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Better homes: Foster children need family members Being a child is often no picnic. Being a child or a teenager without a family can be a nightmare. Children who grow up without consistent care from a loving adult can face lifelong mental and emotional disabilities and have a hard time with jobs, relationships and school. Unfortunately, children in state foster care often fit that description. The more than 2,000 children in Utah's foster-care system have shelter, food and some supervision. But many of them don't have a family; they have caretakers who are often not only temporary but sometimes very short-term. Foster children often bounce from home to home. They can't feel secure, and children need security in order to thrive. One solution for some of the shortcomings of foster care suggested by the Annie E. Casey Foundation's Kids Count report for 2007 is more placement with extended family members. When children are taken from home because they've been abused, neglected or abandoned, putting them in the home of an aunt, uncle, grandparent or other relative can be less traumatizing than placing them with strangers. That makes sense. But in Utah, only 7 percent were placed with family members in 2004, when data was most recently collected, compared with 23 percent nationally. Part of the reason for this is the high failure rate for family foster care in Utah. Too often, relatives who take on the care of a child who has been abused or neglected don't know what challenges they are facing. These children can be hostile, rebellious, angry. A relative can be understanding but incapable of dealing with these feelings. Too often - and we're not assigning blame here - they give up and return the child to the state. About 56 percent of all children who come back into the state system are from failed family placements. But, fortunately, in recent years the state has changed some policies. Relatives are encouraged to become licensed foster parents and get the training, support - and cash - that are available to other foster parents. There are counselors, support groups and youth programs available to fill in any gaps. With a helping hand from the state, more relatives may now be able to give young family members the safe havens they so much need if their wounds are to heal. They all deserve that chance. |
