How Can We Increase the Number Of Foster Homes in America?
By: Laurie Eller, Casey Trawick, Dawn Thomas, Brooke Ochs
Foster Care: How Can We Increase the Number of Foster Homes in America? 1
How Can We Increase the Number of Foster Homes in America?
Table of Contents Introduction……………………………………………………………… 3 The Scope of the Problem………………………………………… 4 The Ramifications of the Problem……………………………. 6
Approach One…………………………………………………………. 7 Approach Two………………………………………………………….12 Approach Three……………………………………………………….17 Related Websites……………………………………………………..22 Works Cited……………………………………………………………..23
Foster Care: How Can We Increase the Number of Foster Homes in America? 2
How Can We Increase the Number of Foster Homes in America?
Introduction: A brief background of the issue of foster care as well as information concerning contributing factors. Statistics will also be included to help illustrate the scope and ramifications of this issue.
Approach One: This approach focuses ways to expand awareness of the needs of the children in foster care and ways to erase the stigma of the foster system.
Approach Two: This approach focuses on ways to promote awareness of financial incentives available to foster families.
Approach Three: This approach focuses on ways to increase the non-foster-family support system so foster families and children have more advocates and support.
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ntroduction
The magnitude of foster care in America is startling. Nearly 500,000 youth of every race, ethnicity, culture, and age group are affected by foster care each year (Williams-Mbengue). Children and youth are placed in foster care when their parents or guardians are unable to ensure their wellbeing. These young people need stable, loving care until they can safely reunite with their families or establish another lifelong relationship. The need for additional and improved foster homes is greater than ever. Nearly 60% of children in foster care in America wait two or more years before finding a permanent home (kidsdata.org). Factors that contribute to this issue are a lack of social workers, no wide spread campaign, and apathy towards the subject among the general populace.
Foster Care: How Can We Increase the Number of Foster Homes in America? 3
Statistics that illustrate the scope of foster care, addressing both the number of children in foster care as well as problems they face now and in their future.
The number of children entering the foster care system each year is astounding! Table 1.1, which consists of information provided by the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS), in the preliminary reporting for fiscal year of 2014, states that more than 415,000 children were in care. According to the same graph, almost 265,000 children enter into foster care during the year 2014. From the year 2010 to 2014 the number of children entering into foster care did not dip below 250,000. These numbers do not include children who are already in foster care, these are strictly the number of incoming each year. Why are so many children entering into foster care? Children are removed from their homes due to maltreatment. Many times these children are not removed until multiple investigations have been made and family support agencies have done all they can to help them maintain placement with their families. “Every year more than 3.6 million referrals are made to child protection agencies involving more than 6.6 million children (a referral can include multiple children)” (Child Help). Those cases that have not been entered into the foster care system have either received help from child protection services to maintain placement with their families, been found as unsubstantiated, or, sadly, abuse has been overlooked. Once a child has entered the system the odds begin to stack against them. A child’s age can mean those odds against a successful transition are even greater. Children between the ages of 11 and 18 constitute almost half (47%) of the foster care population. Approximately 17% are over age 16. These children need help in establishing healthy connections with other youth and caring adults and in acquiring educational and life-skills training that can assist them in the transition to adulthood (Bass, et. al). However, there is an insufficient number of foster homes and even fewer are willing to take older children. Because of the deficit of homes focused on the young adults, many older children end up in either group homes, institutions, supervised independent living, or as runaways. The percentage of children in these settings can be found in table 1.2. Mira Zimet launched a campaign called The Storyboard Project where she gives foster youth who have transitioned into adulthood the opportunity to tell their story. She gives advice to those in the community, “If you are in one of the “helping professions” – a doctor, nurse, teacher, or
Foster Care: How Can We Increase the Number of Foster Homes in America? 4
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police officer – and you come across a foster youth, maybe even a difficult foster youth, change your perception. We have to be the mirrors they use to reflect themselves. We have to be the ones who remind them that their circumstances don’t define them and that they do, in fact, have worth.”
Foster care affects children, but it also has effects that may linger into adulthood. Only approaching this problem immediately with love and compassion can we hope to improve the lives of the thousands of children in foster care and give them a chance at a much brighter future.
Table 1.1
These tables show numbers relating to the foster care system from the years 2010— 2014 (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services).
Table 1.2
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/cb/afcarsreport22.pdf Foster Care: How Can We Increase the Number of Foster Homes in America? 5
NATIONAL STUDIES ON KIDS AGING OUT OF FOSTER CARE SHOW: (Child and Family Services)
60 percent of females had given birth 90 percent have no health-care coverage
Are more likely to be homeless Have lower math and reading skills and only half complete high school
Without the use of life skills typically learned in stable environments and steady school attendance, foster children have a hard time finishing school and pursuing further education. Over 1/3 of foster care youth, in a recent study, had not received a high school diploma or GED compared to fewer than 10% of their same-age peers (Eidson). In addition to not finishing school, about 25% - 40% foster care youth become homeless upon discharge from care (Eidson). If each year about 300,000 youth age out of the foster care system nationally (National Foster Care Month), one may begin to see the vast number of potential homeless young adults and the serious ramifications that may come because of this. Due to homelessness, when these children are released from the care of the state they become desperate to support themselves. Thus former foster children are more likely to end up incarcerated than their peers who have never experienced foster care. These children get involved in petty crimes in order to survive — no source of income means no food and no shelter. When caught, they are taken to jail. While there, they are provided shelter, a bed and three meals a day. This may make it difficult for them to see the alternative, homelessness and living on the streets, as preferable (National Foster Care Month). The cycle may even be perpetuated as these young people may lose their own children to foster care, and the cycle begins again. We will discuss options for helping foster children have hope for the future.
Are more likely to be involved in the criminal justice system with about 19 percent incarcerated http//www.publicdomainpictures.netview-image.phpimage=30938&picture=silhouettes-of-children
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Expand awareness of the needs of foster children and erase the stigma of the foster care system
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hildren thrive in an environment that includes an adult who is committed to their long-term wellbeing — someone on whom they can depend to take them to school, monitor their grades, attend sporting events, and ask about their friends. The foster care system tries to provide this stable lifestyle for those children who, regrettably, have been let down by their parents. This is done by placing them in foster homes. This network of support can help a child perform well academically, have positive physical and mental health outcomes, and make it more likely that they will develop good relationship and social skills that can enable them to become successful adults. Unfortunately, foster homes are scarce and the need for them is great. We, as a community, need to erase the stigma of those attached to foster care and its system. We need to bring awareness and answer questions on how the foster care system works. Finding permanent homes for these children is not easy, but the legislation has rules in place to get the job done; communities just need to support them. We hope that by addressing misunderstandings and stigmas we can work in an organized and active way toward improving the lives of foster children. Erasing the Stigma Children in foster care feel some sort of shame or disgrace about their situation. When you top that with a society who often views them as troubled, aggressive, and delinquent, you have a formula for children who systematically end up homeless or in jail. This false stigma associated with being a foster child is paralyzing to their growth. We need to erase the stigma of foster care for those in and out of the system. Mira Zimet states that, “Ending the stigma for foster youth is only one of many things that needs to be done to protect this invisible group of children. We need – as a society – to get the message out that they are not the damaged ones. And we need to truly believe it ourselves as well.”
“We need – as a society – to get the message out that they are not the damaged ones.” -Mira Zimet
There are two key components to this program. 1. Erasing the stigma of the foster care for those in and out of the system 2. Finding permanent homes for children through the legislative role that is now in place
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Expand awareness of the needs of foster children and erase the stigma of the foster care system Zimet interviewed Marquis, a former foster child, and asked if he believed there is a stigma. Marquis said, “I do believe there is a stigma against foster youth. I just remember at a certain point…wanting to hide that part of my life because in schools or in certain situations I didn’t want to be judged. So before when people would meet me and we would build relationships, but they wouldn’t know my personal experience through the foster care system. A lot of it is curiosity. Well what is a foster youth? What is your background and what did you do, things like that.”
Reasons Children Enter the Foster Care System Neglect
84.4%
Physical Abuse
8.0%
Sexual Abuse
1.9%
Other
5.7%
Like Marquis said many people are curious about foster youth and the system because they are uneducated in it. If the community could help answer *Statistics from the State of the questions of those who are curious about foster care, the harsh stigma as- California, Kidsdata.org sociated with the youth and the system can be reduced. Examples of stigmas that are often attached is that the children behaved badly, attacked someone, or that they are juvenile delinquents. In the majority of cases, foster children are children that have been abused, neglected, or abandoned by their biological parents. Foster children are the victims and did nothing to wind up in foster care.
Another stigma attached to foster children is that these children are developmentally delayed. This is not exactly true. In reality, many foster children suffer from a lack of educational exposure and support from home, leading to setbacks in their educational growth. 86% of foster children are moved at least 2 times in the period of eighteen months (kidsdata.org). Every time a child is moved they fall behind in school. You can imagine that it would be hard to learn when you have instability in your life and you are transferring schools. Children benefit from stable and nurturing family lives, positive school environments, and networks of caring friends, relatives and neighbors. The foster care system attempts to address those needs in hopes that they will develop good relationships and social skills that can enable them to become successful in life.
Key Component One: Erase the Stigma Children in foster care feel some sort of shame about their situation. When you top that with a society who often views them as troubled, aggressive and delinquent, you have a formula for kids who systematically end up homeless or in jail. Foster Care: How Can We Increase the Number of Foster Homes in America? 8
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Expand awareness of the needs of foster children and erase the stigma of the foster care system Judith Thomas, a treatment parent and social worker, was interviewed for this project, and she addressed what the community can do to help fight the stigma. She feels that if foster children can have neighbors who care for them just as a neighbor cares for other children, then this support will go a long way. This helps the children expand to the comforts of home in a new area and the children may feel the dreaded stigma less. Mrs. Thomas told a story about her foster boy, Jay, who had some community service hours he had to work off. He was able to arrange with a teacher at the elementary school to go there to teach and play sports with the students. The kids loved playing with him, and Jay not only felt love and trust, but felt like he was doing a good deed as well. He continued his service even after his hours were up. This teacher had to show faith and trust that Jay would be dependable in working off his hours. Jay knew this and felt the acceptance from the teacher. Because of her acceptance of Jay, she was able to brighten his life and the lives of her students. If the community could provide more opportunities like this, then the foster child and many others may be able to benefit.
“I prefer using cherished child because we care about these children deeply. So much so, that we are willing to foster them—to raise them up—in their time of need, promoting their multi-faceted potential.” -Michelle Madrid-Branch former foster child and advocate for foster children.
Finding permanent homes for children through the legislative role that is now in place Foster care is a system in which a minor has been placed into a ward, group home, or private home of a state-certified caregiver, referred to as a "foster parent". The placement of the child is normally arranged through the government or a social service agency. Creating and fostering a safe, permanent, long-term connections between a child and a caring adult has become a major goal of our nation’s child welfare system. In 1999 legislation was passed called The Foster Care Independence Act (Bass and Shields). Congress appropriated $140 million per year to support transitional services and extended eligibility for transition
Key Component Two: Finding permanent homes for children through the legislative role that is now in place Foster care is a system in which a minor has been placed into a ward, group home, or private home of a state-certified caregiver, referred to as a "foster parent". The placement of the child is normally arranged through the government or a social service agency. Foster Care: How Can We Increase the Number of Foster Homes in America? 9
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Expand awareness of the needs of foster children and erase the stigma of the foster care system assistance to former foster children to age 21. To date, states are not “I believe the best service to fully accessing these funds or using them as effectively or creatively as the child is the service closthey could. Instead, states have relied on a range of federal funds to adest to the child, and children dress their child welfare needs. Two of these sources are TANF who are victims of neglect, (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) and SSBG (Social Services abuse, or abandonment Block Grant) which have respectively provided 19% and 20% of total fedmust not also be victims of eral funds used for child welfare as of 2006 (Spears). These two block grants are being stretched too thin and have also been in demand to bureaucracy.” fund other increasing human service needs in this time of strained state -Kenny Guinn budgets. As a result, many states have not yet been able to adopt the options provided to them through the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008 (Family Connections and Children in Foster Care). In 2008, Congress passed the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act. The law emphasized the importance of building and maintaining family connections. For example, within 30 days of a child’s removal from parents’ custody, states must notify all of the child’s grandparents and other adult relatives with information about becoming a resource for the child. This law helps the legislators in the roles of reunification, permanent placement with relatives, adoption, and legal guardianship (Williams-Mbengue). Our government already has these plans in place to take care of foster children, we now need to encourage our leaders and community to use these funds wisely and effectively.
Fostering means
Kenny Guinn, an American politician, said “I believe the best service to the child is the service closest to the child, and children who are victims of neglect, encouraging, bringing abuse, or abandonment must not also be victims of bureaucracy. They deserve up or promoting the our devoted attention, not our divided attention.” Isn’t that what fostering development of a means? To encourage, bring up or promote the development of a child. Our goal child. is for everyone to be educated in what the purpose of what the foster care system is. Hopefully erasing the stigma attached to foster care, raising awareness about foster care, and encouraging more citizens to get involved in the lives of these youth – whether as their foster parents, volunteers, mentors, employers or in other ways — will help broaden the range of support for these children. We hope that by addressing these misunderstandings and erasing the stigma we can work in an organized and active way toward improving the lives of foster children and providing them homes. Foster Care: How Can We Increase the Number of Foster Homes in America? 10
Erasing the stigma may help fill in the gaps for those children still in need. 50-60% of foster children are reunited with their biological parents while 10% head to kinship care. Therefore 3040% of kids still need a family (Stop the Stigma!). Expanding awareness, erasing the stigma and building on the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act, may help that 30-40% percent find a home.
Fewer placements over the years and faster reunification because awareness is broadened to bring about additional homes. Also bringing awareness to the community can bring about additional homes so foster children can have fewer placements over the years and faster reunification. This will give foster children more stability. The current statics of placements, for example, in the state of California are: Two or Fewer Placements Three or More Placements In Care for Less than Twenty Four Months In Care Twenty Four Months or Longer Kidsdata.org
86.6%
This may help build the number of good foster homes in 13.4% America. If potential foster parents do not feel afraid due to incorrect stigmas and if they feel they are truly contributing to re62.1% uniting families and helping these children, they may be more likely to take on the role of foster parent. 37.9%
Funds may be available, but may not be used in full. States are not fully spending funds from “Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008� or using them as effectively as they could because they have to stretch this funding across the child welfare system. Awareness does not necessarily mean action.
Not all homes are good homes or the right placement for the child . Not every home will be a good fit for a particular child. Furthermore, not every home will be a safe place for children. These shortcomings may exist regardless of stigma or awareness brought to a community. A campaign cannot fix that.
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Promoting Awareness for financial incentives for foster parents
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ncreasing the number of foster homes in America would be boosted by connecting potential homes and families to foster care programs in their communities that offer support and financial incentives. This can be done through print, digital, and social media, as well as workshops, fundraisers, safety fairs, and other events that will give the public a chance to learn about foster care opportunities near them. Additionally, current foster families need to know what resources are out there for them to receive added support which will help their jobs as foster parents become as manageable and rewarding as possible. Financial incentives are those tangible and intangible benefits available to foster families, as a way to offset the cost of caring for foster children while they reside in their care. The majority of monetary financial incentives are provided by the state and federal government; however, there are benefits which are provided by corporations, businesses, and non-profit organizations around the nation and in local communities. Many of these benefits, or incentives, serve to provide relief from costs, as well as to provide bonding opportunities for families, and a way to make memories while increasing family members’ level of commitment to each other. For example, on the website BeingFrugal.net, Lynnae McCoy writes a blog about how to “Live More. Spend Less.� As a mother and foster parent she realizes that every family could use a little help with daily expenses. She shares ideas on how to shrink debt and still take part in adventures and opportunities as a family, without breaking the bank. Linking families to quality programs Finding ways to get families involved with community, state, and national programs that provide tangible assistance can be achieved. There are multiple benefits for foster families when involved in these programs. Being involved with groups, clubs, and quality programs will help to bond families together in shared experiences. Additionally, when foster children have their basic needs met, as well as their comfort attended to, families can be drawn together, and levels of trust and respect tend to increase.
There are Two Key Components of this Program. 1. Linking Families to Quality Programs 2. Sustaining Quality Programs
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Promoting Awareness for financial incentives for foster parents The online organization, iFoster.org takes this subject very seriously. They partner with businesses and corporations to provide opportunities for foster children to earn and reFoster parents are reimceive rewards and gifts, as they work toward goals. iFoster.org has particibursed with monthly stipants set up accounts which help to track their interests, progress, and goals pends — ranging from in order to work towards items like laptops for college bound foster children. They readily do this because they acknowledge and understand the extreme $680 for a healthy infant cost of parenting. They sate, “We know that funds are limited, or funds canto almost $1,400 for a not be used for some of the resources your children need. According to the teenager with medical USDA, it now costs over $250,000 to raise a child from 0 to 17. Neither foster or emotional problems care payments nor kinship benefits (where these even exist) come close to — but they often wind covering these costs.”
up digging into their
Assistance is out there for foster families, but it can be difficult to eduown pockets. cate yourself on where to look. Utah Foster Care is one organization that -Bank strives to connect foster families with the training, help, and connections needed to care for foster children. In an interview conducted with Dan Webster, an area representative for the organization, he shares that they are in place to offer support and guidance all along the way. They partner with state and local agencies, as well as experienced foster parents, to give needed guidance to all families in need. He stresses that the payment of actual monies received per child is low in his state, beginning at around $15.00 per day and going up from there depending on the child’s age and on their individual needs. Additionally, the work of caring for foster children may be challenging, but is extremely important. There are benefits for those who open their homes, he shares this thought: “The benefit is that you get to change a life – not just kids and their biological parents, but changing your life.” Webster was quick to point out that changing a life is no small thing, it takes effort, but the reward is priceless. Being aware of strong programs is essential for those adolescents who are aging out of foster care. They need all the support they can get in order to be prepared for adulthood – continuing education, housing opportunities, and job preparation. Most state governments provide some assistance for those adoles-
Key Component One: Linking Families to Quality Programs There are wonderful programs in place to support foster families; however, these families need to be made aware of and connected to the programs in order to benefit from them. Foster Care: How Can We Increase the Number of Foster Homes in America? 13
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Promoting Awareness for financial incentives for foster parents cents who are aging out of the foster care system. According to the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) “The goals of Transition to Adult Living is to provide youth assistance in transitioning from foster care to adult living through a private/public network of support, in order to promote their success. This assistance includes assessment, mentoring, self-esteem building, personal future planning, caregiver and family networking, basic life-skills training, housing, leisure skills, education, employment, on-the-job training, information and referral, crisis support, medical, mental health and limited financial assistance.” The assistance is out there, but foster families may need help knowing where to look for it. If not utilized and sustained, programs have the potential to disappear, which is tragic. Sustainability of quality programs
“We know that funds are limited, or funds cannot be used for some of the resources your children need. According to the USDA, it now costs over $250,000 to raise a child from 0 to 17. Neither foster care payments nor kinship benefits (where these even exist) come close to covering these costs”
Sustainability is the ability to maintain existing programs that are functioning in their role to help improve the lives of foster care parents and foster children. With the help of programs like The Christmas Box House, iFoster.org, Utah Foster Care, and many more that are already out there working hard to -iFoster support foster care, we don’t need to reinvent the wheel. There are excellent programs and magnificent people who are presently working hard for children. So how can we sustain the many quality programs that are out there to help foster families succeed? Support. Organizations, websites, and other services need help, support, and awareness for what they do. That is where Foster Coalition comes in. According to Foster Coalition, “Foster kids have an image and awareness problem due to no fault of their own, and we are determined to help fix that. We write media stories, leverage social media and promote advocacy to elevate the national consciousness about foster children and foster care issues. We also help foster care advocates & organizations with their outreach efforts as well-particularly when it comes to sharing innovations that improve the status quo.”
Key Component Two: Sustainability of Quality Programs Sustainability is the ability to maintain existing programs that are functioning in their role to help improve the lives of foster care parents and foster children. Foster Care: How Can We Increase the Number of Foster Homes in America? 14
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Promoting Awareness for financial incentives for foster parents There are so many avenues for helping foster children succeed, but the most “The benefit is that you important aspect is love. Most foster parents are not in it for the money, in get to change a life – not fact, the idea of making money through having foster children in the home is just kids and their bioridiculous considering the cost of raising children today. The reality is that all logical parents, but children need love. Children need to be honored, nurtured, and guided through life with compassion. There are many homes out there that would changing your life.” serve as a refuge for abused and neglected children, and if concerns for mon-Dan Webster ey are a problem, there are always people and organizations willing to help out. One foster mother put it best: "Don't look at the money. You are going to work for every penny. Just focus on keeping the children happy. Just treat them like your own." All children deserve the chance to be happy and to be with a family where they are safe —education and resources are the key to connecting great people with great children.
Foster Care: How Can We Increase the Number of Foster Homes in America? 15
Increasing awareness of incentives may encourage more families to become foster families. By increasing awareness of the financial incentives and help offered to foster families, we may see additional, quality foster families providing homes. These homes would likely have fewer foster children, with the exception of sibling groups, leading to increased personalized attention given to each child.
Financial burdens may be decreased. Additionally, some of the financial burdens will be decreased as knowledge of incentive programs is increased and then utilized. There will also be greater bonding among the household members through activities and social events that are discovered to be available in their local area. The future of adolescents aging out of foster care can become more promising. By the time adolescents age out of the foster care system, there are safeguards in place for increasing the likelihood of a successful transition to adulthood. Connecting these young people with community and government programs that provide mentoring, education, job training, and affordable housing will benefit their future happiness and assimilation into society.
Promoting incentives may increase the number of people looking to make money off foster children. The disadvantages of promoting the available incentives of foster care could include parents joining the foster care system with the desire or need to earn money rather than as a way to nurture foster children and provide safe and secure future opportunities for them. Bringing awareness to organizations that support foster families may unwittingly cause foster families to come across less helpful or dishonest organizations. There is also the chance for foster families to become involved with less credible organizations that are more financially driven, and less altruistic, if not vetted properly. Focusing on too many foster programs could fracture attention and divert resources. If there is too much focus on providing support and attention to many programs, there could be an issue with resources, time, and attention being stretched too thin. It may be best to focus on one or two programs or organizations that best serve an individual family needs. Foster Care: How Can We Increase the Number of Foster Homes in America? 16
Bringing awareness to community members on the ways they can support children in care, and current foster families, within their own community.
B
ecoming a foster parent is one of the direct ways to fill the needs of children in care. However, there are those who may not be able to commit to the demands of fostering, but they still want to help. What can they do? Looking within their community and discovering the needs of those currently fostering is one way they can help. This help could include volunteer work or fundraising events. Following is an in-depth look at these two areas. Fundraising Foster families receive some financial support; however, there is much left to the foster family to cover on their own. Community fundraisers help ease those financial burdens and provide children with an opportunity to live a “normal” life within their community. There are an array of fundraising opportunities to help ease the financial responsibilities the foster care system places on each state. Some research is required of community members to discover what is most needed within their community and which resources are available to them in their state and county.
Walk Me Home helps The National Foster Parent Association (NFPA) is the founder for the “Walk Me provide financial supHome” fundraiser and it is available nationwide. They provide funding for enrichport for over 400,000 ment and therapeutic programs for children in foster care. According to the Tennessee Foster Adoptive Care Association (TFACA), $13,000 in grants were raised children in foster care last year through their annual fundraising 5K walk with “Walk Me Home”! A local community can contact the NFPA to find a 5K run near them. If one is not currently established, they can choose to establish one for their community or donate to the cause via their website. Suitcases For Kids is another non-profit organization. They provide suitcases for children in care. Many times children are brought into the foster care system directly from Police Protective Custody (PPC) with only the clothes on their backs. Suitcases for Kids helps children feel a little more human and gives them something of their own. A simple suitcase saves them from the humility of carrying a trash bag full of their belongings when they move from one placement to another.
There are Two Key components of this program. 1. Fundraisers 2. Volunteer Work Foster Care: How Can We Increase the Number of Foster Homes in America? 17
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Bringing awareness to community members on the ways they can support children in care, and current foster families, within their own community. Through their website at www.suitcasesforkids.org a, “Starter Kit” can be found which gives detailed information on starting a fundraiser. This is a great service project for communities, churches, youth organizations, and even families. Volunteering As mentioned, there are limited funds to provide for all the needs of foster families and children in care. By participating in a volunteer position, the needs of foster families, and children in care, can be met. It can allow for a more stable placement and healing for the child. Volunteering of one’s time can be rewarding and greatly beneficial for foster families and the children they provide for. It could be a simple, one-time experience, or a more committed arrangement. Many times volunteer opportunities can be found all around, if you are willing to contact your local foster care organizations. Other volunteer opportunities may require training. One such volunteer opportunity is becoming a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA). They are community volunteers that are trained advocates for children in care. Their job is to make sure the needs of a child in care are being met and they are in the least restrictive environment. They remain with a child until their case has resolved. “Volunteers get to know the child by talking with everyone in that child's life: parents and relatives, foster parents, teachers, medical professionals, attorneys, social workers and others. They use the information they gather to inform judges and others of what the child needs and what will be the best permanent home for them.” (Casa For Children). For more information about what CASA do, please see Table 2.1. Another non-profit organization is “A Home Within”. They are a national organization that provides therapeutic services for children in care, and their services are strictly pro-bono! The therapists agree to remain with the child for as long as they are needed, no matter where they move to. This is an extremely beneficial service to a child in care. Many times they are moved from one home to the next, losing their ties with
Key Component One: Fundraising There are an array of fundraising opportunities to help ease the financial burden the foster care system places on each state. Each requires a bit of research on the part of community members to decide what would best suit the needs of their community and the resources currently available to them. Foster Care: How Can We Increase the Number of Foster Homes in America? 18
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Bringing awareness to community members on the ways they can support children in care, and current foster families, within their own community. friends, school, and communities. Having a therapist to follow them throughout their moves gives them a stable adult to trust and rely on. “Findings show that A Home Within’s model of creating long-term healthy relationships with foster care youth has contributed to the significant reduction of symptoms including, but not limited to, anxiety, depression, peer relationships problems, sleep problem and dissociative states” (A Home Within). The Honorable Judge (Ret), Donna Hitchens, has seen the affects A Home Within has had on children that have come through her courtroom. She says the following: “In my experience, therapists from A Home Within provide the only consistent, long-term, caring relationships many of these children have ever had. Children in foster care often encounter a multitude of social workers, foster parents, lawyers, and judges, which adversely affects their already tenuous ability to heal, trust, and form healthy relationships. The children in my court who have been fortunate enough to have a therapist from A Home Within have demonstrated much more positive outcomes than those who have not had the benefit of such a relationship.” (A Home Within). Lisa McCord stated in her interview “Foster families building relationships with one another is the biggest support system we have.” These relationships are so important, and there needs to be more of it. Nevertheless, community backing could enhance their support system through fundraising and volunteer work. “In one summer I moved 9 times in 2 1/2 months. As a foster child, I acted out quite a bit – and it had nothing to do with the personality that I had, it simply had everything to do with getting the attention that I needed. I met Marian at age 15, and that right there is the day that my life changed. I know for a fact right now that, without working with Marian I would either be dead or in prison. What was so powerful when Marian came on board and she introduced herself to my life is that she changed that stigma, she said look – "I’m willing to work with you, I can work with your parents. You don’t have to move and I’m not going anywhere."”
Ted, Former Foster Youth (A Home Within).
Key Component Two: Volunteer Work Volunteering of one’s time can be rewarding and greatly beneficial for foster families and children in care. It could be a simple, one-time thing, or a more committed arrangement. Foster Care: How Can We Increase the Number of Foster Homes in America? 19
Continued
Bringing awareness to community members on the ways they can support children in care, and current foster families, within their own community.
Table 2.1
CASA’s do remarkable things for children in care!
“Children with CASA volunteers spend 7.5 months less in foster care, experience fewer out of home placements and have significantly improved educational performance.”
“More than 90% of children with CASA volunteers never reenter the child welfare system, a significant difference compared to the general foster care population. This outcome also results in significant savings in child welfare expenses.”
“The child welfare system could not afford to provide a comparable level of advocacy through nonvolunteer approaches. In 2013, CASA volunteers contributed 5.75 million advocacy hours, equivalent to $290 million in taxpayer dollars if compensated for their service.” (Casa For Children).
In an interview with Lisa McCord, a licensed Social Worker in the state of Kansas and experienced foster parent, she had the following to say about CASA’s “I’ve worked with many who were phenomenal! As a foster parent, they’ve been great and have advocated for the best interest of the child. Their training is phenomenal!”
http//www.publicdomainpictures.netview-image.phpimage=111574&picture=father-and-son-silhouette Foster Care: How Can We Increase the Number of Foster Homes in America? 20
Fundraising helps support foster families, even when one cannot be a foster parent. Fundraising can be fun, it can increase the public’s awareness of the issue, and it can breathe new life into the faster care community by supporting old, and recruiting new, foster homes. Fundraising can also help provide funds for foster children’s special needs and provide them with belongings of their own. Volunteer work can help fulfill the varied needs of foster children and support foster parents. Volunteer work may help fulfill the needs of foster children by providing counseling and support. This will strengthen foster families and may provide foster children with a sense of security and an advocate in their difficult circumstances. This may help build the number of good foster homes in America. If potential foster parents feel they cannot provide enough financial or emotional support for foster children, it may deter them from being foster parents. However, if they feel they have enough support through fundraisers and loving, consistent volunteers, they may feel more able to take on the role of foster parent.
Fundraising takes time. Fundraising requires a certain level of time commitment for those running the fundraiser. It requires money and possibly time from those contributing to the fundraiser. Both time and money are a valuable commodity and may be difficult to contribute. In addition, fundraisers may not be well-attended or may not receive the hoped-for support. Volunteer work takes time. Volunteer work takes time, whether it is a short term or a long term commitment. Again, time is valuable and many may not be able to commit to such. There may be special requirements for volunteer work. Some volunteer work requires specialized training. This may be a deterrent for some who do not wish to put forth the required time and commitment, or for those who do not feel they have extra time.
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Children’s Aid Society: www.childrensaidsociety.org/adoption-foster-care/become-foster-parent This organization is focused on helping foster children and foster parents establish positive relationships in their own communities, as well as gaining skills that will help build bright futures for all children/adolescents.
Money:
http://money.howstuffworks.com/economics/volunteer/opportunities/volunteer-for-being-
foster-parent.htm In this article from Money magazine potential foster parents can find helpful tips and advice for uncovering ways that will improve their financial situation through reimbursements, allowances, and savings opportunities to help defray the cost of foster care.
Foster Care Benefits: www.benefits.gov/benefits/benefit-details/788 This is a government funded program that provides financial support to help state and tribal communities with the costs associated with foster care and training programs. They also provide assistance to adolescents who are transitioning out of foster homes and into the adult world.
Foster Coalition: www.fostercoalition.com/ As an organization, the Foster Coalition is able help promote awareness of the need for support of foster care programs and events. Through social media and news stories, they are able to reach out to communities and bring attention to the needs of foster children throughout the United States.
iFoster: https://www.ifoster.org/Caregivers.aspx In the iFoster organization there is partnership with corporations, businesses, and other organizations to help provide meaningful rewards and supports for foster families. Foster children are able to set-up accounts with information on interests, goals, and strengths that allow them to work toward earning products and rewards from iFoster and their partners.
httpwww.livehealthyvineland.org Foster Care: How Can We Increase the Number of Foster Homes in America? 22
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Thomas, Judith. Personal Interview. 29 June 2016. "Transition to Adult Living | Child & Family Services." Transition to Adult Living | Child & Family Services. State of Utah, 2016. Web. 29 June 2016. http://dcfs.utah.gov/services/transition-to-adult-living/
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