Foster Children/Foster Care
Issues of a Foster Child

Child Abuse

Families and Children Served through Foster Care

The Policy Framework

This thesis reviews foster care in the United States: the reasons why children fall into the category of children who need to be taken out of their families and placed in care, the numerous emotional and psychological responses of children in foster care, and the psychological and emotional care that is given to children that are placed in foster care. The numerous laws covering foster care institutions and the policies they implement regarding the treatment of children in their care are also discussed. An extensive list of references is also given at the end of the thesis.

Introduction

Everyday more children are born into this world. Yet everyday there is a mother or a father who child is placed in a foster care facility, for many different reasons. Children are taken from their home because of neglect…...

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References

Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997. PL. 105-89.

Adoption Assistance and Child Welfare Act of 1980. P.L. 96-272.

Alan Guttmacher Institute. (1994). Sex and America's teenager. New York: Author.

American Academy of Pediatrics. (1999). Planning for children whose parents are dying

One explanation is the fact that mental health services are generally allocated based on the presence of a psychiatric diagnosis, and older children are more likely to meet criteria for specific disorders. Although younger children may exhibit certain symptoms, they are less likely to meet the full criteria for a classified disorder (Fisher 2005). Moreover, the behavior of older foster children may appear to pose more of an immediate threat, either to themselves or to others (Fisher 2005). Even in the general population, risks for violence, juvenile delinquency and other behavioral problems, increase with age, thus in high-risk populations (as defined by factors such as poverty and violence), the risk gradient associated with age increases, therefore the need for services may be the greatest in the short-term among older foster children (Fisher 2005).
In a study published in the January 2005 issue of the Journal of the American Academy of…...

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Works Cited

Fisher, Philip A. (2005 April 01). Developmental, cognitive, and neuropsychological functioning in preschool-aged foster children: associations with prior maltreatment and placement history. Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics. Retrieved June 30, 2006 from HighBeam Research Library.

Fostering and Foster Care. The Adoption History Project. Retrieved June 30, 2006 at  http://darkwing.uoregon.edu/~adoption/topics/fostering.htm 

History of Foster Care. Retrieved June 30, 2006 at http://www.sacbee.com/static/archive/news/projects/foster/timeline.html

Pfeiffer, Steven I. (1997 May 01). Effectiveness of treatment foster care with children and adolescents: a review of outcome studies. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Retrieved June 30, 2006 from HighBeam Research Library.

" By telling stories, allows for a certain level of openness or vulnerability on the part of the parent and makes them human to the child. Stories give children a captivating medium in which to explore their emotions but really stories give them something to believe.
Jesus was the original storyteller. Reynolds Price discusses Jesus' involvement with establishing how stories promote the act of good works among His followers with, "Leviticus 19:18: 'you shall love neighbor as yourself.' This provides an insistence that no human relation can proceed with any pretense of moral foundation" unless of course, one moves away from God's love.

Purpose of the Study

The purpose of this proposal is to act as a vision in which groundbreaking research can be facilitated. This research will focus on religion as a catalyst for conflict among people who share a parent-child relationship within the foster care framework. Specifically, the dissertation wants to…...

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Works Cited

Fowler, James, W. 1981. Stages of Faith. San Francisco: Harper.

Gardner, H. 1995. Leading Minds: An Anatomy of Leadership. New York:

BasicBooks Harper Collins.

Hepperman, Christine, M. 2004. Barbara O'Connor: Taking Care of Moses. The Horn

homeless and runaway young people is viewed by many authorities as a human rights condition that grows out of poverty and victimization, often right in their family settings, and later, in the street (Farrow 1992) where they are further exposed to violence and other forms of dysfunction..
The International Perspective on the Health Needs of Homeless Youth uses the terms "street children" to refer to those below 18 years old who live through various ways in the streets. The United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund or UNICEF estimated that there were between 30 and 170 million street children and youth in the world (Farrow 1992). The UNICEF divided these young people broadly into a larger group and a smaller group, the larger one, consisting of youngsters who engaged in some economic activity in the streets and often returned to their families at night. The smaller group consisted of young people…...

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Bibliography

Farrow, J.A., ed, et al. (1992). Homeless and Runaway Youth Health and Health Needs. A position paper for the Society of Adolescent Medicine. Journal of Adolescent Health. http://www.adolescenthealth.org/html/homeless.html

Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund. (2004). Youth in the Margins. Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund publications.  http://www.lambdalegal.org/cgi-bin/icon/documents/record=899 

2002). Getting Down to Basics About LGBT Youth in Foster Care. Mediapolis, Inc.  http://www.lambdalegal.org/cgi-bin/iowa/documents/record?record=1027 

Lesbian Gay Rights Lobby of Texas. (2003). Fact Sheet on the Proposed Ban on Gay Foster Care in Texas. http://lgrl.org/familycoalition/lib194brochure.pdf

Lost Boy: A Foster Child's Search for the Love of a Family
David J. Pelzer is a child-abuse survivor who has shared his experiences as a public speaker and an author. He tells his own story in a series of three books. Pelzer is the son of an alcoholic and extremely abusive mother and he lived his life moving frequently in and out of foster homes. Pelzer is a strong advocate against child abuse and his personal accounts help to bring awareness to many. Pelzer was married and had one child. He is divorced from his first wife, but has remarried.

Pelzer's second book, The Lost Boy: A Foster Child's Search for the Love of a Family, covers Pelzer's turmoil during his teen years and is the sequel to the first of a trilogy titled, A Child Called It. It is the true story of a child who suffered abuse and…...

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Works Cited

Pelzer, David. The Lost Boy: A Foster Child's Search for the Love of a Family. Health Communications, 1997.

Child Abuse?
The issues of child abuse in the larger society are often unnoticed until it is too late. Unfortunately, public perceptions of the precursors to abuse are limited, and the unfortunate reality of 'out of sight, out of mind' is prevalent in a society which moves as quickly as ours, and in which individuals are completely engaged in their own lives, expressing little ability to watch out for, or concern for the well being of others. The following studies look into the well-being of children, the impact of foster care on the well being of children, and the community's overall involvement in the problem of child abuse.

In order to construct a viable policy regarding what to do about the problem of child abuse, researchers must first accurately perceive the problems which exist in the larger society, and make sure that they have accurately measured the important factors. Since must…...

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Resources

Calvert JF and Munsie-Benson M. Public opinion and knowledge about childhood sexual abuse in a rural community. Child Abuse Negl 1999; 23:671-682.

Clewell, B.C., Brooks-Gunn, J., & Benasich, A.A. (1989). Evaluating childrelated outcomes of teenage parenting programs. Family Relations, 38, 201-209.

Cooper, R, and Sutton, K. (1999)

The Effects of Child Abuse on Preschool Children's Play Australian Journal of Early Childhood, Vol. 24.

Also, children who do not graduate from school are also at risk for negative and risky behavior during adolescence that can transcend into adulthood. These behaviors include delinquency, drug abuse and violence as well as long-term adjustment issues.
Essentially, children in foster care are at greater risk for not succeeding in school and do have more emotional issues than children of the general population. There must be the utmost emphasis on helping them to succeed. One study conducted suggested the difference between success and failure for a child could be determined with only a few steps and relatively minimal effort on the part of care givers and educational institutions. These include making sure transcripts transfer in a timely manner, a strong working relationship between educators and social workers, the care giver (foster parent) involvement in the education process, and social workers being involved in the direction of the child's education.…...

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Works Cited

Anne Havalchak, C.R. (2009). Foster Care Experiences and Educational. Social Work Journal, 3-7.

Fernandez, E. (2008). Unravelling Emotional, Behavioural. British Journal of Social Work, 14-16.

Sullivan, M.J. (2009). School change, academic progress, and behavior problems in a sample of foster youth. Children and Youth Services Review, 7.

It should be comforting for parents to know that if their child develops a serious psychological disorder it does not mean they are terrible parents. It would also be important for them to know that how they raise a child with a psychological or psychiatric can make a difference in the outcome. The research indicates that parenting alone cannot solve significant psychological problems, but that by combining good science with good parenting, children with psychological problems can be helped.
ibliography

ouchard, Jr., Thomas J.; Lykken, David T.; McGue, Matthew; Segal, Nancy L., and Tellegen, Auke. 1990. "Sources of human psychological differences: the Minnesota study of twins reared apart." Science, Oct. 12. Accessed via the Internet 2/7/05. http://www.mugu.com/gic-bin/Upstream/bouchard-twins?/embedded=yes&cumulative_category...

Macindoe, Ian, Ph.D. 2004. "Happiness: What studies on twins tell us about nature, nurture, and the happiness set point." Accessed via the Internet 2/7/05. http://dlibrary.acu.edu.au/ageing/thot04dec03.html

Mota-Castillo, Manuel, and Auvil, Erica, MSW 2004. "ipolar Disorder and Genetics:…...

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Bibliography

Bouchard, Jr., Thomas J.; Lykken, David T.; McGue, Matthew; Segal, Nancy L., and Tellegen, Auke. 1990. "Sources of human psychological differences: the Minnesota study of twins reared apart." Science, Oct. 12. Accessed via the Internet 2/7/05. http://www.mugu.com/gic-bin/Upstream/bouchard-twins?/embedded=yes&cumulative_category...

Macindoe, Ian, Ph.D. 2004. "Happiness: What studies on twins tell us about nature, nurture, and the happiness set point." Accessed via the Internet 2/7/05. http://dlibrary.acu.edu.au/ageing/thot04dec03.html

Mota-Castillo, Manuel, and Auvil, Erica, MSW 2004. "Bipolar Disorder and Genetics: Beyond Question." Psychiatric Times, June.

Pietrantonio, Anna Marie, M.D.. 2004. "How important is permanency planning for children? Considerations for pediatricians involved in child protection." Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics, August.

Essay Topic Examples
1. The sychological Impact of Foster Care Systems on Children:
    This essay could explore the emotional and psychological challenges faced by children in state custody, including issues of attachment, trust, and identity development. It might include an analysis of the long-term effects of being in the foster care system and the importance of stability and mental health services for these children.

2. The Role of Education in the Lives of Children in State Custody:
    This topic examines how the education system interacts with children in state custody, addressing the obstacles they face in accessing quality education, the impact of frequent school changes, and the potential of educational stability as a tool for improving outcomes for these children.

3. Comparing Outcomes: Children in State Custody vs. Their eers:
    An analysis of the differences in life outcomes between children who have been in state custody and those who have not, including educational attainment, employment opportunities,…...

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Primary Sources

United States Government Accountability Office. \"Foster Care: HHS Has Taken Steps to Support States\' Oversight of Psychotropic Medications, but Additional Assistance Could Further Collaboration.\" GAO-16-33, January 2016.

Child Welfare Information Gateway. \"Foster Care Statistics 2019.\" U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Children\'s Bureau, March 2021.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Children’s Bureau. \"The AFCARS Report: Preliminary FY 2019 Estimates as of June 23, 2020 – No. 27.\" 2020.

United Nations General Assembly. \"Convention on the Rights of the Child.\" United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1577, 1989.

Herrenkohl, Todd I., et al. \"The Definition and Prevalence of Child Maltreatment among Adolescents in Foster Care: A Literature Review.\" Trauma, Violence, & Abuse, vol. 20, no. 2, 2019, pp. 197–215.

Essay Topic Examples 1. The Role of Early Childhood Attachments in Shaping a Sense of Belonging:
     Explore how the bonds formed in early childhood can set the foundation for a sense of belonging. Discuss the theoretical frameworks of attachment theory, such as the work by Bowlby and Ainsworth, and analyze how secure and insecure attachment patterns impact a child's social integration and emotional well-being later in life.

2. arenting Styles and Their Influence on Child Attachment and Community Connection:
    Examine how different parenting styles, like authoritative, authoritarian, permissive, and uninvolved, affect the development of attachment and belonging in children. Consider cultural variations in parenting and their implications for fostering a sense of community among children.

3. The Impact of Early Childhood Education on Attachment Security and Group Identity:
    Investigate the role that early educational settings play in bolstering children's attachment security and their identification with a peer community. Discuss how preschool environments…...

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Primary Sources

Ainsworth, Mary D. Salter, Mary C. Blehar, Everett Waters, and Sally Wall. Patterns of Attachment: A Psychological Study of the Strange Situation. Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum, 1978. Print.

Bowlby, John. Attachment and Loss, Vol. 1: Attachment. 2nd ed., New York: Basic Books, 1982. Print.

Bronfenbrenner, Urie. The Ecology of Human Development: Experiments by Nature and Design. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1979. Print.

Hughes, Daniel A. Building the Bonds of Attachment: Awakening Love in Deeply Traumatized Children. 2nd ed., Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield, 2017. Print.

Perry, Bruce D., and Maia Szalavitz. The Boy Who Was Raised as a Dog: And Other Stories from a Child Psychiatrist\'s Notebook – What Traumatized Children Can Teach Us About Loss, Love, and Healing. New York: Basic Books, 2017. Print.

Gradually, there are lesser desired adoptive kids as society have come to accept single mother who parent their children compared to earlier. The disgrace of giving birth to a child outside marriage has lowered and hence, the bulk of single moms prefer to have their kids with them in place of "relinquishing them" for being adopted. Besides, thanks to advanced technology, "birth control" pills are instantly accessible to the fertile populace, and, as abortion has been legalized, a pregnancy which is unplanned could be stopped. A new dimension to the problem has emerged because of the decrease in the supply of desirable adoptable infants and the rising infertility among Americans. (Infant Adoption is Big Business in America)
It is anticipated that out of every six couples, one couple has problems in conceiving and total infertile couples may number 5.3 million. A lot of adopters who are presently desirous of adoption…...

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References

Adoption is big business: Rationalizations for Adoption. http://www.adoption-articles.com/adoption_business.htm

Adoption: The Child Commodities Market is Big Business.  http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/224728/adoption_the_child_commodities_market.html?page=2 

Avery, Rosemary. J. Adoption Policy and Special Needs Children. Auburn. Westport: CT.

Cahn, Naomi R; Hollinger, Joan Heifetz. Families by Law: An Adoption Reader. New York

In the second phase of the research, testing of the children in various areas related to their attitude towards outdoor play will take place. Appreciation and awareness of the natural world, signs of emerging independence or continuing dependence, and a variety of other variables associated by previous research with outdoor play will be examined. This will also provide some direct insight as to the factors that motivate outdoor play, allowing for further extrapolation. Specifically, plans and procedures for motivating increased outdoor play and more positive attitudes towards/greater appreciations of outdoor play will be recommended based on the findings of the two research phases. From this, the beginnings of a comprehensive view of early childhood attitudes towards outdoor play and the benefits of increasing positive attitudes towards outdoor play will hopefully be established.

Conclusion

The observations made in this research will not provide enough evidence to lead to any entirely conclusive results concerning…...

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References

Chan, L. & Louie, L. (2003). "The Use of Pedometry to Evaluate the Physical Activity Levels among Preschool Children in Hong Kong." Early childhood development & care 173(1), pp. 97-107.

Kernan, M. & Devine, D. (2010). "Being Confined within? Constructions of the Good Childhood and Outdoor Play in Early Childhood Education and Care Settings in Ireland." Children & society 24(5), pp. 371-85.

Maday, G, (2005). "Indoor play systems." Scholastic early childhood today 19(6), pp. 33-4.

Valentine, G. & McKendrick, J. (1997). "Children's outdoor play: Exploring parental concerns about children's safety and the changing nature of childhood." Geoforum 28(2), pp. 219-35.

Child abuse is one of the most dangerous and serious problems confronting society, perhaps because of the helplessness and innocence of the victims. What is particularly bothersome about child abuse is that it occurs in all income, racial, religious, and ethnic groups and in urban and rural communities. Likewise, there is no uniform definition of what constitutes child abuse, making it difficult to ascertain what prevention and treatment methods are most effective. For example, in Sweden, the law prohibits any physical punishment of children, including spanking. By contrast, in some countries of Asia, Africa, and the Caribbean, parents are expected to punish their children by hitting them.
This paper analyzes and examines the multitude of issues related to child abuse. Part II defines child abuse. In Part III, a history of child abuse is offered. Part IV evaluates why child abuse exists according to control theory and anomy theory. In Part…...

Child Care
Developmental Observation of Five-Year-old

Statement of esearch/Observation: To observe a five-year-old female child in her natural setting to determine age appropriate developmental stages.

Description of Child Being Observed: The subject is a five-year-old female: Maribel.

Planning Stages:

My friend has a five-year-old niece. The subject's mother was contacted and agreed to allow the observations to take place in her home and on the playground. The project was discussed and plans were made to accommodate all involved parties.

Introductory Visit:

The introductory visit was conducted at my friend's house, also the child's grandmother's home. Maribel often visits her grandmother and is very comfortable within this home setting.

Upon this visit, Maribel was introduced to me as her aunt's visitor. She said, "hi" to me, and asked me if I was visiting her aunt. I replied yes, and asked Maribel if she would like to sit with me and wait for her aunt. She said yes, so we…...

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References

Alliance for Childhood. "Importance of play." 2 May, 2003 http://www.allianceforchildhood.net/projects/play/index.htm

Bergen, D. Pretend Play and Young Children's Development. ERIC Clearinghouse on Elementary and Early Childhood, 2001. ERIC,ED458045.

Fisch, S.M., & Truglio, R.T. (2001). "G" is for growing: Thirty years of research on children and Sesame Street. Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum.

Kagan, J. "Child." World Book Online Reference Center. 2004. World Book, Inc. 25 Mar. 2004.  http://www.worldbookonline.com/wb/Article?id=ar110700 .

Children: Exposure to Violence Through the Media
The extent to which exposure to violence creates violent children and/or aggressive behavior is a subject which has been debated in a comprehensive manner. However, the fundamental research findings are consistent. The research continues to demonstrate that exposure to violence creates negative manifestations in the behavior of children. "While violence is not new to the human race, it is an increasing problem in modern society. With greater access to firearms and explosives, the scope and efficiency of violent behavior has had serious consequences. We need only look at the recent school shootings and the escalating rate of youth homicides among urban adolescents to appreciate the extent of this ominous trend" (Beresin, 2010). Given the fact that children are manifesting violent behavior in more and more disturbing ways, making places like schools -- previously dens of safety -- into places where children feel unsafe is…...

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References

Beresin, V .E. (2010). The Impact of Media Violence on Children and Adolescents: Opportunities for Clinical Interventions. This article examines the biophysiological impact of violent images on children and how those exact dynamics work. Retrieved march 25, 2013 from  http://www.aacap.org/cs/root/developmentor/the_impact_of_media_violence_on_children_and_adolescents_opportunities_for_clinical_interventions 

Grayson-Mathis, C.E. (2005, June 10). Media violence may affect children's minds.

Offers a thorough appraisal on how violent media images impact the minds of children using relevant literature to support the case.

Retrieved from  http://www.webmd.com/parenting/news/20050610/media-violence-may-affect-childrens-minds