Foster Care Research Paper

Audrey Politte Professor Winter English 102 25 April 2024 Issues of American Foster Care The poor living conditions of foster homes and adoption agencies have always been an under-the-table issue in America. Children are put up in foster homes for many reasons including the death of parents, addiction, abuse, neglect, and imprisonment of the parents. Foster homes are meant to be temporary placements for children before they are placed in permanent homes. The goal is to reunite the children with their biological family if possible. Many of these foster homes continue the abuse and neglect children experienced in their previous homes. Another big problem that has arisen since the COVID-19 pandemic is an increase in children in foster care and …show more content…
“More recently, research and jurisdictional experiences stress that a range of workforce challenges — including role ambiguity, low compensation, organizational culture, lack of peer support, increased administrative requirements, high caseloads, lack of community-based services — have only made it harder to keep staff” (How does turnover in the child welfare workforce impact children and families?). Society and government officials need to understand the issues social workers face. Not just one solution will fix the foster care system. Resolutions to help fix these issues include implementing rigorous screening processes for prospective foster parents, including thorough background checks, reference checks, and assessments of their capacity to provide safe and nurturing environments for children. Provide comprehensive pre-service and ongoing training to foster parents to equip them with the skills and knowledge necessary to care for children who have experienced trauma or adversity. Increase the frequency and rigor of child welfare agencies' monitoring and supervision of foster homes. These are only a few proposals to fix the issues of neglect and abuse in foster …show more content…
The decisions they make directly impact the reunification of families, and they are often expected to manage heavy caseloads for resource-poor agencies” (Pou). Social workers make life-changing decisions every day. This not only affects the families, but also the social workers. The salaries of social workers do not account for the work they do. While concerns about foster care and high turnover rates among social workers are valid and deserving of attention, it's crucial to recognize that the foster care system also yields positive outcomes for many children. Despite the challenges, countless children have found safe, stable, and nurturing care within foster families. These success stories underscore the vital role that foster care plays in providing a lifeline for children facing adversity. It's important to acknowledge that addressing the issues within the foster care system is an ongoing process, marked by continuous improvement efforts. Reforms aimed at enhancing the quality of care and support for children and families are actively underway. For instance, comprehensive training programs for foster parents and social workers equip them with the skills and knowledge necessary to meet the complex needs of children in

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