In my last post, I wrote about the dilemmas of a child placed in foster care. Tens of thousands of children in our country are found to be in abusive or neglectful homes and end up in foster placement. These transitions from their natural home to being placed in the foster care system can be traumatic. The movement from home to home, the psychotropic drugs that are prescribed, and the many parts that are missing from normal family life all contribute to the depression, despair, anger and anxiety of these children. Who advocates for these children?
Would these people even want a childhood again?
Children’s Rights is an organization that advocates for children in distress. It also has become a resource for those who are dealing with children whose rights have been violated.
I referred in my last post to a production video that showed the typical emotions and journey of a young girl that represents so many of our children in foster care. To continue raising awareness about our children in foster placement, I’d like to show another video –that reveals the consequences to real children who have been in foster care placement.
It represents the dilemmas and issues that our children in foster care experience, and I should warn you it is quite alarming. Here is the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cbl0YD_ibgM
Once again, I do not want to indict the entire foster care system, nor so many wonderful foster care parents and families that are doing all they can to support children who have had so many difficult life circumstances. I deeply appreciate those who are reaching out to help our children. Yet, there are obviously some issues that need to be addressed in our foster care system in order to support the foster parents and the children in their care.
It is our hope that in raising awareness, we can focus efforts to provide these foster care families with training and more support to prepare, equip and empower them to provide emotionally and relationally healthy environments for children. It is a significant issue we are facing throughout this nation, and we need to make changes now to prevent the stories that you have just heard on the video.
Gerry Vassar, President/CEO, Lakeside Educational Network
