The Foster Care System

According to Children’s Rights about “670,000 children spent time” in foster care in the United States in 2015 (“Foster Care” 1). It is said that half or more children in foster care here in the U.S. enter with their siblings and that about 60 percent to 70 percent of sibling are split and do not live together (“In Focus: Struggling for Sibling Connections” 2). Siblings who go into foster care together, too often do not stay together. In some cases, separating sibling is necessary and more safe, in all reality it can cause a child much trauma and harm.
Based on Advokids, they describe the importance and benefits of sibling bonds briefly. Siblings teach each other skills that are needed in life including to “resolve conflicts and how not to; …show more content…
A repeated reason for this separation is the broken system of foster care, also known as “dangerous and dysfunctional foster care system” (“In Focus: Struggling for Sibling Connections” 3). This system as even denied children of their right to stay communicated with their siblings. Even when it is children’s right to have a say to how close they keep in contact with their siblings. Most of the agencies that are associated with this system do not offer many homes to those siblings that enter foster care together resulting in these sibling groups being entered into separate homes (“Why Separate Siblings?” 1). More reasons to why siblings maybe separated are for the safety of the children. Some siblings are bad influence for each other and may have some very violent way such as unresolved incest and emotional abuse (“The Sibling Bond” 3). In cases like this, splitting sibling groups up are more than necessary for the wellbeing and health of these children. In other cases, a sibling may need special care due to serious medical problems or disabilities. Or children may just be separated by their request to do so. Siblings safety, medical history, and requests make separation …show more content…
There are many more impacts when siblings are separated. Social, metal health, and physical health risks are effects that can caused (“Department of Applied Psychology.”1-4). Children can lack social skills and have trouble connecting with others. They may have trouble working and taking part in group projects and it may be difficult for them to make new healthy relationships with others. After being separated, siblings may “experience trauma, anger, and an extreme sense of loss” (“Why Separate Siblings?” 1). Many mental disorders and illness can sprout from these separations. Research of disorders that are commonly diagnosed by a psychiatrist are separation anxiety disorder, disruptive behavioral disorder, major depression disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder (“Department of Applied Psychology.” 2). All these disorders are only a fraction of the negative outcomes that come about when splitting sibling up. Many children tend to loose themselves or feel like they have lost a big part of themselves when being separated. They start abusing drugs and taking unnecessary sexual risks in search of looking for something to comfort them in hardships (3). A lot of times some kids will even turn to self-harm for comfort or for a way to express their pain they go through when they lose a sibling in foster care. There have also been many cases where siblings will run

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