Why are kids put into foster care?
There are many reasons that a child could end up in care of the foster system. Many times an anonymous report is made to a CPS worker when a parent is not able or willing to give their kids a safe environment at their home. Reasons that parents could be unable to care for their kids full time could be poverty, neglect, addiction, mental illness, abuse, absence, or very many other reasons. Not all parents whose kids have been put into foster care are necessarily “unfit’’ parents, they just need extra support to be able to give their children a safe environment to grow up.
Effect of foster care on the children:
Foster care can be very stressful on children, different children have different outcomes and reactions, it is impossible to group these many experiences into one. Although the court case and details play a significant role in the child’s well being, foster care can make a significant role in their mental health. According to Brianna __, an experienced children’s therapist, foster care can be very traumatic. Although it depends on the case, all children thrive off of stability and being taken from their homes to a new environment within an hour without time to pack up or process is damaging to any kid. Stability is key for the development of a child and trying to give that to a foster child is very difficult because of the system. The goal is always to do what is best for the kid and some adjust very well because they feel that they are now safe. CPS workers always try to find the nearest relative to help ease the process and help the child feel a sense of familiarity and balance after such a traumatic event, this helps the child process and helps them heal from the trauma much faster. Going through foster care can add trauma for the child because the anxiety of expecting the next transfer to a new home, adjusting to a new environment, and getting back into normal habits can be very difficult for these foster children because they have to adjust to a new routine sometimes weekly. This adds anxiety and gives them less time to feel safe and comfortable which would help them heal. Foster care is made to help children in need, and although it can add trauma it is still a system that aims to do what is best for the child.