The Foster Care Problem: Is the foster care system broken? – Part 1
In the United States overall there are approximately 500,000 children in foster care. There are many serious issues surrounding foster care, not the least of which is there are not nearly enough potential foster care homes for the numbers of children who need this shelter and care.
Joining Dennis McCuistion to discuss the complexity of this issue is:
- E. Scott McCowan, JD: Executive Director of the Center for Public Policy Priorities
- Evy Kaye Ritzen: Program Director, TRAC
- Jan Tennyson: Founder, Dare to Dream Foundation
Jan Tennyson, who along with her three other sisters and brothers was in foster care for most of her childhood, talks about the issues of self-esteem, how not feeling wanted took most of her life to overcome, and led to her spending her adult life working with young people to help them with these same issues. She believes quality care and being encouraged by your foster parents to get an education, to finish high school and get a college education is critical.
Unfortunately, as the statistics show this is not always the case. In fact, studies cite that 40% of the homeless people in the United States were once in foster care and they comprise the fastest growing segment of the homeless population. Yet as Scott McCowan summarizes, it does not necessarily mean that if you are in foster care one becomes part of that statistic, but there are often serious attachment disorders as a child may be moved from home to home. He says, “sometimes there are too many children in one home. This is a vulnerable population and they need extra care.”
A Baltimore study Evy Kaye Ritzen discussed, tracked foster care children for 12-18 months after they aged out of foster care and found:
- 27% of the males and 10% of the females were incarcerated
- 33% required public assistance
- 37% had not finished high school.
Yet, foster care solves a problem and our society needs more volunteers and parents willing to take care of children in a loving, nurturing home. Join in for more information on what is needed and how an individual can be a part of the solution.
And as always, thanks for watching as we talk about things that matter with people who care.
Niki Nicastro McCuistion
Executive producer/ producer
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Just like when we board an airplane, as adults, in times of stress, we are told to put on our oxygen masks first so we may then help the children beside us. So should we be thinking of our foster, adoptive, and kinship caregivers and provide them with adequate training for behavioral challenges and parenting strategies so they may better help the children in their care.
We believe education, training, and support for caregivers build better opportunities for children caught up in the system. It’s a win-win.
Val Stilwell, MSCS
Executive Director for Public Relations
HuggingHearts.Org, Inc.
As a foster parent in the state of Tennessee I can tell you for a fact the reason why so many well intentioned, loving and frustrated people bail out of being foster parents and it has NOTHING to do with training (we are expected to get loads of it!).
As a foster care giver, at least in our case, we were hoping to adopt someone into our family permanently, and still may, but we’ve seen one case with two brothers where the biological family keeps dropping the ball, delaying legal proceedings and as the primary love and care givers we (my wife and I) have no say so or rights. In short, as another frustrated foster mother said one time to me, “we are glorified babysitters”.
Sure, we are financially compensated to do what we do (some may argue to the amount) but in the argument of “nature vs. nurture” at some point the DCS system must drop this stubborn notion that the biological family is the best permanent placement for these kids! Of course all families have problems and everyone should be given the chance to set things right and get their kids back, but when you are going on 2 years in the system with excuse after excuse while your children languish in uncertainty because the don’t feel like they belong with their “old family” or their “new family” the damage is being done while DCS mires themselves in paperwork and outdated ideals about permanency.
Case in point. I have a dog. His name is Toby and when we brought him home to live with us, we had 5 house cats. Toby to this day, does not bark, cleans himself by licking his front paws and rubbing his face and will line up with the “other” cats for tuna when the can is opened. Why? Is Toby a cat?!? No! Of course not! But he was nurtured as one and feels in his heart that he IS one, so that is that. NURTURE not Nature people! Let some of these foster families who are providing a good stable home the opportunity for permanency BEFORE you damage these kids so they can get on with a life better than what they would have ever had.
In my case, I don’t doubt that my foster kids’ biological family LOVES them, but unlike DCS, I’m able to see that the biological family is unable to care for them! There is a difference.
I can tell you the reason we don’t have enough foster families in this country. That reason is that their are far too many asinine rules for foster families and not enough attention given to the fruits of the families that apply. Case in point: We have been approved not one, but THREE times to adopt internationally and our children THRIVE! So, we decided to go for more through our local DFACS. But guess what??? We don’t qualify because we own 3lb. Chihuahuas that are apparently on some list of vicious breeds. In addition to that, our pool fence doesn’t exactly meet the described requirements. I understand the need for general guidelines and rules for keeping kids safe, but FAR TOO many WONDERFUL families are ruled out due to ridiculous bureaucratic road blocks, while somehow the drug abusing foster parents that do it so they can have more money for their pot that month seem to work their way right in there. Am I ticked? Oh yes, I am.
well i was put into foster care when i was two years old and let me tell you people that the system sucks
I was a foster parent and we adopted a 14 year old. We loved all of the children but the case workers and the “system” were difficult to work with. They seem to be under qualified, under paid and not concerned about the children. They need more resources and better working environments. DHS has A LOT of power and the system needs more workes, better pay and better programs. The DHS system in Arkansas is terrible and the Governor (Gov. Huckabee) had the nerve to run for President when he can not run such an important department in his own state!!
The future of our county is dependent on the children of today. This is not news to anyone. Now, with over 50,000 childern is foster care….usually in substandard care with not enough resources to survive much less excel…?!? Get involved!!
“at some point the DCS system must drop this stubborn notion that the biological family is the best permanent placement for these kids! Of course all families have problems and everyone should be given the chance to set things right and get their kids back, but when you are going on 2 years in the system with excuse after excuse while your children languish in uncertainty because the don’t feel like they belong with their “old family” or their “new family” the damage is being done while DCS mires themselves in paperwork and outdated ideals about permanency.”
As a foster parent, I totally agree with David Hooie. We have lost two sets of foster children that we wanted to adopt because somehow the system felt it was better that they be reunited with their single drug-addicted mother (at the 26 hearing) or with their single last-minute-come-out-of-the-woodwork uncle with a one bedroom apartment (for 3 kids) who can barely take care of himself. No wonder nothing changes… The pattern of neglect & drug-abuse is allowed to continue from one generation to the next. The only way for it to end, is to place children elsewhere and not back with their dysfunctional family. It’s supposed to be whats best for the children right? Shouldn’t then parental or relative placement should be held to the same standards as foster parents? And on another note, two parents are better than one. One can work and one can stay with the children. That is just common sense! (I know because I was raised by one parent.) There are many fost-adopt families who have been hurt numerous times by the system especially when you give your heart and soul to children.
My husband and I have been doing the foster care program for 12 yrs. Have fostered well over 300 children in this period of time. I can tell you first hand the system is broken and will remain broken for years to come. If people think you can live and support children on this program you are all misleading. I love how this country (the land of the free) can assit and give to many other countries and yet our country who is concidered to be one of the richest countries in America can’t help our children in need. The foster system is filled with county attorney’s, judges, caseworkers that are all making money off the foster system. One court date after another and nothing gets accomplished from one to the next. But allowed to bill for there time that took not even 10 minutes of court time in the first place. How about those figures to the taxpapers? Foster parents who house these children 24/7 are never allowed to be heard before the so called people of interest who say they care about these children. They don’t even know these children we house 24/7. To most they are unheard of till 5 minutes before court time on their case load. They have no idea the children’s needs, wants, concerns and etc. Yet they make these children’s decision that effect them for life.
Bio-Parents and relatives are not always the solution to a child’s future, stability, finanical interest, education and etc. This is way so many kids end up back in the system or killed at the hands of their bio-parents. (We have all heard those night mare stories on the news). Reunification is seldom in the best interest of the child….. It is in the best interest of the attorney, judge and caseworkers so they can put a black mark in there book to justify there job status…. I am outraged by the way the system works period. Many GOOD foster parents get the bad rap for crappy foster parents who also do a disservice to the kids in there care. These people need to be stopped and put in jail.. Kids in the system are not dollar signs. The few monies received to take care of these children should be used to support these children not you bank accounts, drug habits, fancy cars and etc. Yes it does take money to raise these chldren and you very seldom hear or see the foster care rates go up. In fact just this past year we ourselves took a cut in the daily rate to care for foster children. Had to cut back and rearrange the household budget but we manage. Our personal income also supports foster children because of the cost of raising a family. We currently have 6 children in care ranging from 4 yrs – 13 yrs. We are in process of adopting 2 boys we have had since 2007. The adoption system also is broken which is another whole chapter. As a foster parent we are expected to love, care, bond and provided unconditionally for these children. Yet when it comes down to what is best for them we have no say in the matter. That is what is broken with this system. We get no closer, no support and no sympathy from anyone when children are reunifiied with bio-families. Just go about our lives and feelings are pushed aside for these children you have grown to cherish, support, love and bonded with. The foster care system will never improve that is why so many GOOD foster homes and GOOD foster parents get burned out!!! So it is no wonder the counties have to continue to recruite new homes and families so they can pull the wool over their eyes and tell them what a wonderful thing it is to be a foster parent, the newbeeies have no idea what is ahead of them.
I have always said it is the elimate of surprise that would shut down the bad foster homes so these foster children can be moved to a better foster home. As well as caseworkers being held to a higher level of responsiblity for keeping many of these children in crappy foster homes. Counties and foster care liscening need to manage how to utilize the GOOD foster homes to capacity. Children don’t ask to be put in certain situations It is not all about educating and training it is about having compassion for these children and using good common sense for the best interest of each individual child. These children are our future and therefore are our responsibility to see they get what ever child deserves.
I was a newbie foster care provider. I fell in love with the three boys that were placed with me. The middle brother had serious psychological problems and would throw tantrums that would last for hours sometimes. When I asked for help, they pulled the boys from my home, stating that they needed to stay together. What I guess will happen is that they will not last in the next home if this behavior continues ,and noting is being done to get this child any help.. I miss them all so much.. I feel as if I have lost my own children.. how can these agancies get away with this?
I have a really simple concern/question. If a desiring parent has a bogus charge on his background check which is older than 10yrs, and no other charges that would hinder him from becoming a foster parent. How, if any way can he appeal the DCFS decision. He passed all other parts of the home study, etc.,. I am not understanding the requirements. You have a logo that say that you don’t have to be perfect to be a parent. And you continue to make mention that you are in need of foster care parents. We are willing to become foster parents. My husband has been on his job for over 16yrs and have not had any problems. I am a Paraprofessional coach at an elementary school and have been there for 7yrs. I have custody of my now 16yr. old neice. I just don’t understand how we can’t be considered. If there is anyone you can refer me to that would be able to help me, I would greatly appreciate it. I live in the state of GA.
I have a little brother that was taken away when I moved away from him to go to school, and it took me several years just to find him. Once I did me and him would talk over his foster parents email and they would tell me what I could and could not say to him. His new “mother” said that they dont want him to remember his past and they want him to be all into his “new” family. Now I dont even get to talk to him as much as I used to. We havent talked in several months they wont let me call him or anything. Sometimes I worry that something bad has happened but I’m afraid he wouldnt tell me over email or the phone because his new “parents” might yell at him or something. I also have a half sister in the foster system. She keeps being jumped from house to house and group home to group home but yet what they dont under stand is that she just needs people to listen to her and understand the pain that she is going through. I truthfully and honestly do not like the foster care system at all. I think that there needs to be some changes about how things are being done. And this is all coming from a 17 year old.
I would like for everyone to know The foster care system is a very broken system we need to come together in all states we have to keep exposing cps / family court a lot of parents have had there children wrongfully taken / put up for adoption / sale we need to help parents that are fighting to get there children back the children that do need foster care do need to be protected I’m trying to get my own organization started to help parents that have closed cps case get there cases reopen we need good strong organization in all states let’s all join together for all of our innocent children I have met with 3 state reps here in my area about cps / family court all 3 state reps told me they could not help me we the people have to come together to make something good happen for our children I would like for everyone to contact me my e-mail is kindnessohio@att.net It is up to us to all join together to get the foster care system fixed some children do need foster care some children don’t need foster care the that don’t need foster care let’s all join together to help get them back home with there loving parents / families voices for innocent children wake up all states
I was put in the foster care before i was 2 yrs old. I was lucky enough to stay in that one home. However, the problem with that is, my mom only-half-heartedly tried to get me and my sister back. In total we lived with her for 3 months out of 18 years. Because of the foster care system as well as the actions of my mother, neither my sister or me know of hardly anyone in our family, we’ve never been out of the city. Or anything like that. the system itself sucks because only a handful of social workers actually care about the kids they work with. through the years we’ve had other 7 different social workers. We all thought that they cared about us but they didn’t. They all say that they have the child’s best intentions in mind, but aside from the younger children who don’t understand what’s going on, why don’t they ask the children what the the kids think? Why don’t they actually see what the child sees?
coming from a former foster child who would be homeless if it weren’t for other friends who are basically family.