The Broken Foster Care System

By: Mya Gaddis

Letting a child go is one of the hardest things a parent might have to do. Children, especially newborns, require a lot of financial support and attention. Unfortunately, across the world, including the United States, some parents either can not acquire the materials that go into taking care of a child or simply don’t have the desire to take care of them at all. When this happens the child is put into foster care, a service provided by state governments for children who cannot live with their biological families. However, many people do not understand the importance of foster care and the broken nature of the system that mistreats developing children.

Teens feel crushed with the foster care system because they're continuously being watched. There are many people that play in the lives of foster children: guardians, volunteers, and social workers. This is one of the main reasons why children in the system have attachment issues; they do not receive much independence from adults. These issues are often related to poor parenting during the early years of a kid’s time in the system. The more a child moves around the system, by going from family to family, the less likely they are to form relationships with other people. It’s hard to put your trust in someone you may never see again. When a stable social connection is built, it can lead to an increased chance of having a long lifespan. It’s extremely hard for kids to open up about their problems; thus, they don’t feel that sense of attachment to anyone.

In the current state of society, we have many more job opportunities now than years ago. Our youth around the world wish to be doctors, graphic designers, criminal investigators, and so much more; however, most of these jobs require one thing: a high school diploma. This leaves children in foster care at a disadvantage for education since many move around frequently between foster homes. “It is estimated that 30-50 percent of the youth exit the foster care system without a high school diploma or high school equivalent,” According to Casey Family Programs. A high school diploma portrays, “When youth in foster care who are behind academically do pursue higher education, they are more likely to drop out because they aren’t prepared for college-level coursework,” says Mark Courtney, a professor in the School of Social Service Administration at the University of Chicago and an expert on outcomes for children in foster care.

Now, just talking about this issue isn’t going to reform the system. We need to take action in order to lower these risks for the foster kids in our community. Becoming a foster parent is an excellent way to help, but it isn’t the only way. One of the most common ways people help is by donating. Suitcases, backpacks, and duffel bags give the child a mode to move their belongings. Donating clothing, personal hygiene items, or making a donation will further help a child. Another great way to help is becoming a tutor/mentor, which can help further a child’s education or become a court-appointed special advocate (CASA), volunteer. The National Foster Care and Adoption Directory will find mentoring chances near you. Another useful program is Foster Care to Success, which has been mentoring since 1981. A CASA is a trained volunteer assigned by the Juvenile Court to make sure that the needs and interests of abused or neglected children are being met. In order to be a CASA, you need to: pass a background check, do a 30-hour pre-service training course, and stay with a case until it’s closed. There is more information on becoming a volunteer on the official website. Becoming a CASA is a great, effective way of helping foster children live a prosperous life.

Finally, find a foster family in your community and help them with errands and chores. Ask if there is anything they need to be done around the house that can make their life a little easier. Providing a family with frequent transportation is another way to take the weight off a foster parent, who often have multiple children. Taking a child to the doctor, dentist, or any fun events that are being held can be a huge blessing and make an impact. Let the family know you are there for them and listen to what they have to say. Become someone that the family can rely on to follow through with tasks given by them.

In conclusion, the foster care system is more flawed than people realize. It plants a seed of distrust and isolation in one's heart which will surely affect their lives later down the road. As a society, we get so caught up in our personal lives we forget about all the people that are suffering and lack a dedicated family, who are closer than we think. More people need to open up their homes and their heart for others in order to lessen the disadvantages which children in foster care face. Let’s come together, and make sure all children in foster care have the same opportunities we do.