Essay Sample on Rethinking Foster Care: Examining Challenges at the Micro-Level

Introduction

The American foster care system has evolved tremendously in becoming the central system in the provisions of care and protection to children who have been separated by birth due to neglect or abuse. The state identifies these children based on different criterions, removed from their homes then put in a care system where they are assured of safety and support. Despite the provisions of a foster home, the children experience several challenges. The paper intends to elaborate on the micro-level mental and physical health challenges of foster care children.

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Over a million children experience abuse in foster care and have not been raised in a caring and supportive condition. Maltreatment of youngsters has a short-and long-term impact on the development of children and their capacity to become helpful individuals in society. An increasing number of youths are put under child care inferred from parental disregard. The disregard has a significant and long terms impact on each part of the child's development-sparse connection arrangement, postponed advancement, poor physical development, and reserved behaviors. The result of misuse can be destroying. In the previous 30 years, scientists have attempted to demystify the effect of maltreatment on youngsters as far as mental, physical, emotional, and social development of kids. The tangible results go from minor injuries to mind harm, and most pessimistic scenarios it might prompt demise - mental results from misuse and disregard range from low confidence to extraordinary dissociative states. The psychological impact of abuse incorporates consideration issues and learning difficulties to genuine cerebrum issue. Typically, the implications of abuse incorporate poor friend connection and rough practices. This way, the impacts of violence and disregard is that it influences the people in question and the general public.

Homelessness is a significant issue faced by youths who have been to foster homes. Lancione, (2013), demonstrated that a portion of the child who leaves foster care are at an elevated danger of vagrancy. These young people face incredible difficulties as they endeavor to get housing stability, unlike their friends who live with their parents or guardians regardless of their ages. Such dangers, in this manner, meddle with the adolescents' advancements as they adjust to the new condition with obligations and autonomy. Then again, studies show that the young people who are maturing out of foster homes are at a greater danger of the different mental and physical wellbeing challenges than the individuals who never became destitute when they matured out.

According to Strolin-GoltzmaN et al., (2016), majority of foster children, struggle in education. Emancipated youth face challenges in their education journey. The underlying issues that revolve around their placement in foster homes make them miss several days or months in school. Consequently, the child's ability to concentrate on studies, graduate on time, or acquire a high school diploma being delayed. Besides, while the kids are in foster care, federal protection has it that they ought to have school stability. These kids might have been placed in multiple schools before being placed in a final school. Nonetheless, these kids score below average in standard tests and very few graduates.

Foster children experience social-emotional development. These kids have no model relationships which they can learn. They grow up fending for themselves are develop survival capabilities such as food hoarding. The social-emotional development, in this case, refers to the ability to interact with adults and peers such that they can healthily process emotions. Foster parents t needs to take note of these behavioral problems when they start to showcase. The indicators are child social anxiety, aggression, and peer relational issues. Early diagnosis and treatment will health these kids to develop and grow appropriately.

Research by Ahmann (2017) points out that the majority of youth need mental health services, yet they do not receive it. According to the study, 30% of young adults receive mental health services they require mental health treatment. The issue is attributed to inadequate mental healthcare. The traditional informed mental healthcare has dwindled (Kaiser, 2018). The modern youth population is vulnerable to trauma and related concerns. The cases of trauma such as child abuse, parental incarcerations have not only led to mental health concerns but also drug abuse among the youth. This contends that foster children who have experienced trauma are more likely to top engage in suffering from mental health and substance abuse.

The correlation between foster care and substance abuse is prominent and starts before they are enrolled in the foster care system. The reason is because of parental substance abuse and child maltreatment. In addition, homelessness in adulthood is attributed to parental substance abuse. As indicated by, foster care affects substance misuse. The kids in foster care are bound to abuse alcohol and substances in contrast with those that have never entered foster care. The issue is also attributed to child abuse experiences, which aggravates substance abuse.

Conclusion

In conclusion, it is important to help the youth who are transitioning to adulthood to develop self-esteem and self-efficacy. The skills will enable them cope in multiple contexts as they age out of foster homes. The youth who have been to foster care have experienced a lot and they ought to be provided with positive and supportive mechanism as they develop through life.

Works Cited

Ahmann, Elizabeth. "Supporting Youth Aging Out of Foster Care." Pediatric nursing 43.1 (2017).

Hambrick, Erin P., et al. "Mental health interventions for children in foster care: A systematic review." Children and youth services review 70 (2016): 65-77.

Kaiser, Elizabeth Gray. "Foster Youth Transition to Adulthood: Effects of Housing Stability and Social Support on Mental Health." (2018).

Lancione, Michele. "How is homelessness." European Journal of Homelessness 8.2 (2013).

Strolin-Goltzman, Jessica, et al. "A mixed method study on educational well-being and resilience among youth in foster care." Children and youth services review 70 (2016): 30-36.