Child Welfare Information Gateway-Foster Care Statistics 2016
May is National Foster Care Month, a time to honor our foster children and their caregivers.There are over 430,000 (Child Welfare Information Gateway, 2016 Foster Care Statistics) children in foster care nationwide. The faces of these children remind us of our duty to protect each child and face the challenge to preserve each family in our community.
Foster children are diverse in race 44% White; 23% African American; 21% Hispanic; 10% other races or multi-racial. These are children from all ethnic, cultural, and national identities in our country. There are children from wealthy communities, financially struggling communities and everything in between. There are foster children who speak English and those that English is a second language or have not learned language yet.
These children allow us to reflect on our own personal missions in life. How we may make a difference in this world in some significant way. That perhaps each one of us may ease the suffering of just one person—and symbolically save mankind. The diversity of children in foster care touches us all. We see these children as a reflection of ourselves in some ways.
Some blogs and articles highlight legitimate failures of “the system” and focus on the flaws. Yes, there are indeed major concerns with the foster care system and giant improvements that are being implemented (particularly in California)— a topic for another blog article. I have witnessed many improvements to the foster care system since 1983 (when I began my work) and I have devoted my career to creating solutions. A focus on system flaws often halts individuals from helping foster children on a personal level.
So, what is the call to action? The answer is to become a foster parent or in California what is now known as a Resource Parent. There is a shortage of foster and resource families ready to care for these children during their time of crises. We cannot afford to build barriers between caring adults and needy children. We need qualified (per licensing standards) caring adults of equal diversity in every measurable way. Adults of all ages, races, ethnicities, cultures, nationalities, religions, genders, sexual orientations, income levels, single or married, and combinations of mixed families! We need adults ready to learn what foster care is from those of us that work within the industry that may provide knowledge and practical solutions to realistic concerns.
It is important to know that most children are in foster care placement for 13.9 months (Child Welfare Information Gateway-Foster Care Statistics 2016) and then they either are returned home safely (Family Reunification) or placed permanently by order of the Juvenile Court. Approximately 29% of foster children are adopted out of the foster care system.
Again our call to action is become a foster parent or Resource Parent. It you cannot then there are many other options—volunteer to babysit for a Resource Parent and give them a rest, volunteer to bake a birthday cake for a foster child, volunteer as a mentor or Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) are three ideas. Become a stakeholder in some way (donate time, funds, your talent). Perhaps most importantly support those qualified people you know that may become foster parents or Resource Parents. Support their inquiry and journey into foster care by encouragement and showing them your appreciation for the service they shall provide our needy children. Suggest they contact local private agencies or government. Help them find foster parent peer support groups (there are many church based), and look for social media networks that empower Resource Parents with information and practical tools. Those of you that have the time, space in your home, and interest in becoming a Resource Parent take your first step in your foster care journey. Reach out to a foster care agency (governments or private) and ask questions, and attend an information meeting (Orientation Meeting).
In conclusion the diversity of our foster children represents our nation, our people, ourselves. These are our children and part of our community. These children did not choose to be in foster care but you can choose to help them–one child at a time.