...online at www.sciencedirect.com Children and Youth Services Review 30 (2008) 774 – 786 www.elsevier.com/locate/childyouth The well-being of children in foster care: Exploring physical and mental health needs Dana J. Sullivan ⁎, Michiel A. van Zyl 1 University of Louisville, Kent School of Social Work, Louisville, KY 40292, United States Received 20 June 2007; received in revised form 22 July 2007; accepted 9 December 2007 Available online 17 December 2007 Abstract A census of children in foster care provided valuable insight into the well-being of children in one state. CHAID analysis on differences related to physical and mental health needs among various groups of children in foster care revealed a number of significant differences that are often overlooked in other types of analyses. Children's medical needs differ significantly by length of stay and emotional needs were more profound among children of certain ages. Published by Elsevier Ltd. Keywords: Foster care; Well-being; Mental health; Physical health; CHAID 1. Introduction Historically, social workers in child welfare have focused primarily on keeping children safe from abuse and neglect, and helping them return home safely or find new adoptive homes. However, Altshuler and Gleeson (1999) described the emphasis on safety and permanency, to the exclusion of well-being, as a triangle that can only be completed when well-being becomes a focus of child welfare services. In response to this emerging professional...
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...Foster Care in the United States Sue King Liberty University Abstract The history of foster care in the United States started with orphan trains and the Children’s Aid Society founded by Charles Loring Brace. Recent research describes the child welfare system as an organization that provides service to helpless children in need. This paper will discuss foster care as it is relates to safety, permanency, and wellbeing of children in need The role of a foster parent and the process of loss, and grief after a child leave their biological parents will be discussed. Research suggests that Courts has the final decision whether a child will stay in foster care or return home. This paper will describe the developmental impact that foster care has on children after losing their biological family. There are several risk factors associated with poverty. This paper will discuss the significance of children reuniting with their biological parents and/or being adopted for permanency. Empirical evidence from recent research confirmed that hard times during childhood was related to health problems later in life. Foster care reform, educational outcomes, economic incentives for adoption, mentors and home visitation programs should be implemented to improve the foster care system. Keywords: foster care, developmental, health problems, orphan trains Foster Care in the United States The prevalence rate is high for foster care in the United States. The history...
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...Trauma-Informed Practices Within Foster Care Marya Feldt Washburn University Trauma-Informed Practices Within Foster Care Adolescents within the foster care system have experienced reportedly more traumatic events than the average person. These adverse experiences may be the result of poor family environments, sexual, physical, or psychological abuse which could lead to the placement of children in the foster care system. However, often traumatic experiences do not end with the placement of an adolescent into a new home. Adolescents face numerous stressors when placed in foster care, including fear of separation from siblings, friends, communities and confusion about the future (Conradi et al., 2011). Trauma experienced...
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...intentional and unintentional abuse that may place them at risk of harm (Lonne et al. 2009). According to the United Nation’s Convention on the Rights of the Child 1989, Article 1, a ‘child’ means every human being below the age of 18 years unless under the law applicable to the child, majority is attained earlier. (UNICEF, 2009). Under the Children Act 1989, a child is legally defined as ‘looked after’ by a local authority if he or she: • Is provided with accommodation for a continuous period for more than 24 hours • Is subject to care order; or • Is subject to a placement order A looked after child ceases to be looked after when he or she turns 18 years old. On reaching his or...
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...PRACTICE CONCEPTS The Child Welfare System: Through the Eyes of Public Health Nurses Janet U. Schneiderman ABSTRACT Objective: This qualitative descriptive study investigates how public health nurses working within the child welfare system view the organization and the organizationÕs effect on their case management practice. Design: Semistructured interviews were conducted utilizing the Bolman—Deal Organizational Model. This model identifies four frames of an organization: symbolic, human resources, political, and structural. Sample: A purposive sample of nine nurses and one social worker was selected to participate in comprehensive interviews. Results: Data analysis identified two main themes. The first theme was the presence of organizational structural barriers to providing case management. The second theme was the lack of political influence by the nurses to change the structure of the organization; hence, their skills could be more completely utilized. Conclusions: Public health nurses who work in child welfare will need to systematically analyze their role within the organization and understand how to work in Òhost settings.Ó Nursing educators need to prepare public health nurses to work in non-health care settings by teaching organizational analysis. Key words: child protective services, organization, public health nursing. The purpose of this exploratory qualitative descriptive study was to investigate how public health nurses working in the child welfare system in a large...
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...independence.” (Michigan.gov) DHS provides an array of services to individuals and families, these include: food assistance, cash assistance, health care assistance, children services, adult services, and many more. Since there are so many services under the umbrella of DHS, I will focus on a part of the organization that I am familiar with, Foster care services. Approximately 14,000 Michigan children are in foster care at any given time (Michigan.gov). Foster cares mission statement is “Families first”, meaning the goal is for children to have reunification with their families. So when children cannot be returned to their homes, relatives or foster parents are often asked to provide permanent homes. Foster families provide children in this situation with the consistency and support they need to successfully transition to adulthood (Michigan.gov). In terms of operative goals, there are seven that encompass DHS and represent what the organizations day-to day goals are. The operative goals include: Safety, children’s needs, family’s needs, communities, placement, reunification and permanence, and services. Let me expand on each of these goals. Foster cares first priority is to keep children safe. So when parents/families can’t or do not fulfill this necessity, DHS has been delegated the authority to intervene on behalf of the child. Children’s needs:...
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...Task 2 Legislation/legal framework The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child Every child has the right to an education, to be healthy, to grow up safe and to be heard. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the child is a legally-binding international agreement setting out the civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights of every child, regardless of their race, religion or abilities. Since being adopted by the United Nations in november 1989, the CRC has received 194 ratifications with only two countries still to ratify. This means that they have agreed to do everything they can to make the rights a reality for children around the world. All signatories are bound to the UNCRC by international law, and its implementation is monitored by the Committee on the Rights of the Child. Under the terms of the convention, states are required to meet the basic needs of children and help them to reach their full potential. Central to this is the acknowledgement that every child has basic fundamental rights. These include: The right to life The right to his or her own name and identity The right to be protected from abuse or exploitation The right to an education The right to having their privacy protected The be raised by, or have relationship with, their parents The right to express their opinions and have these listened to and, where appropriate, acted upon The right to play and enjoy culture and art in safety On 25th May 2000, two optional...
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...reasons caseworkers were not aware of the conditions in the Jackson home? I would have to say for one thing is that they just did not care what was going on, The case workers were at the house and seen that there was no food in the refrigerator nor electric, this should have been a sign that there was something wrong, especially if there is a 19 year old male that does not look fit! If the children had eating disorders then the foster parents should have brought this to the attention of the proper authorities. The bruises that the nurse found on Bruce’s body should have been reported by the nurse, but since they were not then the case workers had no idea what was going on. Even with the neighbors, since they did not report anything either, there was no wrong-doings on record. The thing that puzzles me is why the children themselves did not report any of the abuse to their case-workers. From the information presented in the case study, determine whether the nine members of the Division of Youth and Family Services staff should have been fired. Why or why not? There is no doubt that they should have been fired, it is there job to protect the interest and to ensure the well-being of all children under their custody. It is their job to check in on the adoptive household to make sure that the children are being properly taken care of and to check that there is food in the refrigerator, adequate living condition for seven children and that there is water and electric...
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...One of the most comprehensive surveys of abuse in foster care was conducted in conjunction with a Baltimore lawsuit. Trudy Festinger, head of the Department of Research at the New York University School of Social Work, determined that over 28 per cent of the children in state care had been abused while in the system. Reviewed cases depicted "a pattern of physical, sexual and emotional abuses" inflicted upon children in the custody of the Baltimore Department. Cases reviewed as the trial progressed revealed children who had suffered continuous sexual and physical abuse or neglect in foster homes known to be inadequate by the Department. Cases included that of sexual abuse of young girls by their foster fathers, and that of a young girl who contracted gonorrhea of the throat as a result of sexual abuse in an unlicenced foster home.[1] In Louisiana, a study conducted in conjunction with a civil suit found that 21 percent of abuse or neglect cases involved foster homes.[2] In another Louisiana case, one in which thousands of pages of evidence were reviewed, and extensive testimony and depositions were taken, it was discovered that hundreds of foster children had been shipped out of the state to Texas. Stephen Berzon of the Children's Defense Fund explained the shocking findings of the court before a Congressional subcommitte, saying: "children were physically abused, handcuffed, beaten, chained, and tied up, kept in cages, and overdrugged with psychotropic medication for institutional...
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...2013-Present Territory Sales and Marketing Coordinator * Generates sales through cold calls, presentations and networking with key influence groups * Services existing accounts and acts as liaison between client and referral source * Maintains data base for referrals, compiles sales reports and generates quarterly sales plans * Conducts home visits to evaluate potential clients needs and contracts for services Oklahoma Department of Human Services, Tulsa OK June 2010-March 2012 Clinical Consultant, Department of Child Welfare * Served as clinical support for Family Group Conferencing Unit * Provided clinical expertise to child welfare workers, natural and foster families in writing Individualized Service Plans, Safety Plans, Planned for Trial Reunification and Evaluation of Current Placement. * Assisted child welfare workers in avoiding potential foster care placement disruptions. Parent Child Center of Tulsa, Tulsa OK April 2010-June2010 Supervised Visitation Facilitator * Monitored visitation of children and families as referred by the Department of Human Services * Provided parental support and education to identified families * Marketed services to referral sources Ridge Behavioral Health, Lexington KY June 2006-May2008 Business...
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...down or tragedy occurs and leaves a child without parents then the Government has an obligation to protect this valuable natural resource. This report will attempt to explore “state care” in a few countries across the globe. “State care” for all intents and purposes will be defined in relation to the child who has been removed from the care of their biological parent(s) and includes institutions in France and foster care in Japan and the U.S. In order to illuminate my concerns it is necessary to first look at some evidence of the outcomes and well-being of children who grew up in “state care” exclusively. Foster care is intended to be a safe and temporary placement for children removed from their homes. Yet there is ample proof that once a child enters into the foster care system their quality of life is almost always compromised. Worldwide caring for abused and neglected children varies greatly. France historically uses institutions to care for their removed children. The prevalence of children placed into state care are removed from one parent families. It was the feeling that institutions were more convenient for the health and safety of the children especially those under three years of age. Another reason was to comfort the parent to foster a feeling that reunification was still possible. Over time the institutions in France reduced their size and increased staff to help facilitate the much needed attachment between care taker and child. Attachment is the need to establish...
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...annotated bibliography whether there is a link between child sexual abuse and later sexual exploitation and reviews the literature on prevention strategies and effective interventions in child sexual abuse services. It shows that children are sexually exploited in other ways through the Internet. It focuses on Barnardo's response to the problem of sexual exploitation and sets it in both a historical and a contemporary context. It provides factors that influence police conceptualizations of girls involved in prostitution in six U.S. cities and if the children are sexual exploitation victims or delinquents. It explains that sexually exploited children are vulnerable to this type of abuse. It explains that sexual exploitation of children (CSEC) as one of the most destructive forms of child abuse. It explains the international sexual trafficking of women and children. It includes data on the amount of women and children that are being trafficked and experiencing sexual exploitation. It includes a dissertation that includes an empirical study and a quantitative study. This study is the first of its kind to describe a sample of commercially, sexually exploited children in foster care. Empirical Peer Reviewed Articles Barnitz, Laura. (2001). Effectively responding to the commercial sexual exploitation of children: A comprehensive approach to prevention, protection, and reintegration services. Child Welfare: Journal of Policy, Practice, and Program, Vol 80(5)...
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...include ARKids First health insurance for children, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as food stamps), Transitional Employment Assistance (TEA) and Medicaid. DHS uses Medicaid that is both federally and state funded to pay for 64 percent of the babies born in Arkansas each year and for the care of 69 percent of the state’s nursing home patients. Additionally, DHS protects children and the elderly who have been abused or neglected; finds adoptive homes for foster children; funds services for the elderly such as congregate and home-delivered meals and regulate nursing homes. While regulating childcare facilities, they also support high-quality early childhood education; treat and serve youth in the juvenile justice system; oversee services for blind Arkansans; runs residential facilities for people with developmental disabilities; manages the Arkansas State Hospital and Arkansas Health Center for those with acute behavioral health issues; and supports nonprofit, community and faith-based organizations that depend on volunteers to continue programs vital to our communities. The agency also partners with community mental health care centers to provide mental health services to almost 74,000 people each year. Over all, DHS serves more than 1.2 million Arkansans every single year. To manage these services and programs efficiently, DHS has 10 divisions and five support offices headquartered in Little Rock in addition to the 85 county offices. Among those...
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...Magnitude and perceived impact of child fosterage on HIV/AIDS orphaned children: A case study of Mathare a suburb of Nairobi BY JAMES NYANJWA SW/02/10 A research proposal submitted to the department of sociology and psychology for the requirements of the Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Work MOI UNIVERSITY 4TH NOVEMBER, 2013 DECLARATION AND RECOMMENDATION Declaration by candidate I hereby declare that the work presented in this research proposal is my own work Citation from other information sources is given where applicable. No part of this document is to be reproduced in any other form, be it print or electronic without permission from the copyright holder Name……………………….Sig……………….date…………………. Recommendation by Supervisor This proposal has been submitted with my approval as the Departmental supervisor Name………………….Sig……………….Date…………… DEDICATION This work is dedicated to my beloved brothers Victor Onyuka and Philip Ogola without whose caring and financial support it would not have been possible and I would also like to dedicate this work to the memory of my parents, my loving dad Joseph Onyuka and caring moms Pamela Anyango and BeldineAoko who passed on the love of reading and respect for education. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Dr. Masinde for impacting us with knowledge on research proposal. I want to thank most profoundly Mrs. Adeli for her guidance on the relevance materials needed in writing research proposal...
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...the most common offense by children; more serious property crimes and rape are most frequently committed in later youth. The causes of such behavior, like those of crime in general, are found in a complex of psychological, social, and economic factors. Clinical studies have uncovered emotional maladjustments, usually arising from disorganized family situations, in many delinquents. Other studies have suggested that there are persisting patterns of delinquency in poverty-level neighborhoods regardless of changing occupants; this "culture of poverty" argument has come into disrepute among many social scientists. The gang, a source of much delinquency, has been a common path for adolescents, particularly in the inner cities. Not until the development, after 1899, of the juvenile court was judgment of youthful offenders effectively separated from that of adults. The system generally emphasizes informal procedure and correction rather than punishment. In some states, psychiatric clinics are attached, and there has been a tendency to handle cases in public welfare agencies outside the court. Juvenile correctional institutions have been separated from regular prisons since the early 19th cent., and although most are inadequate, some have developed intensive rehabilitation programs, providing vocational training and psychiatric treatment. The parole system, foster homes, child guidance...
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