Inside Out: Foster Care Reform - Poor Outcomes
Part 3: Poor Outcomes I would like to say that we have some very wonderful foster parents, and most all foster homes are caring and wonderful. However, when we look at the numbers of foster children among the homeless and prison populations, we see that eitherclose to or more than 50% of those populations came from foster care.
Why do our foster children not progress as other children in the community? Why can't they get (and keep) jobs? Why can't they take care of themselves medically? Why can't theymanage, buy food, and pay for medical services?
The reason is simple:
We do not treat foster children the same as other children. For example, we have laws that prohibit foster children from having more than $1000 dollars in assets so, while they are in care, theycannot save money to support themselves. That is a Federal law. A foster kid cannot save money like anyone else. We are not allowed to handle money and learn how to manage our own check book until age 18. We haveno family assets to help us learn about finances. No one takes us to the bank when they are buying a home, property, a car, orinsurance.
At 18, we do not have a home, and we have no money to buy food. Is it any wonder why foster children steal money to eat? At 18, it seems as though we are left to stop eating, cleaning, living, working, and anything else we may have done in the foster home. Suddenly, we have to take care of ourselves, and for most it's without any transition to a job, and no one nearby to mentor.
[One of our group's goals is to help former foster children to help themselves. The group can provide direction to some of the social services that are available.]
* * *Every state in the country cloaks its foster care system in secrecy, prohibiting the disclosure of any information about children's experiences in foster care. Though these statutes were often enacted to protectchildren, they are routinely used by state officials to conceal illegal and unconscionable practices. These confidentiality laws have served only the system by not exposing the abuses caused to children.
The job is much too large for the government to have full, undisclosed, and private responsibility, where no one can see when they falter in their responsibility. The ones that get hurt are the children, likeme.
This is such a large responsibility that it should be removed from the Welfare people. Everyone thinks that foster children are Welfare grubbers yet we, as children, have no say in what states do with us.
Next page >
Specific Reforms > Page
1,
2, 3,
4
Home
Add Your Comments!
We want to know what you think. Your comments are important to us and the other readers. You are what makes this site special.