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Foster Care in the United States

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Foster Care in the United States
Foster Care in the United States
Sue King
Liberty University

Abstract
The history of foster care in the United States started with orphan trains and the Children’s Aid Society founded by Charles Loring Brace. Recent research describes the child welfare system as an organization that provides service to helpless children in need. This paper will discuss foster care as it is relates to safety, permanency, and wellbeing of children in need The role of a foster parent and the process of loss, and grief after a child leave their biological parents will be discussed. Research suggests that Courts has the final decision whether a child will stay in foster care or return home. This paper will describe the developmental impact that foster care has on children after losing their biological family. There are several risk factors associated with poverty. This paper will discuss the significance of children reuniting with their biological parents and/or being adopted for permanency. Empirical evidence from recent research confirmed that hard times during childhood was related to health problems later in life. Foster care reform, educational outcomes, economic incentives for adoption, mentors and home visitation programs should be implemented to improve the foster care system.
Keywords: foster care, developmental, health problems, orphan trains

Foster Care in the United States The prevalence rate is high for foster care in the United States. The history of foster care began with orphans and abandoned children traveling across America in trains to find safety and security in new homes. Abuse and negligence by the parent or caregiver is one of the reasons children are placed in foster care. Foster care provides a safety net for children in foster care homes. It is the responsibility of the child welfare system to make sure a child’s basic needs are met through the foster care system. It’s important that a child is reunited with their


References: Aragys, L., & Duncan, B. (2013). Economic incentives and foster child adoption. Demography, 50(3), 933-954. doi: 10.1007/s13524-012 -0166d. Azzi-Lessing, L. (2011). Home visitation program: Critical issues and future directions . Early Childhood Research Quarterly , 26(4), 387-398, doi: 10.1016/j.ecresq.2011.03.005. Bruskas, D. (2010). Developmental health of infants and children subsequent to foster care. Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Nursing, 23(4), 231-41. doi: 10.1111/j.1744-6171.2010.00249.x. Caputi, P., Crittenden, N., Broady, T. R., Stoyles, G. J., & Mcmullun, K. (2010). The experiment of foster care. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 19(5), 559-571, Doi: 2048/10.1007/ s10826-009-9330-6. Fernandez, E., & Barth, R. P. (2010, July). How does foster care work?: International evidence on outcomes. London: Jessica Kingsley. Fineran, F. R. (2013). Helping foster and adopted children to grieve the loss of birth parents: A case study example. The Family Journal Counseling , 20(4), 369-375. doi: 10.1177/ 10664807/2481230. Hill, K. (2006). Orphan trains. Story works, 13(4), 8-12, T4. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/213420723?accountid=12085 . Hudson, A. L. (2013). Career mentoring needs of youth in foster care: Voices of change. Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychiartric Nursing, 26(2), 131-137. Kabler, B., & Watson, C. (2012). Improving educational outcomes for children in foster care. Communique, 40(5), 27-29. Krinsky, M. A. (2007). A case for reform of the child welfare system. Family Court Review, 45(4), 541-547. doi: 10.111/j.1744-1617.2007.00169.x. Oberg, C. N., & Aga, A. (2010). Childhood poverty and the social safety net. Current Problems in Pediatric and Adolescent Health Care, 40(10), 237-262. doi: 10.1016/j.lppeds.2010.08.002. Testa, M. F., & Poertner, J. (2010). Child welfare in the twenty-first century. Oxford Scholarship online doi: 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195321302.001.0001.
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