[View the story "Foster Care System" on Storify ]Foster Care System Storified by AJAMStream · Tue, Oct 29 2013 13:45:17
There are almost
400,000 children currently in the foster care system. About 80 percent are there due to parental
neglect . Of those 100,000 awaiting adoption, 30 percent have been in the system for upwards of two years. Although these numbers represent a
decline from past statistics, challenges within the foster care system still face many of those involved.
The experiences of foster children
may influence their behavior and are detailed in a video produced by
AdoptUsKids , a non-profit trying to raise the awareness of and contributions to foster families.
Adopted Children: What it's like being taken awayadoptuskids
Once a child is adopted, new parents face difficult challenges acclimating them into a new environment. In response to the potential difficulties,
support groups have formed online where new parents can facilitate discussion.
What all do you have to do to have your home opened for therapeutic if you are already an open foster home?Lana McDowell Horn
I'm a single "mother" to a toddler in foster care, so I don't have a partner that I can discuss the frustrations/challenges with. I went to the once monthly support group my agency holds, and that is helpful, but I would love to know what suggestions other foster parents have for "outlets" to get out my feelings of frustrationAmber Williams
A) We aren't in this for the recognition. We hope to one day have raised happy, healthy, fully functioning adults that can live the life they have dreamed of. If she never appreciates me but can acheive the above I will satisfied.Jan Kubat Staehli
Some have posted videos online detailing their experiences.
What It's Like to be a Foster Parentfosterpodcast
The foster care system presents a different set of challenges to biological parents of foster children. Under federal law, the state can remove parental rights for a child who has been in foster care for 15 months. It is within these months that biological parents are forced to make amends in their
efforts to regain custody of their children. The video below is shows a portion of the journey.
TOUGH LOVE a Documentary about the Child Welfare Systemtoughlovethefilm
If parental rights are terminated by the state, a child is free to be adopted. After the age of 9,
chances of adoption fall dramatically. If the child has not been adopted by a certain age - from 18 to, in some states, 21 - they "
age out " of foster care, or cease receiving benefits and are essentially independent.
By the age of 26, over one-third of the youth who age out of foster care will experience homelessness. http://ow.ly/oZK3k #OPM20701Michelle Fronmuller
81% of males who age out of foster care have been in jail by age 24. Be the difference for those child. #beaCASACASA TN Heartland
Foster youth dealing with homelessnessmollygbuckeye
Parents and children are not the only ones feeling the affects. Social workers in Los Angeles county staged a
protest in early October over increases in workloads in insufficient pay. The caseworker credited with initiating the protests, Randy Slavich, says his caseload is at 43 - with a high possibility to increase.
Union workers protest in Los Angelesjacquesfolk
H.R. 3205 reauthorizes the Adoption Incentives program through FY 2016. This legislation makes improvements to the State reward structure by focusing the program on increasing adoption rates instead of the raw number of adoptions. This ensures that States are still able to receive awards if foster care caseloads decline. Included in the new reward structure are new award categories for increases in the rate of adoption for older children (children over the age of 14) and also increases in the rate of children leaving foster care to live with legal guardians.gop.gov
In Virginia, a social media campaign backed by Governor McDonnell uses
#IHeartAdoption to feature photos of adoption supporters across the state.
"#IHeartAdoption because of our awesome grandson Makaio" http://twitter.com/VirginiaAdopts/status/392642785796689920/photo/1Virginia Adopts.
@_DJ_Jordan (foster care adoption family) says #IHeartAdoption because children in stable families reduce poverty. http://twitter.com/VirginiaAdopts/status/393363843369693185/photo/1Virginia Adopts.
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