What are the abuses that the foster care system faces?

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The foster care system has created many abuses for children involving cases of secual abuse for childern like Laura and Casey, biological parent abuse with AJ, and LGBTQ discrimination with Jason. Laura and Casey fell victim to sexual abuse from their foster brothers, and they were never helped. AJ was killed by his biological parents after the abuse was ignored by doctors and by the social workers. Jason was unable to feel safe in his foster homes because of his communities being unaccepting of him and not allowing him to be himself.

The foster care system is a social program that provides care, housing, and parenting to children from unsuitable families and homes. Many children receive help and placement based on abuse, neglect, drug or alcohol problems, sexual, physical or mental abuse, a child's emotional issues, or not having any other home. Child development, especially at a young age, can be dramatically affected if the child faces neglect or abuse. The importance of placing children in healthy homes is crucial while they are growing up because in their early years of life, children and teens absorb their surroundings and are affected by their environment. The foster care environment needs to be safe and able to support the growing needs of the children who enter. The child typically stays with an unrelated family for three reasons: the child is waiting for the problem to be resolved with the previous guardian or the parental rights of the child have been terminated (Swann and Sylvester 311). The foster care system serves and was created for a good purpose, but the system is failing specifically in areas of trauma suffered before foster care, mental and physical abuse, teen pregnancy, LGBTQ youth, and returning children into unsafe homes. 

Trauma and Abuse Before Foster Care

Many children enter the foster care system with already present trauma and hardships. This trauma can come from physical abuse, drug abuse, mental abuse, or sibling separation. There are some treatments children have access to, but not all of the kids suffering in the system have access to the resources that they need. Sometimes the lack of resources has been based on race, and sometimes it can be based on location. Ultimately, foster care needs to provide immediate resources to all the children suffering because of the trauma faced by their biological parents or caregivers.    

Sixty-one percent of the youths in foster care qualify for a psychiatric disorder, and sixty-two percent of those kids reported the issues starting before they entered the system (McMillen et al., "Prevalence"). The psychiatric disorders and issues started for most when the children were living with their biological parents or caregiver. The children's disorders have a wide range, but the majority end up being behavioral disorders, opposition disorders, and attachment and adjustment disorders (Steele and Buchi). Some researchers have found that 30% to 80% of children experience emotional or behavioral problems (Chipungu and Bent-Goodley 84-85). Many of these kids need mental treatment and medication to help with their disorders. To make matters worse, during the Covid pandemic, it had been hard for teens to receive as many mental health services (Clancy). 

Children are faced with neglect and abandonment, and mentally, that takes a toll on the children. The children may have been exposed to drugs by their original caretaker, and frequently that is the reason for child reentry. Substance and domestic abuse tend to be the highest reasons for their entry (Clancy). These kids have experienced multiple traumas, and a lack of trauma care can cause the trauma to grow and have more lasting effects on the children (Beyerlein and Bloch). These abused children have to become a high priority since these kids are "three times more likely to die in childhood" (Doyle 1583).

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Foster children frequently receive mental health services of  “alarmingly high rates of the most invasive and stigmatizing mental health services" (McMillen et al., "Use"). The children come into the system with their mental health issues already there, but it is the system's job to treat and take care of these issues. Some children experience reentry into the system multiple times, and some may live in many different homes (Swann and Sylvester 311). This can be caused due to their caregiver's relapse into drugs or abusive tendencies.

Mental health issues can also be caused by sibling separation. The child care workers can not guarantee that the kids will be placed in the homes with their siblings. They try as much as possible to keep them together, but it is not always an option because some foster homes can not take more than one child. Sibling bonds can be so strong, especially when they no longer have a bond or connection with their parents. Children who enter the system after being separated from their parents and their siblings can experience a lot of anxiety, trauma, grief, and loss of identity (Herrick and Piccus).

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These mental health problems and issues need immediate treatment. The treatments for these mental issues have ranged from support groups to medical treatments. Typically, the older the child, the more likely they will be on medication for their issues. The system tries hard to make sure that children are getting the help that they need, and the system is "actively engaged in arranging mental health services for youths… variations by race and geography indirectly indicate quality concerns" (McMillen et al. "Use"). The child's living situation can affect their ability to get services, but the system does try to help and make it available. These resources are essential and valuable, but sometimes they are not always accessible. 

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It is not always fair who gets mental health help and who does not; "in San Diego County, white youths were more likely than African-American and Hispanic youths to receive mental health services" (McMillen et al., "Use"). Youths of color are less likely to receive the same help for their mental health. A place where a foster child is living and the color of their skin should not be a factor in deciding whether or not the child receives mental health resources. This racial decision-making hurts both the child and the biological parent or caregiver, where there can also be a racial prejudice (Chipungu and Bent- Goodley 80).

Sexual Abuse and Child Mistreatment  

Children entering foster care are likely to experience sexual child abuse, and children can also experience mistreatment from their care workers or the state foster care workers. Sexual abuse is a common occurrence in foster care. About half of the physical abuse the children experienced was sexual abuse (Pater 13). Laura and Casey are cases of two children who experienced both sexual abuse and child mistreatment. Their cases are disappointing and expose the nature of some foster care systems in certain states. Not all social workers and child caregivers neglect to look into these claims, but in many cases the foster care system of workers is quick to ignore these types of issues.

Laura is a teenage girl who has suffered child mistreatment and sexual assault in her household. Laura's brothers had become sexually aggressive and violent because "they were the victims of sexual crimes in foster care, and the victims had become the victimizers." Sexual abuse has drastic effects on one's life; "their lifelong sentence as sexual objects are worse than death, for death is final, but incest is incessant, especially sibling incest" (Newman). Laura was a baby, and her brothers were six when they abused her. Unfortunately, young kids being abused is common; in fact, "almost half abused children were less than one year old, and another third were between the ages of one and three" (Pater 13). Laura did not receive any help for her sexual abuse, and no support was given to her. Many children suffer the same sexual abuse, and none of them are given help or resources. The foster care systems and the states need to implement programs or resources for children to get the help that is needed. Her brothers made her their sexual object, and for other children, it is not always the siblings doing the abuse.

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Often, complaints about abuse in houses are ignored, and "Laura's foster home had been reported for years by residents. Complaints had been filed up to the governor's office, but nothing had ever been done about the situation." The inability to act towards abusive households is unacceptable. Not all foster parents want to do it for the money. Only a small number of foster parents do it for money, but most are trying to help make a better life and create betterment for the child in their care. Children like Laura who are kept in foster care and the agencies "are paid on a daily basis for each child that they are responsible for in foster care." The payment of families may result in some people choosing to foster children for no other reason than money. This causes an impaired look on finding homes for these kids; "children are revenue" (Newman). The house Laura was in even terrified her social worker. Her social worker described how "everyone knew that the house was unfit for habitation, but the tiny inhabitants--wards of the state--had voices unheard by their legal caretakers" (Newman). The fact that Laura was not removed from the home was highly shocking even after the numerous complaints and known history.

In this next case, Casey experienced sexual assault by a teenage boy at four when she was supposed to be taken care of by her foster family. She was experiencing sexual assault and child molestation, but instead of being taken to a newer and safer home, she was placed in a mental hospital. Her foster home and the care system did not protect her at all. The teenage predator faced no charges when Casey's life could be affected forever. Unfortunately, many of the children have to suffer the consequences of sexual abuse, whether that be in their previously abusive homes or their current foster homes. Children like Laura and Casey have to now move on from this setback and awful experience. The system failed to protect and help both of these girls (Newman).

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Surviving sexual assault is a traumatizing event that sticks with children. They are "among the most likely to commit suicide, abuse drugs and alcohol, and end up in prison" (Newman). In addition, "sexually abused youths were nearly five times as likely as other children in the foster care system to receive mental health services" (McMillen et al., "Use"). Unlike Casey and Laura's story, where nothing was done, children can get health services for sexual assault. The state and director of each foster care system needs to improve its protection and reliability for its children, and the foster care system needs to stop trying to profit off the suffering of kids in inadequate foster homes. Not enough protection has been done in the past for foster care children, and with sexual assault having such life-changing impacts on children's lives, more could and should be done. 

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Teen Pregnancy in Foster Care

Teen pregnancy is a growing problem in the foster care system. The issue is quite common, and it is usually a result of children in the foster care system wanting or seeking a kind of attention that they have not previously received or have yet to receive (Clancy). Unfortunately, there are not enough resources to address the problem. 

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Children in foster care are at a higher risk for teen pregnancy because many studies show that children in foster care are having sex at younger ages than other children (Boonstra 8). Children may be doing this because they feel like they need the attention and are looking for it in a significant other. This leads to teen pregnancy being more common than probably thought (Clancy). Another possible reason for teen pregnancy being so notable with foster kids is that foster children are not as inclined to wait as long to bear children. According to a study done by the Uhlich Children's Advantage Network (UCAN) and the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy, pregnancy for children in foster care can fill a gap they have in their lives. Children in foster care tend to not have a lot or any family at all, so having children can create a family for them (Boonstra 9). While all the studies show how foster children are more at risk for teen pregnancy, many services have not been able to prevent it or help support it. Teen pregnancy is a problem in foster care that has not had proper precautions to stop or improve it. The system has created programs that address the issue once pregnant but never how to prevent it. This could be the result of a "lack of awareness and information about this high-risk population when it comes to teen pregnancy" (Boonstra 8).

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One reason for the lack of prevention can result from the lack of access to information. The foster care system is full of instability and inconsistency in the lives of the children. Children are at risk of constantly being moved from location to location and sometimes rarely stay in one place. This can make it difficult for them even to contact pregnancy prevention services. Along with this, the instability makes it difficult for them to receive school-based sex education. However, sometimes these youths "may not always have permission to participate in these classes because of the religious views of their caseworkers or foster parents" (Boonstra 10). 

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A possible solution has been “The Fostering Connections Act” which has made a few changes to help delay teen pregnancy. In essence, this act pushed for the change that students would have a more stable environment in school. The act also worked for the support of the different groups in the foster care system, such as the caregivers or relatives and the kids (Boonstra 10). Child care workers and administrators believe that a change needs to be made because they "report lack of policy and practice guidance related to pregnancy prevention and reproductive healthcare for youth in foster care" (Svoboda et al.). With more policy and more guidance by the administrations or welfare workers, teen pregnancy could be prevented and provide more support for the foster children and the foster parents. 

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The growing concern for teen pregnancy in foster care needs solutions and needs to be analyzed because "very few sex education programs have been adapted to meet the unique needs of youth in foster care, and none to date have been evaluated." The child welfare agencies and the fostering parents need to be responsible for teaching and helping the children prevent teen pregnancy. An example could be "better coordination with state Medicaid agencies, special training for medical providers who see foster youth or establishing strong referral networks with family planning clinics" (Boonstra 12). Training would allow doctors to dedicate specific attention to the foster care system's growing problem of teen pregnancy, allowing parents to get involved and understand the issues themselves. Foster care families can often feel unready to talk about the issues of sex, but training on these conversations and programs would be a possible solution to help these foster parents. 

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Another possible solution for the problem can start with the foster parents learning and teaching their child about safety. These foster parents could "routinely initiate discussions with youth around issues related to sexuality, including self-image, relationships, goal setting, planning and decision making, and protection from sexually transmitted diseases" (Boonstra 12). The discussions of these topics might not just prevent teen pregnancy but also help benefit the foster care children themselves by giving them more resources and more safety options or possibilities.

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Foster Care for LGBTQ Youth

LGBTQ youth in foster care has been an issue that has lacked attention and care. LGBTQ youth are often neglected in the foster care system because "historically, child welfare practitioners, policymakers, and foster parents have failed to recognize the presence of LGBTQ youth on their caseloads and in foster homes." The foster care system is designed to help children find a new, safer, and better home, but the experiences of some LGBTQ youth "are often saturated with further maltreatment, discrimination, and marginalization" (McCormick). For example, Jason is a child who suffered mistreatment just based on his sexual identity.  

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Jason was in and out of foster care homes his whole life. Once placed, he experienced emotional issues and problems. His current family stated they were still able to care for Jason's siblings, however, they were unable to continue their care for Jason. Jason was repeatedly requested to be removed from the homes he was in each time without reason for his removal; he was in seven different homes in five years. It is shocking how a young boy with no reported problems was not finding a match or temporary placement home that would keep him. Jason would "ask why he was being moved, and his caseworkers would simply attribute it to his inability to fit in" (McCormick). Teenagers struggle to fit in all the time, so the simple answer was to assume Jason could not fit in and was causing issues instead of questioning the families and group homes he was placed with to figure out the reason for removal. 

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Finally, Jason was able to find a group home where he felt comfortable enough coming out to the parents as gay. Although challenging, Jason "would later describe the overall experience as one of the most empowering and liberating experiences that he would ever have." Jason was praised by the parents at the group home, and Jason was assured that his group home experience would be equal to everyone else. However, the director was disappointed in Jason and stated how being gay was against the agency's faith that controlled this group home. He also refused Jason from "mentioning this to anyone else and was very clear that if he mentioned this 'gay phrase' to anyone, he would risk losing his placement." Later, Jason "would learn that the group home director had submitted an emergency request for his removal" (McCormick). The removal request stated it was because Jason was unable to follow the agency's values. 

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For three years, Jason went through many different group homes and foster homes until he could age out of all of them on his 18th birthday. Once he aged out, he "was admitted into a transitional living program and would begin a new journey navigating the system as a homeless young adult" (McCormick). Jason's story shows the issues LGBTQ youth face in foster care. The system failed Jason, but the system has also been failing many LGBTQ youth for many years. Jason and many "LGBTQ youth are significantly more likely to age out of foster care than straight youth; thus, their transition into adulthood is often faced with numerous challenges and barriers" (McCormick). The inability to be accepted and find a place to call home has drastically affected the future of LGTBQ youth. 

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Returning Children With Their Biological Parents

The ultimate goal is to return children to their biological parents or caregiver. The process of returning these children can take some time, but the court and foster care system tries their best to allow children back with their guardian at the proper time. After the child has been removed from their home, "responsibility for that child falls to the state" (Pater 10). The process of reuniting children with their parents is grueling and takes time. It takes longer in many cases because there are no resources to help the biological parents get better and get the help they need. Once allegations of mistreatment or abuse are filed, there is a call for emergency removal of the child. After a child is removed from a parent or family member, the state sets a timeline to get back with their guardian, and after, there is a five-day hearing. Then, the court goes through thirty days in court for an adjudication hearing and a dispositional hearing. The situation is evaluated, and the court decides to set a return home goal which can be a ten-month goal or hopefully at max a twelve-month goal. After this goal is completed, the caregiver is deemed fit to take care of the child again. The child will be placed back with his or her caregiver (Clancy). The court does have hopes of returning the child to their original home. Even though courts have these high hopes, sometimes parental rights have to be terminated. 

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It is possible that the children get placed back with their caregiver and then removed again. Especially with homes of drug and alcohol problems, children who were initially removed for those reasons have higher chances of being re-removed after being replaced (Brook and McDonald). The process of getting children back to their parents does tend to work, but there are cases where children are returned too soon, leading to even more trauma and pain. The system could be too overly focused on getting the children back to their parents to overlook critical issues.

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A.J. is an example of a child who had been placed back into the custody of his biological parents too soon. His parents were involved heavily in drugs, and while A.J.'s mother was pregnant with him, she was using opioids. After five years of marriage with her current husband, he filed for divorce. On the day of his birth, she limited herself to heroin and medication for anxiety. A.J. had to stay in the hospital after being born for a couple of days before being placed in a foster care home. For his parents to get A.J. back, they had to go through extended therapy and many drug tests. He ended up reuniting with his biological parents in 2015, and immediately the abuse began (Pater 24). 

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At a doctor's appointment, A.J. had noticeable bruises but no follow-ups to his injuries were made. The allegations were not brought up again until 2019. Significant concerns were expressed about his injuries of black eyes, bandages around his wrists, and cruel punishments. After the allegations were brought up again, A.J. was found dead at six wrapped in plastic. The autopsy reported that he had gone to bed wet and naked as punishment, and he died in the night. The father called to report the missing child after throwing him in the back of his truck and burying him. A.J. had a little brother who was able to be saved. He was sent to foster care. He is one of 123 children reported to have died at the beginning of 2020 who were involved with the state's defensive team. A.J. is the prime example of what can happen when kids are placed back with their caregiver too soon, and he has not been the only one (Pater 22-31). Studies suggest that reentry into foster care is likely increased when the parents or guardians have been connected to drugs and alcohol. 

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Conclusion

    The foster care system often fails in providing support and help for trauma suffered before foster care, sexual, mental and physical abuse, teen pregnancy, LGBTQ youth, and returning children into unsafe homes. Trauma before foster care can be helped by providing availability to mental health resources and different ways to help treat the mental and physical abuse problems that children face with their biological parents or previous caregivers. The neglect and abuse children suffer at such a young age can be extremely impactful in the child’s brain development and life development as they get older. Helping children right up front and giving them the resources they need will be more beneficial for the long term health of the child. If the states and the system can work to make the foster parents provide a safe household before placement, there should be a lack of abuse to the children in these households. When abuse does occur, the system should implement a better process that protects the children from abuse and investigates every claim a child makes. Teen pregnancy is another issue that the foster care system has failed to address and prevent. The system provides little resources for the expecting mothers, and little resources to prevent the issue from happening. LGBTQ youth are not recognized by the system as much, but it is not supported at all. Some parents are supportive of LGBTQ youth and can help those children with any support they need. These issues are significantly impacting children, especially at young ages as they are developing. Young children are extremely susceptible to brain changes and damage from these issues that the foster care system or that their biological parents place on them. The foster care system in many ways can be better than some biological parents, but at other times the system can be just as harmful. It is important to protect these children who have no voice and no option, and to make sure they are getting the support that they need.

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Laura, Casey, Jason, and A.J. represent children in foster care that are suffering and struggling around the world. These children are only a fraction of the stories, problems, and issues that foster care children face. The impacts of these problems are so severe that a change needs to be made sooner rather than later. 

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