Mental and Emotional Health of Children When Leaving Foster Care

2735 Words6 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Causes and effects of foster care

The objective of this discussion is to evaluate the various states of mental health and emotional well being of the children belonging to the age span of 16-25 years when they leave foster care. This discussion expounds on the evidence and researches done to explore the mental, physical and emotional health of these children who are out of care into adulthood. Various comparisons have been done via statistics between different sections of children belonging to the foster care system and non-care children. It also briefly highlights the problem, obstacles and hurdles faced by them, overcome by some and succumbed to by many. Three major types of methods used for this study are “Longitudinal Research Method”, “Cross- sectional Research Method” and “Cross Sequential Method” (A cohort form of Longitudinal and cross-sectional method). “Case Study Method” and “Survey Method” also have been used (Baltes, 1968). The result of this study including comparisons with other relevant case studies and research has been discussed in great details in the latter section of this report. But if one has to draw a baseline of this result, then it would be that mostly there is a negative effect on the physical and mental health of the children, recently out of foster care. This effect is not only determined by the surrounding factors but also the innate factors of the individual going through the phase. Therefore it can only be generalised to a certain extent. This becomes one of the limitations of the study, because the aim of a research or a study is to generalise and apply the results and in due course necessary measures need to be taken regarding it; On the other hand, if the results are too specific, it fails its purpose. Moreover, the empirical dat... ... middle of paper ... ...ren. The system cannot wash its hands off and shed its responsibility after they provide foster care. Consistent and strict follow up is vital for their survival. To improve the situation, case studies can be undertaken on these children, which are regularly updated with their current life events; so the system knows and can track the progress of the child. New methods and practices, counseling services should be provided to these children for their effective adjustment to their new environment. Surveys and polls could be conducted to see the effectiveness of these methods. A hypothetical relationship that arises from the above results is that there is a cause and effect relationship between children post foster care support and their mental health and emotional and behavioral well being. This support is vital for the successful survival of the child in the world.

Show More
Related

  • Sophia And Princess Calizaire: A Psychological Analysis

    654 Words  | 2 Pages

    Unfortunately, “foster children who have moved multiple times often develop detachment disorder: they become unable to attach to others as a defense mechanism” (Babbel). Due to this, children are taught to keep to themselves. They fear that if they open up to people, then they will become more distraught when the time comes for them leave. Consequently, their outside persona becomes a shell, while their true emotions become trapped inside. As a result, they have trouble forming strong relationships later on in life. This can especially prove to be troublesome in marriages, where these ex-foster children act upon their training to build walls against others. Thus, this psychological damage can haunt foster care children for the rest of their

    Read More

  • Looked After Child and the Current System on LAC in the UK

    1510 Words  | 4 Pages

    Jeune, G.P, McCall, S., and Hamilton, L. (2007) Understanding Looked after Children: An Introduction to Psychology for Foster Care. London: Jessica Kingsley Pub.

    Read More

  • The Needs of Our Society's Neglected Kids Discussed in Fisher's Finding Fish: A Memoir

    2458 Words  | 5 Pages

    Social agency and the court authorizing the placement, and caregivers are responsible for the continuing monitoring to ensure that the child in placement receives adequate care and supervision (Downs, Moore and McFadden, 2009, p.275). Services for children in foster care are a teamwork effort of the different parties involved (Downs, Moore and McFadden, 2009). Unfortunately in Antowne’s situation the agency and the court system failed him because although he was removed from his mother, the abuse and neglect continued. The systems involved did not provide the safety net Antwone needed.

    Read More

  • The History and Progression of the Foster Care System

    2496 Words  | 5 Pages

    This paper will contain research done about foster care, including a brief history and progressing along to the system today. This research interested me because it is a professional career option after graduation. I found both positives and negatives about the foster care system that children and foster parents go through on a daily basis. As the paper progresses I will be explaining these positives and negatives in more detail. Throughout the paper I will be referencing different scholarly sources that explain foster care in different ways. Overall, this paper will show different aspects that the general public may never know about foster care.

    Read More

  • Aging Out Of Foster Care Case Study

    1783 Words  | 4 Pages

    The concept of aging out of foster care is referred to those children who are within the state foster care system and who are still in the system upon reaching the age of eighteen, twenty-one or have graduated from high school (Craft, 2014). The causes of children aging out of the foster care system is usually due to the children not finding a permanent home with an adoptive family, or the state for some reason has not reunited the child with his or her birth family before turning of age. Each state has a different regulation on what the age should be when a child ages out of the system. Many children are not ready to make the transition of being out on their own, therefore, some states have moved the age up to 21 years instead of 18 years (Craft, 2014). If the foster parents or parent chooses to keep caring for the child after he or she ages out, then the child is able to stay in their foster home until he or she is ready to make that step and move out. According to Cunningham and Diversi, many of the difficulties that foster youth face during their transition are known and read about in academic literature, but those who go through the process of aging out of foster care are largely missing from the academic literature (Cunningham & Diversi, 2013). Many children who are in the foste...

    Read More

  • History and Overview of Foster Care in America

    1511 Words  | 4 Pages

    There is nearly 400,000 children in out-of-home care in the United States right now (Children’s Right). Just about every day children are being shipped in and out of foster homes and group homes. Most people want the best for children in foster care and decide to take care of them until their parents can possibly recover. The foster care system can have both a negative or positive effect on children, foster parents, and biological parents because of the gaps in the system. Foster cannot not be avoided but the some aspects of the foster care system can be avoided if the missing gaps were filled.

    Read More

  • The Need for Change: The Harmful Effects of the Foster Care System

    910 Words  | 2 Pages

    One of the biggest misconceptions that we have in our country is that foster care is a great thing; well, it’s not. There are so many flaws in our foster care system to even consider it a good idea. With constant reports of abuse, depression, lack of stability, to even the terrible after effects of the foster care system, like homelessness and incarceration; the foster care system hurts more than it helps. Our foster care system is bad for America, but most of all, our children.

    Read More

  • Aging Out of Foster Care

    1267 Words  | 3 Pages

    One challenge young adult’s face after aging out of foster care is being provided the health care that they need. According to Paula K Jaudes and the American Academy of Pediatrics, children in foster care suffer from various health issues such as “developmental delays, mental retardation, emotional adjustment problems, chronic medical problems, birth defects, substance abuse, and pregnancy” (1170). It is unknown why children in care are at a higher risk for these problems, but numerous medical professionals believe it is caused by the circumstances that led them being put into foster care, and the experiences they had while in care (Jaudes 1170). Despite being inclined to face more medical problems than teenagers who grew up in nuclear families, there is a lack of support to help take care of these teens. One study conducted by...

    Read More

  • Abuse in Foster Care

    1098 Words  | 3 Pages

    “About two-thirds of children admitted to public care have experienced abuse and neglect, and many have potentially been exposed to domestic violence, parental mental illness and substance abuse” (Dregan and Gulliford). These children are being placed into foster care so that they can get away from home abuse, not so they can move closer towards it. The foster children’s varied outcomes of what their adult lives are is because of the different experiences they grew up with in their foster homes. The one-third of those other foster children usually has a better outcome in adult life than the other two-thirds, which is a big problem considering the high percentage of children being abused in their foster homes. Although, the foster care system has most definitely allowed children to experience the positive home atmosphere that they need there is still an existed kind of abusive system in the foster care program that is unofficial but seems to be very popular. Foster care focuses on helping children in need of a temporary stable environment; however, foster care can have negative impacts to the children and the people around them concerning the foster child going through the transition, the parents of the foster child, a new sibling relationship, and problems that arrive later influencing the foster child long-term.

    Read More

  • Foster Care

    799 Words  | 2 Pages

    As of 2014, there were over 415,000 children in the foster care system. Foster care is the raising and supervision of children in a private home, group home, or institution, by individuals engaged and paid by a social service agency (Legal Dictionary, 2016). Care givers can be of kin relationship to the child, or may not know the child at all. Group homes are run by a social worker and can house multiple children at a time. These homes are usually regulated by the state and/or government. Children of all ages go through many emotions when their lives revolve in foster care. This paper will discuss the emotions children deal with regarding separation from birth family, the effects of abuse, and the possibility of having to transition out of

    Read More

  • Foster Care Reform

    1335 Words  | 3 Pages

    Foster care needs to be reformed, especially when it comes to private agencies. Many people seem to overlook the issues embedded within the foster care system; all it does is take care of children, right? Wrong. Private agencies pervert the system with the nightmares they create. Foster children already feel unwanted and neglected because of the abandonment from their birth parents; private agencies provide them with conditions that further solidify their disbelief of care and love. Money comes first in the eyes of these agencies, followed by the need of control. This “control” can easily become abuse. It would only be sensible for a higher authority to intervene and put an end to these profound

    Read More

  • Foster Care System Essay

    1255 Words  | 3 Pages

    To many outsiders, the foster care system may appear to be a safe haven for those children that are abused or abandoned by their birth family. This is correct, but the system with which it is based, has many flaws. A background check is mandatory for all foster parents, but a test to see if a child 's temperament matches that caregiver 's parenting style, is not. Now, this is seen as a minor issue, but there is not enough evidence to support this. Plus, there are many other, much worse reasons, why the system is not perfect. Altogether, the foster care system and a multitude of its rules are flawed and may actually be negatively affecting foster children.

    Read More

  • The Negative Impact Of Foster Care On Children As A Social Problem

    1098 Words  | 3 Pages

    Though foster care was originally established to help children who were orphaned, abandoned, neglected or abused, it has also caused problems for children. Agencies often have difficulty providing adequate, accessible, and appropriate services for the families in their care. (Chipungu and Goodley, pp. 76, 2004) This paper will examine the negative impact of foster care on children as a social problem and how it is viewed and understood. Also this paper would point out the key figures and groups that are affected by problem. This paper would analyze past attempts to better the foster care system and current policies that exist to face this problem. Throughout this paper the goals and objectives of the current polices would be addressed.

    Read More

  • How To Write a Nursing Research Paper

    1759 Words  | 4 Pages

    The authors of this article have outlined the purpose, aims, and objectives of the study. It also provides the methods used which is quantitative approach to collect the data, the results, conclusion of the study. It is important that the author should present the essential components of the study in the abstract because the abstract may be the only section that is read by readers to decide if the study is useful or not or to continue reading (Coughlan, Cronin, and Ryan, 2007; Ingham-Broomfield, 2008 p.104; Stockhausen and Conrick, 2002; Nieswiadomy, 2008 p.380).

    Read More

  • Psychosocial Development in Middle Childhood

    1034 Words  | 3 Pages

    Fox, N. H. (2011). The effects of severe psychosocial deprivation and foster care intervention on cognitive development at 8 years of age: findings from the Bucharest Early Intervention Project. Journal Of Child Psychology & Psychiatry, 52(9), 919-928.

    Read More

More about Mental and Emotional Health of Children When Leaving Foster Care

Open Document