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Children In Foster Care

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Children being placed into the foster care system have experienced or are at risk of experiencing maltreatment. A study conducted utilizing data from the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting Systems (AFCARS) provides estimated risks for children in the United States. As social workers we aim to make the voice of our clients be heard. A study conducted in Canada provided just that for twenty children in foster care. These children provided valuable advice for children entering foster care, foster parents and social workers. Having this valuable information can only bring positive insight to a difficult situation.

Foster Care Risks and Transitions
Foster care placement for children occurs when the child or children …show more content…
The other one-third of children are placed into foster care for reasons varying from parental drug and/or alcohol use, parental death, parental abandonment, inadequate housing, or the child has physical disabilities or behavioral problems that can be better treated in foster care (Wildeman, 2014). A study conducted using data from the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting Systems (AFCARS) which included all children in foster care between 200-2011 provided estimated risks for children in the United States. The study concluded that up to 5.91% of U.S. children will experience foster care placement. Children with the highest risk are infants with 1.09% of U.S. children being placed in foster care before their first birthday. According to race and ethnic stratification Black and Native American children had the highest cumulative risk of being placed in foster care, while Asian children had the lowest risk (Wildeman, 2014). No matter the risk or reason for placement, the reality is that children placed in foster care have had to experience a difficult life. Foster care is a chance for a new beginning for them. With the transition from their difficult beginning to foster care there will be difficulties along the way. The hope is that the transition will bring new hope and give these children the life they …show more content…
As social workers and adults we attempt to provide the best care for the children and have the best intentions for them. We must remember, they are just children and placement into foster care can be a traumatic experience. A study conducted in Canada, addressed twenty children in foster care ranging in age from 8 to 15, this study gave foster children a voice. This study provided valuable information from the children’s perspective on how to improve the transition into foster care. Of course not all the input given by the children is something that is possible given the circumstances of each case. One of the most important things many children expressed is that they are confused about the reason for placement and what is going to happen to them once in foster care (Mitchell, 2010, p 176). Placement into foster care is scary, and most times the reason for placement is not something children can logically

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