuse-prior-to-placement. Statistics

Marquis, R. A., Leschied, A. W., Chiodo, D., & O'Neill, A. (2008). The relationship of child neglect and physical maltreatment to placement outcomes and behavioral adjustment in children in foster care: A canadian Perspective1. Child Welfare, 87(5), 5-25. Retrieved from https://www.proquest.com/scholarly-journals/relationship-child-neglect-physical-maltreatment/docview/213803924/se-2?accountid=131029

Franklin, T. (1986, Oct 01). ABUSE RISE BURDENING FOSTER CARE: [SPORTS FINAL, C EDITION]. Chicago Tribune (Pre-1997 Fulltext) Retrieved from https://www.proquest.com/newspapers/abuse-rise-burdening-foster-care/docview/290973379/se-2?accountid=131029