Family Diversity: Foster Families

Foster families

24-hour substitute care for children outside their homes

AFCARS statistics

Neglect (63%)

Drug abuse (34%)

Caretaker inability to cope (14%)

Psychical abuse (13%)

Sexual abuse (4%)

Non relative foster family homes

44% of time are places in NRFFH

Relative foster home

35% of the time are placed in RFH- regardless if payments are being mafe or not

Pre adoptive homes

likely to be adopted by caretakers

Kinship Care

when a child is cared for by a relative or family friend when their parents are unable to care for them

Kinship care outcomes

Improved placement stability

higher level of permanency

Decreased behavioral problems

How many chldren are in foster care (2021)?

391,098

Average months a child stays in one place

14.9 months

Stats for length of stay

4%- less than one month

38%- 1 to 11 months

26%- 12-23 months

15%- 24-35%

12%- 3-4 yrs

6%- 5+ yrs

Average age of foster children

7 years

Races of foster children

43% White

22% Hispanic

8% multiracial

2% Am indian alskan native

1% Asain

Foster Parents

older than American parents

Married, but mostly single

Women

Majority AA (42%) over 1/3 W (36%), H(15%)

HS education

Lower-income than average US household

Is there a decline in foster care

Yes from 2003-2012, slight increase between 2012-2018

Highest races of foster representation

African American, Native American

Foster family structure

Created by the joining of additional family members, residential and nonresidential family members, created following the disruption of previous family structure, role ambiguity, divided loyalties

Academic achievement: Foster Children

Lower HS completion

Higher dropout rates

multiple absences

preformed lower grade level

Average foster placements

7 in 6-7 year time frame

Social Functioning: Foster Children

Higher problem behaviors

Worse peer relations (fewer friends, younger friends, lower intimacy)

Girls may suffer more

Risky sexual behavior and teen pregnancy

Placement instability and longer time in the system means

worse outcomes

Resilience

meeting age-related developmental tasks in spite of serious threats to development

Fostering resilience in foster children

scholastic participation or employability

positive relationships

Personal Characteristics

Participation in extracurriculars

3 processes (ac

Relationships between birth and foster families

Encouraged contact

Ambiguous role of FP supporting contact with BP

Less supportive, more restrictive (case workers)

Children visited by birth parents more likely to be reunited

Regular, not too frequent visitation can be beneficial

Two Interventions

Specialized training (FP)- relationship with BP increased contact

Facilitating visits- better relationship with FP and BP

Caseworkers

A high volume of cases, high turnover rate, high stress, burnout, feeling devalued (high turnover—> loss of consistency of care

1 caseworker vs 2 caseworker

1= FC 75% of permanency

18% 2 case workers

FC relationships

FC felt close to caregivers

More than half FC want more contact with BP

FP feel alienated when dont understand attachment related disorder

Avoidant

expect rejection, withdrawal when distressed and in most need comfort

Anxious

Unsure what to expect, inconsistent care, act clingy, demanding, difficult to soothe

Challenges for FC

placement instability

Separation from siblings

Runaways

Aging out