Research Paper on Foster Care Services: A Viable Intervention for Neglected Children

Introduction

Provision of effective foster care services is considered as a viable intervention for children who have previously experienced cases of abuse, neglection by parents and family, and engagement in antisocial behaviors (Gypen et al. 2017). In this case, Jose appears to have joined the foster care system due to some common reasons that force children removal from their homes. According to Lola, a caseworker at the department of social service, child neglect, and drug abuse by parents is the main reason for Jose's removal from his parents' home. The parent's imprisonment appears to have contributed to inadequate housing and abandonment. As such, the displacement has caused a set of emotional, social, and health challenges. The implications for his case include the development of fetal alcohol syndrome, as well as child behavioral problems that have made it impossible to bond with several foster families.

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According to (Leloux-Opmeer, Kuiper, Swaab, & Scholte, 2016), at least 30% of foster children face physical health challenges. In this case, the department of social services is tasked with the responsibility to provide occupational, speech, and physical therapies. Another problem includes treating medical conditions such as delayed mental development, respiratory system, skin disease, and weak digestive system. The current foster family has declared intentions to adopt the child despite the opposition from the parents legally. There are current legislations that seek to foster care and reunify minors with their parents. Such laws include the Adoption and Safe Families Act, which also aims at reducing the amount of time-period spent in the foster care program. The regulations also identify the need to enhance the value of life for children expected to be adopted into a permanent new family. The laws provide fundamental parental rights that allow biological parents to live with their children. However, in the case of Jose, there are substantial allegations of abuse and neglect. The extreme circumstances of biological parents, such as drug abuse and imprisonment, allow disturbances to such parental rights. As such, there is a high chance that the petition for adoption will go through.

Addressing the Issues

The key challenges in this case include:

• The inability by foster families to create strong bond and relations to maintain a loving family environment
• Ensuring effective transition from alcohol abuse to a healthy life through available therapy sessions
• Dealing with the complex health, emotional, physical and social needs of the child
• Issues of permanent legal adoption and creating and convincing abusive biological parents

Recommendations to Enhance the Effectiveness of the Department of Social/ Human Services

According to (McGrew 2019), children from foster families have several needs that need to be addressed to ensure a positive impact on their future. Stability is one of the critical needs that require adequate collaborations between the subdivision of social and human services, professionals, schools, and foster families. The sector must ensure that families of origin are strengthened. A total separation of foster children from their families of birth is not an entirely good idea (Balsells et al. 2016). The department should seek better funding to ensure more focus on maintaining families of origin as child abuse preventative measures. Such financing can be seen as a reasonable effort to preserve and strengthen families. Strengthening of families of origin could include an invitation to critical family planning and decision-making meetings. Biological parents can also be involved in the mediation processes that determine foster families to take care of their children.

The effectiveness of the department of social services can be enhanced through adequate support for caseworkers. The department must provide the necessary professional training and supervision to caseworkers. The department is encouraged to adopt and implement competencies for providers of social and mental health care, particularly those working in foster care. Providing a conducive environment, tools, and techniques will improve the nature of services offered to such children. There is also the need for the department to provide the necessary education to the public. Public empowerment allows children to deal with negativity surrounding their situation. The department should put in place measures to assist children in dealing with unresolved issues and losses. Children in foster care are faced with unique mental health challenges as a result of the loss of parental care and unresolved grief. The department is therefore expected to provide adequate reimbursement of mental healthcare services, as well as accurate diagnosis and medication of their health condition. The department can also create an environment that encourages the building of relationships.

An Example of an Active Department Of Human Service Agency/Organization

In the US, the Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) is tasked with the responsibility of ensuring the protection of Americans' health and wellbeing. The department ensures that effective health and human services are provided through the advancement of medicine, social sciences, and public health. The department's mission is achieved through various programs administered by the office of the secretary staff divisions. In this case, we identify the Administration for Children and Families as one of the most successful programs for the Department of Health and Human Services.

About the Administration for Children & Families

One of the notable programs of the Department of Health & Human Services is the Administration for Children and Families (ACF). The program is tasked with the responsibility to encourage the financial and social wellbeing of children, families, entities as well as the community. Strategic assistance is also provided through funding and development of strategic partnerships. The program also offers specific guidance, training, and technical staff aid.

The Major Accomplishments

The Administration for Children and Families is the institution of the department of health and human services that have played an essential function in promotion of economic and social wellbeing of the most vulnerable individuals in the US. The program has served several groups, some of them including low-income individuals and families, refugees, and others. The program's significant achievement also includes fostering of economic activity and productivity (Sama-Miller, & Baumgartner, 2017). The program has also achieved a milestone in enhancing the quality of life and development of vulnerable children.

The ACF has a well established OCSE program that promotes parental responsibilities through a partnership with local governments as well as federal and state governments. The program is identified as one that supports low-income earners and provides support to children who also live in different houses with their parents. The program is one of the most extensive American programs that offer financial assistance, medical, and emotional support to parents as well as to deserving parents (Sama-Miller, & Baumgartner, 2017). The program also works closely with agencies whose primary task is to ensure advance healthcare coverage and ensure responsible parenthood. The agencies also refer some parents to potential employers and assist in reducing cases of family-related conflicts. The program provides a competitive grant fund to enhance the provision of viable services to deserving children.

The program provides various human and economic development services through a well-established office of community services (OCS). The office was created to solve the significant cause of poverty for needy families (Sama-Miller & Baumgartner, 2017). The office encourages the creation of employment, self-sufficiency, and providing support for economic developments. The program also assists low-income earning households. The program also provides funds that promote professional training and methodological assistance to community-based organizations. The objective of such aid is to enhance service delivery to needy children in the community.

The deserving families in the community are also assisted through the Office of Family Assistance (OFA). OFA provides the necessary assistance to ensure the long-term success of children and their families. The program also offers resources to parents and encourages responsible parenthood. The program provides educational, employment support, and healthy family relationships. OFA also ensures that needy children are cared for in their own homes (Sama-Miller & Baumgartner, 2017). There exists the Administration On Children, Youth, And Families project, which falls under the ACF program, whose main objective is to improve outcomes of children, youths, and their children. The goals of the program are achieved through the Child Welfare, Runaway and Homeless Youths, Family Violence Prevention Services, And Teen Pregnancy Prevention. It is the Children's Bureau that provides the necessary financial support and guidance in an attempt to ensure stronger families and encourage the prevention of childhood neglect and abuse. The Children's bureau also ensures that children are protected after the occurrence of abuse and neglect. The bureau is also ensuring that all children and youths have a permanent family.

Conclusion

It is critical to provide foster children who have previously experienced cases of abuse and neglect in their families. The department of social services is tasked with the responsibility of identifying and enhancing the care of foster children. The department of Health & Human Services (HHS), achieves such objectives through significant programs, such as the Administration for Children and Families (ACF). The primary challenges in handling foster children include ensuring effective transition, providing medical therapies, and create strong bonds with the families. The identified programs work closely with the biological parents, adoptive parents, federal and state governments to ensure the overall wellbeing of the needy children.

The departments of human services have continued to experience a common trend over the past years. The common patterns are characterized by changes in technology, government regulations as well as growing competition from the for-profit organizations. Human services innovations require new technology to ensure the quality delivery of cost-effective services. Technology continues to present predictive data analytical tools to draw insights that are necessary for measuring outcomes for human service organizations. The technological data analytical tools will also assist in designing appropriate intervention models that would ensure better health outcomes for affected children. The departments have also experienced a growing need for capital investments and increasing expectations from donors. The ever increasing competition continues to encourage a nontraditional form of partnership between private for-profit and government departments to ensure maximum utilization of resources. Recent developments have also helped the use of the creative financial model, with the government as well as private donors expecting positive returns on social outcomes.

References

Balsells, M. A., Pastor, C., Molina, M. C., Fuentes-Pelaez, N., & Vazquez, N. (2016). Understanding social support in reunification: The views of foster children, birth families, and social workers. British Journal of Social Work, 47(3), 812-827.

Gypen, L., Vanderfaeillie, J., De Maeyer, S., Belenger, L., & Van Holen, F. (201...