Cliff Davis has been involved in foster care for decades. He is an advocate for child welfare. Over 500,000 children are currently in the US foster care system. This number dropped in the 1980s with foster care reform but spiked back up in the 90s due to an increase in drug use and unemployment. It has remained steady since that time. The financial and human cost is immense. Some of the problems include:
- Need for qualified adults - A number of foster-care homes are simply unable to properly care for the children. There is a serious lack of skilled adults willing or able to become foster parents. The system needs more skilled adults.
- Stronger communities - Stronger communities keep children safer. It allows for more education and Sharing of information. Fixing the foster-care system begins with strengthening communities where children live.
- Seeking relatives - Some children end up with strangers when they have relatives who could house them. Unfortunately, the system is so bogged down that these relatives are overlooked. It is necessary to locate relatives whenever possible, so we need a better way to approach this issue.
- Violence - There has been a rise in children coming from destructive homes. This creates more problems for the kids and they are more difficult to place. Addressing violence in communities would greatly reduce the number of children with severe problems.
- Transition - Children who are raised in the foster-care system often have trouble transitioning into adult life. It is necessary to prepare these young adults to live independently. We need to implement more transitional education.
The goal of foster care is to return children to their original homes. However, children are spending more time in the system these days. It is crucial that we as a nation, look closely at the social and economic impact this is having. It is time for more people to get involved and create new reform in the US foster care system. Clip urges you to contact your local child welfare office to see how you can assist. Policymakers hold the key to making positive changes, so support those who understand the issues and intend to fix them.
