Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Foster Care 101

Though many people have heard of foster care, some do not have the correct understanding of it. Foster care provides dependent, neglected, and abused children with a safe and temporary living arrangement with someone other than a birth parent. Biological families often face issues like homelessness, substance addiction, or illness that forces children into foster care.

When the Department of Social Services (DSS) and a judge in a county feel that a child is living in unsafe conditions, DSS obtains custody of the child. It then finds the child a foster home in which the length of stay varies. Foster parents must be trained and licensed to temporarily care for neglected and abused children. In the meantime, the biological parents work with social workers to resolve their issues.

Foster care statistics show that thousands of children in each state enter the system each year. The goal of the system is for the biological family, DSS, and the foster family to work together to quickly return foster children to their homes. In some cases, this does not work out and a child is put up for adoption. Foster parents may then petition for consideration of being adoptive parents.  

Ages of foster children range from infancy to 18. Some of these children have emotional or physical disabilities or handicaps and require special care. Others exhibit delinquent or undisciplined behavior. Still others have been victimized sexually or physically. In general, these situations leave the children with a weak sense of self-worth or belonging.

Foster parents must be willing to give their foster children nurturing, support, and special care. A relative may be licensed to become the foster parent of a child or the person may be a complete stranger. In either case, just as much effort is expected to deal with the unique experiences, background, needs, and personalities of the child.

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