Author turns her tragic, early childhood experience into inspiring book

Here’s an image capture of an article in Fostering Families Today.

Aging out

It is hard turning 18 — moving out, getting a job, going to college, etc. Now, imagine someone who has to go through all that without the support of his or her family. Youth who aged out of the foster care system have to do all these by themselves, and because of this they face many unique challenges that their peers in the general population don’t. For these youth, turning 18 doesn’t just mean living independently; it also means losing the emotional and financial support that they can count on.

 

Here are some statistics on youth who aged out of the foster care system in 2012:

 

• In 2012, 23,396 youth aged out of the U.S. foster care system.
• Nearly 40% had been homeless or couch surfed
• Nearly 60% of young men had been convicted of a crime
• Only 48% were employed
• 75% of women and 33% of men receive government benefits to meet basic needs
• 50% of all youth who aged out were involved in substance use
• 17% of the females were pregnant.
• Nearly 25% of youth aging out did not have a high school diploma or GED
• A mere 6% had finished a two- or four-year degree after aging out of foster care
• One study shows 70% of all youth in foster care have the desire to attend college.

 

This shows us that compared to their peers in the general population; youth who aged out are more likely to experience negative outcomes in their lives. Of course, there are programs that help prepare youth for independence. A study by Thom Reilly in 2003 suggests that youth experiences positive outcomes if they are better prepared for independence.  The quality of care they received while in the foster care system, greater numbers of support networks, and having employment established before discharge also plays a big role. The study also shows that youth who report negative experiences had more foster care placements, fewer support networks, and less education or formal training

 

Even with help from the government and nonprofit agencies, life can be a struggle for these youth. One way to solve this problem is to extend foster care services beyond age 18, or at least give the youth an option to return to foster care after a period of trial independence. Living on your own without support is hard, and these young people need all the support they can get.

 

Sources:
http://www.chapinhall.org/research/inside/predictors-homelessness-during-transition-foster-care-adulthood
http://www.jimcaseyyouth.org/about/aging-out
http://www.joe.org/joe/2008august/iw3.php
http://www.childrensrights.org/newsroom/fact-sheets/aging-out/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aging_out
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=125594259
http://www.ccainstitute.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=25&Itemid=43
http://www.aecf.org/resources/helping-children-aging-out-of-foster-care-prepare-for-independence/
http://www.crossroadsprograms.org/who_we_serve/youth_aging_out_foster_care.html

– See more at: http://www.annetcoppola.com/aging-out/#sthash.wXW9yP4t.dpuf

The Future in the Now: Educational Outcomes for Youth in Foster Care

Battered, hurt and insecure – these three words sum up most of foster care children. For most of their younger lives, they have stepped out of their comfort zone. Now, what are they willing to do to get back inside it?

Many foster care children have faced real life at a very early age. Instead of enjoying their childhood years like other children, they have been tossed around from one foster family to another. They have experienced what it’s like to live on their own, and already know what it feels like to be alone. Recognizing these factors helps to understand the challenges these children face in becoming successful adults.

How are they doing in school?

According to research, half of the foster children population tends to drop out of school. While some 25% of these children are homeless after they were emancipated and the others have become public welfare recipients. It is also reported that they have twice as many grade repeats and school transitions compared to non-foster children and youth.

When it comes to their scholastic performance, they are observed to be rather slow learners compared to their peers. As cited by a study in 2004, youths in the foster care system who passed 10^th or 11^th grades were reading at the pace of a seventh-grade student. They also have lower standardized test results coupled with higher rates of disciplinary actions and suspensions. Their higher education matriculation rates are low, which makes them vulnerable in this technology-driven and competitive world.

What is the government doing to solve this?

On October 7, 2008, the federal government passed the law on Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act, which requires all states to have foster care children remain in their “school of origin” to ensure educational stability. Unless it is deemed necessary and lest it is for the best interest of the child to be relocated to a new district, the child must not be transferred to another educational institution.

Why education matters?

The sting of abuse, neglect and other negative feelings can be lessened if there is a positive change in the lives of these foster children.  To prepare them for a brighter future, it is best if they are given proper education and helpful adult supervision

The active efforts of child welfare agencies, education agencies and the courts should hopefully change the disheartening educational scenarios for foster care children. They should also be supported by proactive federal and local policies to create more positive educational experiences.

 

Sources:
http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2007/06/foster-care-children-need-better-educational-opportunities
http://www.cacollegepathways.org/sites/default/files/datasheet_jan_2014_update.pdf
http://www.childtrends.org/?indicators=foster-care
http://www.state.nj.us/education/students/safety/edservices/stability/
http://www.nasponline.org/publications/cq/36/4/fostercare.aspx
http://www.practicenotes.org/vol11_no4/edneeds.htm
http://cs.oxfordjournals.org/content/35/1/59.short

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The Foster Care Independence Act

Former foster youths are not prepared adequately for self–sufficiency upon aging out of foster care. Even though the average youth in the United States is not expected to reach self-sufficiency until age 26, youth who aged out of the foster care must care for themselves at age 18.

These youth will continue to need help and guidance, and this is why the Foster Care Independence Act was enacted on December 14, 1999. The Act aims to help youth who aged out of foster care in obtaining and maintaining independent living skills by providing services such as assistance in obtaining a high school diploma, post-secondary education, housing, career exploration, vocational training, job placement and retention, training in daily living skills, training in budgeting and financial management skills, substance abuse prevention education, and education in preventive health activities including smoking prevention, nutrition education, and pregnancy prevention.

Funding was increased to enable states to design, conduct, and evaluate independent living programs that would help youth transition out of foster care. The Act requires that states receiving funds develop outcome measures to assess the performance of independent living programs. States must measure data that includes educational attainment, high school graduation rates, employment, homelessness, non-marital childbirth, and incarceration.

Changes were also made in the Medicaid law which permits states to provide Medicaid coverage to former youth aged 18 – 20 who have left foster care. States would also be permitted to use means testing to provide Medicaid to former foster care youths if their income and resources are below certain specified levels.

The Act increases funding for adoption incentive payments, which are bonuses to states for increasing the number of children adopted from public foster care, as opposed to youth remaining in foster care. Additional funding for adoption incentive payments enables states to receive the full amount of the earned bonuses due to increasing adoption rates.^[

The Act also included provisions relating to Social Security (OASDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) programs and provides special cash benefits to World War II veterans.

Sources:
http://www.ssa.gov/legislation/legis_bulletin_112499.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foster_Care_Independence_Act
http://laws.adoption.com/statutes/foster-care-independence-act-of-1999.html

Photo Credits:
via Wikimedia Commons

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The Closest Thing to a Family: Restricted Foster Home

Loneliness and rejection are tough pills to swallow. And their effect varies according to the reception of the person concerned. So, if you’re already a tough grown-up, you will probably see them as constructive in a way. But if you’re still young and innocent, its effect is a completely different story. This is probably the reason why States allowed restricted foster homes to exist.

What’s With the Term?

A restricted foster home is used when a foster child is placed under the supervision and care of a family with a significant relationship with the kid concerned. It can be his or her extended family, a neighbor or a close family friend. This will ensure that the child will have a way of maintaining a consistency in his/her life while living away from his/her parents. However, before a child can be placed under restricted foster home, the caregiver has to meet the requirements set by the State.

How to Qualify as a Restricted Foster Parent/Family?

To ensure that the child will be given a good restricted foster home, there are necessary qualifications to meet before a caregiver can take care of the child. It includes but not limited to the following:

1. A person or a family must have a prior connection to the child. They should have significant interactions in the past. The caregiver can be:
   1. The grandparents of the child
   2. The great-grandparents of the child
   3. An aunt or uncle of the child, including the spouse an aunt or uncle
   4. Siblings of the child (as long as their age permits it)
   5. A great-aunt or great-uncle, including the spouse of a great-aunt or great-uncle
   6. First cousin of the child, including the spouse
   7. An unrelated person qualified or certified by the governing foster care agency
2. The person must be over the age of 21.
3. The person and his/her family must have good physical and mental health. Other cases of physical handicaps and illnesses might be considered as long it won’t affect the ability of the caregiver to provide adequate and proper care to the child. Most likely, medical reports and written reports from a physician are required.
4. The caregiver can have a job outside the home as long as suitable plans for the care and supervision of the child is arranged.
5. The caregiver’s marital status might also be a determining factor as it can affect the ability to give proper guidance and care to the child concerned.

Before Becoming a Caregiver

Before a person can be approved or certified to become a restricted foster parent or caregiver, there is a lengthy process to go through. It includes but not limited to the following:

1. Criminal record checks
2. Home visits
3. Assessment interviews
4. Medical assessments
5. Attendance to Foster Care Education Program, a 53-hour training that discusses topics such like the effects of neglect and abuse, loss and separation as well as suicide intervention and prevention.

Last Words on Restricted Foster Home

A foster child can be the closest thing to having a family. And that’s the most important thing to consider under the circumstances. Restricted foster home is probably the best way to show a child that life is not all about rejection and loneliness. Now, someone can show him/her that the word “family” is not only about living with your birthparents but it’s also about living under the wings of people who care.

– See more at: http://www.annetcoppola.com/the-closest-thing-to-a-family-restricted-foster-home/#sthash.lRdPQSn8.dpuf

One More Chance: Reunification of Child in Foster Care with Birth Family

The view on reunification is multifaceted. It can be seen as the State exercising the implications of the law on public policy. It can be taken as the law defining the rights and responsibilities of a parent. Or it can be seen as the reconciliation and healing of both the child and the birth parent.

Reunification is the start of another chapter in the lives of both the birthparent and the former foster child. It’s the chance to become happy again; to let go of past hurts and bad experiences. It’s the process of healing, moving on, adjustment and rediscovery.

Prepping the Family for a New Beginning

I could not wait for that day. I was preparing myself for what to say and do. Should I run and hug them or should I wait for them to come to me? Butterflies were inside my stomach.
— Tracey Carter (2006)

There is so much to look forward to when a child reunites with his/her family. But before that day can come, there are also things that need to be prepared. What are these things?

The first major concern during reunification is the housing status of the family. Social workers and birthparents usually work together to make the house look clean and well-kept to increase the likelihood of success. For according to a study conducted by Miller and his colleagues in 2006, “Children were more likely to stay reunified in homes that were rated by observers as well kept and not cramped. Access to stimulating play options was significantly positively linked with success of reunification. Children rated by observers as having greater access within their immediate home environment to child-oriented play options such as books, puzzles, and balls were more likely to stay reunified.”

Aside from proper housing, another concern is the social support from the governing agency. To maintain a successful reunification, social workers play a significant role in the process. Prior to the transition, parents and social workers have to plan the types and levels of support that might be needed and how to carry out certain things that will lead to family stability.

In connection with having a strong support system, there must be ample therapies and other formal help. The parents can undergo a lot of formal sessions to learn necessary parenting skills and how to use them to become effective. Moreover, the child should also undergo counseling and other essential preparations so it would be easier to accept the transition.

Most importantly, both the child and the birthparents must experience emotional preparation. They must come to terms with all the possible things that might happen. They must know how to handle mixed feelings from excitement and joy to anxiety and stress, even up to anger, rejection and insecurity.

Conclusion

Our society believes that children will flourish if they are in the hands of their birthparents. That is why foster care agencies made it possible to bridge the gap between the foster child and the birthparent. This will give them the second chance to become a family again; and give them an opportunity to rediscover the things that they may have lost during the time they were apart. And hopefully, this time around, no one is going away again.

 

Sources:
https://www.childwelfare.gov/topics/permanency/reunification/parents/?hasBeenRedirected=1
https://www.childwelfare.gov/topics/permanency/reunification/
http://www.princeton.edu/futureofchildren/publications/journals/article/index.xml?journalid=40&articleid=136&sectionid=894
https://www.childwelfare.gov/pubPDFs/family_reunification.pdf
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2344153/
http://www.practicenotes.org/v18n3/process.htm
http://www.nrcpfc.org/is/downloads/Reunification_FChildren_w.Fam.pdf
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This is How You Can Become a Successful Foster Parent

Do you really want to become a foster parent?

Remember that becoming one is not an easy feat. The responsibilities will be challenging and overwhelming. Foster children need extra nurturing and attention because of what they’ve been through in the past, so who knows, you might even have to sacrifice a little of your lifestyle to become a good mother or father.

If you still have doubts, don’t sign the foster parent papers. Don’t let the child suffer from your indecision. But if you’re prepared to take good care of a foster child, then by all means do it. They need someone who will give them the love and care that was not there in the past. Here are some things that you need to take note though, if you want to be a successful foster parent.

 

Learn how to communicate.

Throughout the years, you will be talking to a lot of people. You’ll spend time with teachers, counselors, social workers and other people. But most of all, you need to spend most of your time talking with your foster child. And trust me, it’s not always easy. These kids will be withdrawn and silent because they are not used to people talking to them about various things. Therefore, you need to know effective ways to get through to them.

Be a full-time teacher/parent.

Keep it in mind that some foster kids lived a difficult life. They might not be used to the things that you normally do. Therefore, you must be willing to teach them about the customary stuff. For instance, you can teach them about the things they might have missed in school. Or you can give them a number of pointers on how to properly take care of themselves. It might be a challenge at first but if you’re willing to go the extra mile you will see progress along the way.

Aside from teaching them things, you should also listen to their stories. You need to learn what they’ve been through so you can understand why they act that way. And by putting yourself in their shoes, you will easily discover ways on how to handle them.

Discover creative ways to deal with issues.

Foster children are hurt – they feel ignored, abandoned and unwanted. They have always dreamed to be a part of a home. But now that they’ve found it they might feel insecure, which is probably the reason why some of them behave badly. That is why, if you’re to become a foster parent, you have to creatively deal with the child’s issues. Think outside the box and don’t follow the traditional methods of parenting because it rarely works on these types of situations. Use what you’ve learned from empathizing with the child and apply the creative solutions that come to mind.

Provide tender but firm guidance.

Yes, guidance can be complicated. At one time, you need to understand what they’re going through so you don’t just belt out harsh disciplinary actions in response to their negative behavior. You need to have patience and kindness in handling their antics. On the other hand, you also need to set a firm boundary on how long can they keep a certain attitude.

For instance, if they are fond of going out late at night, then set a curfew time and be firm in implementing it. This way, they won’t feel caged in the house but discipline is still carried out in the house.

Foster kids need someone who will give them the love and care that was stripped from them in the past. They need a parent that sees them as human beings who needs nurturing, a parent that will teach them the ways of the world, and a parent who is willing to listen to their struggles and keep them sheltered.

That person might be you.

 

Sources:
http://adoption.about.com/od/fosterin1/a/fosterbasics.htm
https://looneytunes09.wordpress.com/2010/10/19/what-makes-a-good-foster-mom-a-reader-asks/

Photo: Parent’s Hand Guiding a Child via Flickr.com

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The Foster Care System is Clearly Flawed

The foster care system in this country is clearly flawed. Instead of providing foster children a temporary safe haven, the system is too often just another trap that pushes them into another wave of rejection, loneliness and harsh conditions. Foster children are continually at risk, and the need is urgent for the federal government to implement reforms to ensure that the program offers foster children safety, security and stability, and a chance of a better life.

Any reform should begin by understanding the foster care system. Because foster children are moved around so much, their lack of stability may contribute to lower scores on standardized tests, and higher school dropout rates when compared to non-foster children. Frequent transfers from school to school can cause considerable emotional stress, and be disruptive to a child’s learning process. Each transfer also forces the foster child to adjust to new classroom settings and new relationships.

One way to solve this is to encourage schools to provide services which address foster children’s unique needs: mentoring programs and for the kids who need it, individualized tutoring can be provided. Foster children may require therapy and counseling to help them deal with their emotional needs. Schools may also offer scholarships to foster children so that they are able to continue to attend a school even when placed in a new home, if possible.

Another issue that needs to be addressed is placement. Some of the kids get bounced from one foster care placement to another, never knowing when their lives will be uprooted next. If these kids cannot be reunited with their families, they should be moved as quickly as possible into adoptive homes with adoptive parents who are equipped to deal with the child’s needs. Stability is key, and stable families should be found as soon as possible, so that the children can adjust to a more normal family environment.

The placement of older children into family settings must become a higher priority. Foster youth who are about to “age out” need to learn the appropriate life skills, and be given appropriate educational opportunities in order for them to succeed as they become adults. Most importantly, they must develop permanent emotional connections with trusted adults. Remember, foster kids need families to help them build a long-term support network that will last well into adulthood. To ensure that they are prepared adequately for self–sufficiency upon aging out, foster youth should also have the option to stay with their foster families until they are 21 years old if they feel that they are not ready to face the world on their own yet.

Finally, to aid foster or adoptive families deal with foster children, issues such as the child’s trauma history and mental health should be disclosed. The prospective foster or adoptive family should be aware of the child’s special needs, in order to be able to effectively deal with them, and to help the child adjust to his/her new family.

Remember, living in foster care isn’t easy. These children need all the help they can get, and we must turn the foster care system into a safety net if we plan to make their lives better.

 

Sources:
http://www.princeton.edu/futureofchildren/publications/journals/article/index.xml?journalid=40&articleid=132&sectionid=868
http://www.naasca.org/2015-Articles/040215-10PointPlan-FosterChildrensRightsCoalition.htm
http://www.fostercaremovie.com/blogs/foster_care_education
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foster_care_in_the_United_States

Photo Credits:
Photo By Axel via StockPholio.com

 

The Ghost of the Dunes

This is the story of Mark Carter, a fifth-grader, whose family lives in Atlanta, Georgia. Mark has an obsessive fascination with ghosts, and looks forward to his family’s summer vacations on the Outerbanks of North Carolina each summer to visit his favorite relatives, his grandparents.

But this year will be special because Mark will be ten years old, and will be able to spend the summer alone with his grandparents. While at his grandparents’ house, Mark is introduced to the area’s local legend of the sightings on the high sand dunes of Jockey’s Ridge, which plays an important role in young Mark’s fertile imagination.

According to local legend, the sightings are of the ‘poor souls’ who perished on the ships wrecked on the shoals off Cape Hatteras. Mark befriends an older boy, and together, they share many adventures, including a confrontation with The Ghost of the Dunes.

Enjoy a free preview below and order a copy here.

The Last Panther

This is the story of Mathew Davis, a young boy living with his family on the edge of the Florida Everglades, who because of his short stature, is constantly taunted and bullied by his classmates. It is a story of Mathew’s struggles to discover who he is, and of his relationships with his father, and those around him.

Thinking that being able to have a gun, and going hunting will help him secure recognition and respect, Mathew befriends a native Indian schoolmate, Charlie Jim, who teaches Mathew how to track animals and to respect the natural beauty of the Glades, while sharing many adventures together.

Their confrontation with an angry alligator and the rescue of a wounded panther provide an exciting climax to their youthful adventures. Mathew’s desire to participate in a pharmaceutical study for the introduction of a new biological agent offers Mathew hope that his short stature can be corrected medically.

This is a story of a young boy coming of age, who learns that the measure of a man is not in his size, but what is in his heart, and of the friend who helps him find his way.

Enjoy a free excerpt below and order a copy here.