Final Research Paper

Adam B

Mrs. Zurkowski

Yellows

6 October, 2010

The Ongoing Problems for Foster Children

            The problems for foster children are becoming more prevalent in this country, especially with the federal government and the states practically ignoring them. Many foster children have been forced to live by themselves because the government has not given each foster family enough money to care for them. These foster children end up living on the streets or they beg other families to stay in their homes. The need for foster homes in the United States has skyrocketed over the past decade and this number is still rising. Some foster children suffer from depression and other sicknesses where they are sent to a nearby hospital. Instead of leaving foster children on the streets, more programs need to be established to assist them in every way possible. That way, they can get their lives back on track and live in a loving atmosphere where they are respected and cared for by a permanent, new family.

            The two main reasons foster children leave their families are abuse and neglect from one or both of the parents. Some of these parents even end up in jail because of their actions, and due to violence they show toward  their children (“Foster care 1”). Parents could also be placed in the hospital from their abuse of certain kinds of drugs, and their foster child ends up being placed in a substitute foster home (“Foster care 1”). As a result, the child usually has to live by his or herself until a new foster home can be found (“Foster care 1”). "Substance abuse by one or both parents is a factor in more than 75% of all foster care placements." (Foster Care 1) Without love and care from parents, many children end up feeling lonely and unwanted and try to harm themselves physically.

            Parents become eligible to be a foster parent by showing the ability to love, respect, and be kind to any foster child they are given. A foster parent can be old or young, or have a job or be retired. It does not matter because anyone can apply to become one (“Foster care 3”). Parents do not have to be married and they do not even have to be a stay-at-home parent, either (“Foster care 3”). But when the parent does become eligible, he or she receives some training on how to care for a foster child, and then given money that is used just to care for the foster child, not their own children if they have any (“Foster care 3”). "Those best qualified to be foster parents are patient and empathetic, attentive, and determined to succeed." (“Foster care 3”) Then, the parents can see a social worker if they have any other problems or questions they need answered.

            With the government reducing the amount of money normally given to each foster family, the foster child usually has to live independently, without any help. Most states offer independent living where they learn various skills needed for life, including banking and how to apply for jobs (Vestal 2). If independent living is not available, many foster children become homeless, where it is extremely hard to get their lives back on track (Vestal 2). Less and less foster families can keep their foster child because they are not given enough money from the government to support them, making more children homeless (Vestal 2). "While the number of children in foster care has decreased over the past decade, the number of teens who 'age out' of the program without permanent homes has increased 41% since 1998." (Vestal 2) The rate of homeless foster children has gone up dramatically, and the government has yet to respond.

             Many people believe that kicking foster children out of the foster care system at age eighteen is the right way to go. Foster children should live the life of every U.S. citizen at age eighteen and older, independently without help from family and friends (Vestal 1). First of all, many foster children have either a physical or mental illness and need tending to. Also, foster children are much different from the average child so they need a lot more help to solve all of their issues that the average child does not have. Foster children have experienced many violent things in their lives and they deserve a loving environment to live in to make the world a far less scary place (“Foster Care 5”).

            Others believe that the government should not waste their money on the issue of foster children because it is one little problem in this country that is smaller than a lot of other problems occurring. (Vestal 1). This issue may seem small in this country, but it packs a lot of meaning with it. Donating a small amount of money to the foster care system will help foster children all over this nation find a loving and caring family and change many lives. The more time a foster child stays with another family, the more they will escape abuse and neglect (“Foster care 2”).

            Foster children have experienced violent times in their lives and have felt sad emotions such as loneliness and depression. Most of them end up sleeping on the streets because of the government’s decrease of pay towards most foster homes. Foster parents need to use great care with each foster child to make them feel comfortable in their environment. Foster children need to be respected and loved at all times to make them feel comfortable away from their own homes and families. These two objections are incorrect because foster children mean a lot to this country and deserve help at a time when they persevered through the tough times. Foster children need that help in life that will guide then on their way to a positive and meaningful future. More people need to step in and take in every foster child so there will be none left to suffer.

Works Cited

"Foster Care." Issues & Controversies On File: n. pag. Issues & Controversies. Facts On News      Services, 6 July 2009. Web. 4 Oct. 2010. <http://www.2facts.com/article/i0300620>.

"Foster care." World of Health. Gale, 2007. Gale Student Resources In Context. Web. 4 Oct. 2010.

Vestal, Christine. "States Trying to Extend Foster-Care Benefits." stateline.org. Aug. 24 2007: n.p. SIRS Researcher. Web. 04 Oct 2010.n.p. SIRS Researcher. Web. 04 Oct 2010.

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