Foster Care Effects

Throughout the years, the numbers of those in foster care has been described as dynamic. While numbers may go down of those in foster care, the number of children of suffer either while in foster care, or after aging out has increased. (Scott, Woods). Because there are a significant number of children in the system, there is not enough time nor people to give the individual care and attention that is essential for each child. With the loss of the individual attention, there can be many detrimental consequences. Foster care can have negative impacts on the foster child’s life if not given enough attention, it can effect their mental health as well as the development of the child. Foster care, when it was first created, was met to have a child
Many factors can lead to poor testing, which can include living conditions. Poor living conditions can effect the child in many negative ways. One being that test scores were significantly lower than other children (Windsor et al). Research suggested by Jacobson et. has said that “research has underscored the importance of early, nurturing caregiving environments on brain development.” When a child is in foster care, it is vital that the child receives the attention needed in order to strive in their use of language
This can include stress as well as depression. Researchers Woods et al had come to the conclusion that “teens in foster care have a higher risk of developing major depressive disorder, mania, as well as post traumatic stress disorder.” When a child is placed in foster care, it effects them mentally more than anything. Depression as well as post traumatic stress disorder as the two main disorders seen in teens. A study also showed that if a child is already in foster care with a heath problem, majority of the time, the child will face problems experiencing instability in their lives (Woods et al). Foster children are also at a higher risk of problems. For example, “foster children are at an increased risk of developing long-term problems related to the regulation of behavior, including externalizing behavior, substance, abuse, and criminal behavior” (Van Andel et al). Not only does foster care add stress to a child’s life, it can create uncommon behavior in a child such as criminal behavior. Foster care can also effect a child emotionally. Children can struggle to create a bond between themselves and their foster parents. When unable to create this connection, it can create the feeling neglect in the child’s eyes (Van Andel et