Helping Children in U.S. Foster Care
Photo Credit: Scott Webb (Unsplash)
Last month, a Humans of New York series followed Charell Star, a young woman who was raised in foster care after her great-grandmother became ill and could no longer care for her. She cycled through cruel homes and eventually, thanks to early encouragement from her great-grandmother, landed in a boarding school that brought new opportunities along with more challenges. What can we do to support children in the U.S. foster care system?
Neglect, often due to poverty, plays a role.
The Children's Defense Fund (CDF) says that children in the foster care system are some of the most vulnerable youth in the United States. In 2019, roughly 424,000 children were in foster care and almost half of them were under the age of six. Looking at that data, in which more than one factor can be present in a child's case, neglect was the most common reason for a child to be placed in foster care and it factored into 63% of the decisions. CDF added that neglect is often a tragic "proxy for the consequences of poverty." Similarly, children living in physically unsafe or substandard homes accounted for 10% of the system.
Children of color are overrepresented.
The 2019 data reveals that children of color are "dramatically overrepresented" in the U.S. child welfare system. The statistics for American Indian and Alaska Native children are particularly troubling. In 11 states, the percentage of American Indian or Alaska Native children in foster care is more than double their representation in the state. This is not a new phenomenon. The 1978 Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) was enacted to stop separating American Indian and Alaska Native children from their tribes. According to the National Indian Child Welfare Association (NICWA), studies at the time showed that 85% of Native children removed from their homes were being placed outside of their communities. ICWA has encouraged improvements, but NICWA says that Native families are still "four times more likely to have their children removed and placed in foster care" when compared to white Americans.
The Family First Act.
The bipartisan Family First Prevention Services Act (better known as Family First) was signed into law in 2018, enabling states and tribes to use child welfare funds on specific evidence-based programs that help keep families together and lessen the chance that a child will need to enter foster care. While still in the earliest stages, some states have noted financial barriers to implementing the law. To help states, in 2019, the Family First Transition Act took effect, offering financial assistance for states as they build new infrastructures to implement the Family First policies. The National Conference of State Legislatures is tracking progress by state to understand the Act's overall efficacy.
Support Comfort Cases: As we advocate for stronger policies to reduce the need for foster care, there are still children currently in the U.S. foster care system. Let's help Comfort Cases completely eliminate the use of trash bags to transport foster care children's belongings. Rob Scheer, the founder of Comfort Cases, was once in foster care. He said, “I remember carrying a trash bag and feeling worthless, like nobody cared about me.” His organization believes that children in foster care deserve compassion and dignity. Their goal is to give children a special bag filled with comforting goods, like cozy pajamas and a warm blanket, as they transition into a new home. To support their mission, you can purchase items from their Amazon Wish List, organize a donation drive, and/or volunteer at their national center in Rockville, Maryland.
NEW! Support One Simple Wish: We love when you send feedback after reading The Friday Brief! One reader suggested supporting an organization called One Simple Wish. Here’s more information about their mission and how you can support them: “One Simple Wish is dedicated to brightening the lives of individuals impacted by the trauma of foster care. On our site you can grant a wish, donate to our Scholarship Fund or make a gift towards our amazing mission. You can even grant a wish in honor of someone special!”