During my undergraduate studies, in Behavioral Healthcare at USF, I had the privilege to intern at the Juvenile Diversion Program (JDP) in Hillsborough County. I interacted with children: from diverse races; cultures; socioeconomic status; countless had involvement with protective services, and who committed first time misdemeanor offenses. Under the direction and guidance of my supervisor (a clinical social worker), I developed proficient interviewing and assessment skills (using GAIN Q and EARL instruments). I fell in love with the children and profession which led to my decision to pursue a master’s degree in social work. For example, one of my cases involved a nine year old girl who was: sexually abused by her stepfather; a victim of neglect and physical mistreatment by her mother; a caregiver to her younger brothers; and sheltered in several foster care placements. This child came to the JDP for assaulting her foster care mother. As a result, she was separated from her brothers and placed in a …show more content…
For example, one patient’s MRI results showed a congenital anomaly in his brain. As a result, he required a consult with a brain specialist. Unfortunately, this patient recently aged out of the foster care system so, he was lacking insurance coverage and the financial means for medical treatment. Under those circumstances, I decided to secure him with a brain consult. After days of phone calls, I discovered Tampa General Hospital provides medical services to the indigent and they agreed to see the patient. The patient was reluctant, but I persisted by calling every day until he relented. A few days later, he notified me the doctor removed a brain mass (that would have eventually kill him) and thanked me for saving his life. Exemplifying, it takes one person to change the trajectory of another person’s
The research topic Foster Care is the topic that has been proclaimed. The research question begins with, “What are some of the challenges facing the placement, and adjustment of Foster Care in the Valley?” This study is important because there are several challenges that are difficult for a Foster child facing being in Foster care. It is important in Social work that the Government with a Social worker must be responsible for taking away the child who is either being physical or sexual abused, neglected, or not being taken care of by their primary caregivers. In this type of situation, the child will be put into Foster care. It is key to understand the big challenges each child entering Foster care might have already experienced in the past
As a child I grew up in the foster care system. My formative years consisted of uncertainty and confusion since I was not able to express myself effectively to the state assigned child advocates. During my time in foster care I volunteered to care for the younger children who had special needs. As I began to care for the children especially with neurological brain damage I became intrigued by how little science seemed to know about Special Education or effective treatment. At the age of eleven I started reading peer-reviewed articles such as Neurology journal and Exceptional Children (EC) trying to adsorb everything science related that would provide answers. Several years after I aged out of the system I had a child of my own who was born with severe Autism and sensory integration disorder. My son Andrew was non-verbal for the first four years even after extensive
Other health problems arise when the trauma from past experiences such as abuse or violence in the home cause long term effects in the children. The needs of children in foster care are multifaceted and the problems are exacerbated when the resources in the community are scarce and when the service system is fragmented (Halfon, Berkowitz, & Klee, 1993). Due to the complexity of their problems and the degree of vulnerability, a well-trained and
This paper is a summary of what research has been done in the field of foster care. It will focus on foster care social workers, foster care parents, children in foster care, etc. In this work there will also be reference to aspects of adoption and foster care together. This paper will encompass all parties affected by foster care and will ultimately talk about what qualities are expected of social workers who work in foster care.
For my Engagement Activity I conducted a series of research activities on foster care. It wasn’t exactly a specific organization, but a variety of them. This was to have different functions of how foster care and adoption works to unite new families together.
Jordan is adjusting to her first foster care placement. The youth expresses not having a problem following the house and DSS rules. Jordan is struggling with the possible length in time in foster care. She hopes to leave DSS custody before the end of August 2015. Jordan withholds her feelings and does not demonstrate healthy coping skills. The youth allowed to have supervised phone calls with DSS approve family members.
The maltreatments that children face prior to entering into the foster care system can be grouped into neglect, physical abuse, psychological maltreatment, and sexual abuse. Though these forms of abuse can be identified separately identified, they often occur concurrently with
Foster Parent One: Shelly was born and raised in Avery, TX. She is the biological daughter of Delores Jackson and David Monsiviaz. Shelly was adopted by her maternal aunt and uncle, Eura and Woodrow Hicks at the age of 3, Shelly’s mother was killed in a car accident and her father was not accept by the family due to his ethnicity. Shelly reported she was informed by her adoptive parents that her biological father was dead as well. When Shelly was an adult she searched and located him, however she has never contacted him because she feels that should have been his job.
Blog Post #1: Introduction to the Foster Care System What is the foster care system? The foster care system has been put in place to protect children. The system takes children that need to be removed from an abusive or dangerous situation and place them with a licensed foster home. Children can also be placed in a foster care home if they have recently lost their parents, close relatives are not able to care for them.
from the state, leading to revision of the state agency policies and regulations and also the initiation of the new program to create extra support for child welfare.
In the United States there are over a half a million children in the foster care system. (AFCARS Report, 2015) The foster care system is a temporary arrangement for children whose parents are not able to care for them. (adopt.org) Foster care can be arranged through the courts or a social service agency. The goal for a child in the foster care system is usually reunification with the birth family, but may be changed to adoption when this is seen as in the child's best interest.
One of the ways foster care is inhibited is that the separation of the child from their parents and placement in a foster home can be traumatic for the child. In some instances where the child is not safe in their home, the first choice may be to remove the child and place them in foster care. Both the parents and child have a hard time accepting the situation. This separation causes conflicts and resistance from the child (Crosson-Tower, 2014, p. 316). Other myriad adjustments, such as lifestyle change, new school, new friends and neighbors, and at times a new culture, also inhibit the effectiveness of foster care placement. Foster care can create an environment of
The numbers of children in foster care continue to increase annually with minimal attempts to intercept the causes of the escalation. Children are generally placed into foster care as a result of parental abuse or neglect; however, there are many racial inconsistencies circulating general foster care involvement. In the year of 2014, the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System reported a total of 415,129 children in the foster care system. Depending on their situation, children in the system are in need of some sort of home, whether that be temporary or permanent. When experiencing this type of shift in their lives, many children tend to act out. Foster care in the United States is a
My current employer is funded by Illinois. Foster care is always under the chopping block when it is the new fiscal year due to economic pressure of funding. I know in 2012 there were many DCFS jobs cut due to the Illinois budget didn’t have the funding.
The study consisted of 12 parents who foster children ages 2-8 years old. The high levels of conduct problems among children in the foster care system and the added cost to families, society and services, there is a pressing need to support foster parents. Providing foster care to children with increased emotional, behavioral, and medical needs requires not only time, but patience in dealing with the child’s demands. Foster parents often voice they are unprepared to meet demand of children with increased behavioral and emotional needs and adolescents in their care. This situation can result in placement disruption, which further strains foster care resources and has negative impacts on foster children and youth. The incidence of conduct disorder