The Importance of Funding in the Foster Care System in the United States

The youth, is the future. Today’s youth, today’s generation, is going to be what drives the future. But, just how many are willing to invest in the said builders of that future? Hundreds of thousands of those minors who are today’s tomorrow, are living in foster care. They’ll go in and out of various homes, not knowing what it will hold for them, whether it be the safe haven it’s intended to be, or just the beginning of a violent story; one which no one may bother to read. While several regulations must be passed for one to become a foster parent, a child can still fall under the mercy of the back of their hands, all because they can become invisible to everyone around them, even the system that was supposed to protect them. A future cannot be bright if a portion of those who are their to build it are ignored, along with their unnecessary hardships. A future cannot be bright, without a little help. Although money is already tight for many Americans, more funding to goes towards foster care would provide a better future for the country by providing the essentials to children who could be capable of leaving a mark on society.

The federal foster care system began in 1961, after the States refused to put funding towards troubled homes to make them safer for children. The funding for this program; about $5 billion dollars. And, while this is a large amount of money, it’s proving not to be sufficient for the hundreds of thousands of children that reside within the foster care system. (“FEDERAL”) The amount of children in foster care has grown quite a bit since the 1960s, to present day, and as more children are filed into the system, more money is going to be needed to insure that each child receives proper care.

400,00 children have found themselves trapped in the foster care system here in the United States. On average it takes over 22 months for the child to be adopted. (“Facts”). Until then they are to stay within the foster care system. As minors, they have no choice, but to wait and see what outcome awaits for them.

The system works so that as many children as possible are suitable for adoption, but many potential adopters, will not see the children as so. Many children within the foster care system tend to have something along the lines of chronic illness. Over half of the children have been diagnosed with some sort of emotional disorder such as depression or anxiety. (“Facts”) Those suffering with depression, anxiety, or other long term illnesses, won’t be as easy as other children within the system, and won’t be seen as possible to potential parents, especially when those without said issues would be more likely to adjust to new environments.

The extra funding could be much more than just paying for education, which is free to those who attend public schools, and housing. It would also go towards hiring more social workers. Many social workers are swamped with several children, making it hard for them to make sure each and everyone gets the proper care they should be receiving in foster homes, or in the system. With too many children to look after, their social workers can wind up placing them in worse home than they were removed from. (Gray)

Getting children into permanent homes however is of high importance. Several children wind up spending the rest of their lives as minors within the system. 11% of children aged out of the system in 2011, and many children continue to today. Sixteen percent of those children were in foster care for three years before they sought emancipation. (“Facts”) The goal of several states is to return children back to their original homes, after measures have been taken to make the home suitable for a child. However, more than 60,000 children cannot be provided this option, due to the fact that their biological parents, or original guardians, had their rights as a child’s guardian terminated. (“Facts”) As mentioned previously, most children have to wait on average of two years before they are adopted. When children are finally placed into family environments where they are subjected to emotional support, they tend to establish stable relationships and social skills. Those who are not adopted and spend more time within the system have higher rates of teen pregnancy and crime. (“What”) These negatives effects do tend to follow them into further into their adult lives causing failed marriages and leaving many of them homeless. (“What”) Homelessness, failed relationships, and abuse are all things we know occur in daily lives. Some can’t be stopped, but in cases such as these, they can certainly be reduced with the right push.

Nothing can ever be guaranteed. So much money is already being put towards several different places, such as the military and health care. With money being tight for the majority of American citizens, many aren’t going to be willing to put more money into a system that already has billions going towards it, especially with the several success stories that exist on the internet. Stories such as five siblings being placed in a ‘forever home,’ not being seperated like so many other siblings within the system. Or other stories such as parents dealing with children with physical disadvantages and making it through the odds. (“A Special”) Not all of those who aren’t adopted quickly are put in abusive homes either. Only fifteen percent of children in the foster care system are eligible to be placed within homes before they are adopted. (“Facts”) There’s always a bright side to look to.

Ignoring the negatives and only allowing oneself to see the positive is nothing but ignorance. While 15% doesn’t seem like a large number, 15% is over 26,000 children in foster care. (“Facts”) Over 26,000 children cannot be neglected because things may or may not work out. Nothing can be guaranteed, that is true. But nothing can be changed if nobody tries. A quitter never wins, and a nation that quits on its youth, has no future.

Works Cited

• “A Special Bond.” Foster Care Success Stories. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Oct. 2013.
• “Facts About Foster Care.” Childrens Rights RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Oct. 2013.
• “FEDERAL FOSTER CARE FINANCING: How and Why the Current Funding Structure
• Fails to Meet the Needs of the Child Welfare Field.” Federal Foster Care Financing and Why the Current Funding Structure Fails to Meet the Needs of the Child Welfare Field: Issue Brief. N.p., 2005. Web. 21 Oct. 2013.
• Gray, Alice. “The Pros and Cons of Foster Care.” By Alice Gray. N.p., 5 Dec. 2007. Web. 21 Oct. 2013.
• “What We Know About the Effects of Foster Care.” N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Oct. 2013.
• <http://www.irp.wisc.edu/publications/focus/pdfs/foc142g.pdf>.

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