You are on page 1of 3

Author: Thomas C.

Weiss Published: Dec 14, 2013 (Revised: Dec 14, 2013) Abstract: Data suggests children born with forms of disabilities are more often abused and relinquished to the child welfare system. "A lot more can be done to guarantee that children with disabilities in foster c are are provided the complete encouragement, support and help they need to ensur e their safety, permanency and well-being." Detail: At any given time in America there are around 500,000+ children in the f oster care system, even though nearly 800,000 are served by the system every yea r. Approximately 13% of all children between the ages of 6 and 14 experience a f orm of disability. Reports estimate that children with disabilities are between 1.5-3.5 times more likely to have experienced neglect or abuse than children wit hout disabilities. While determining the cause of a disability for an abused child is many times di fficult, research has assessed that disabilities are often caused and/or exacerb ated by abuse. Data also suggest that children born with forms of disabilities a re more often abused and more often relinquished to the child welfare system, ei ther by force or choice. Abuse and trauma also happen within the system itself. In one study, one-third of children in foster care reported some type of maltrea tment while in the foster care system. The challenge in determining the cause of disability for foster children is just one of the barriers to figuring out how to best support them. Despite the particular cause, some troubling patterns regarding disability emerg e among children in foster care. Another study regarding foster children found t hat more than 50% of those studied experienced mental health issues compared wit h 22% of children in the general population. Of the children affected, 25% exper ienced post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), versus 4% of children in the gener al population. The study found that 20% of foster children experienced major dep ression compared to 10% of children in the general population. Other issues foun d to be prevalent among foster children included panic syndrome, social phobia, and generalized anxiety disorder. Chart showing information on mental health issues children with disabilities in foster care faceWhere education is concerned it is estimated that 30-40% of chil dren in foster care are in the special education system. A study performed in Ca lifornia found that 8% of foster children studied experienced a form of physical disability. Statistics such as these reveal the disproportionate numbers of chi ldren in foster care who experience disabilities. The outcomes for children with disabilities in the child welfare system are incr edibly negative as well. Children with disabilities and foster children are more likely to drop out of school and less likely to pursue a postsecondary educatio n. Another study found that only around 9% of children with disabilities attend 4 year colleges, while another 5% attend technical, vocational, or business scho ols. Approximately 20% of foster children go on to college and their rate of com pletion is around 5%. The percentages are incredibly low. National averages are about 60% college access rate for high school graduates and a 20% completion rat e among adults under the age of 25. Additional negative outcomes for foster children also exist. By the age of 19 al most 50% of young women in foster care have been pregnant compared to 20% of you ng women who were not in foster care. Around 38% of foster children have been ar rested, compared to the national average of 7%. Other studies estimated that app roximately 22% of foster children experienced homelessness and only 43% are empl oyed; rates far lower than national averages.

The information indicates that too many children with disabilities in foster car e are not making the transition into adulthood successfully. Sadly, these negati ve outcomes reflect the insufficiencies and incompetencies of the systems, progr ams and people that serve children in foster care. More certainly needs to be do ne, on a number of levels, to ensure the success of these children. Yet little a ttention is focused on children with disabilities in foster care must negotiate their way through multiple system before reaching adulthood. Chart showing systems children with disabilities in foster care deal withThere i s an incredible overlap of children with disabilities and young people in the fo ster care system. Many advocates assert that foster care is a disability issue b ecause the prevalence of disabilities among children in foster care is so high. Still so many people and systems associated with children in the foster care sys tem know little about the disability world and even less about ways to help chil dren with disabilities become self-sufficient. The numerous systems that interfa ce with these foster children to include: Education Child welfare Family courts Mental health Physical health Juvenile justice These systems are often disconnected, disjointed, and at times even at odds with each other. The situation is somewhat a result of the complexities involved in these large systems, yet blame may also be placed on the lack of a collaborative attitude due to weak federal and state encouragement. A lot more can be done to guarantee that children with disabilities in foster ca re are provided the complete encouragement, support and help they need to ensure their safety, permanency and well-being. In addition, more opportunities can be provided to help them to meet the goals of self-determination, enhanced quality of life and community integration. It is also worth noting that there have alre ady been a number of notable systems and policy improvements in the care of thes e children, the majority of which have happened in the past 15-20 years. But whi le these improvements provide hope, there remains much left to be accomplished. Children with disabilities in foster care are at a severe disadvantage in moving toward adulthood for a range of reasons, not the least of which might be the di sabilities they experience. Having a form of disability, compounded by the fact that foster care children may lack a supportive adult network to help them devel op personal abilities and attributes and to navigate through some highly-complex systems, impedes their efforts to develop the educational, occupational, person al, social and life skills to succeed. Many of the programs that exist to help children with disabilities in foster car e are not based on youth development principles, or lack a youth centered philos ophy. It is not uncommon for children with disabilities in foster care to be pul led out of school in the middle of class for a court hearing, something that dis rupts their learning cycle, but also sends a message to the child that school is not important. In a youth centered system that coordinates systems, every effor t would be made to keep students in class and arrange for court appearances afte r school has ended. Helping young people to prepare for successful adult life is a complex effort. H elping children with disabilities in foster care to do so requires dedication, c ommitment and hard work by dozens, if not hundreds, of judges, attorneys, health and mental health care personnel, educators, caseworkers, advocates, foster par ents and many other caring adults who come into contact with these children over

the years. Federal and state policies and programs have to be structured to rec ognize this long-term investment across systems and pursue a youth centered appr oach. External References Children with Disabilities in Foster Care http://www.hunter.cuny.edu/socwork/nrcfcpp/info_services/children-with-disabilit ies.html The National Resource Center for Permanency and Family Connections at the Hunter College School of Social Work is a training, technical assistance, and informat ion services organization dedicated to help strengthen the capacity of State, lo cal, Tribal and other publicly administered or supported child welfare agencies to: institutionalize a safety-focused, family-centered, and community-based appr oach to meet the needs of children, youth and families. The National Resource Ce nter for Permanency and Family Connections is a service of the Children s Bureau CF/DHHS and member of the T&TA Network. Children's Foster Care http://www.lanecounty.org/Departments/HHS/DevDis/Pages/ChildrensFosterCare.aspx Non-relative foster homes for people with developmental disabilities in Lane Cou nty provide care and services in a safe, secure, home-like environment. Care inc ludes 24 hour supervision, the provision of room and board, assistance with the activities of everyday living (from grooming and eating to participation in leis ure activities) and access to services which help residents develop appropriate skills to maintain or increase their level of functioning. Resources Especially for Foster or Adoptive Families http://nichcy.org/families-community/fosteradoptive#disability This first section tells you where, on NICHCY s website, you can find information about disabilities. We ve tried to anticipate what type of information you might b e looking for; you ll find this framed as a lead-in statement or question matched to a resource on our site that would answer that question. We hope this helps you speed to the info you want.

http://www.disabled-world.com/disability/children/foster.php

You might also like