Fixing Foster Care: How Can We Best Support Foster Parents?

The foster care system aims to provide a temporary home to children who are unable to be cared for by their parents. The reasons for this vary, but can be due to ”abuse, neglect, or abandonment” (Marzick 507). According to the Pew Commission on Children in Foster Care, there are more than half a million children in our country who are currently in foster care. These children remain in the system for at least two years and are often moved around from family to family (Krinsky, “A Case” 541-542). This paper involves examining the foster care system, as well as its history and intent. The focus on the wellbeing of the families taking in the children, rather than the children themselves, and the shift that made the children’s needs the most pressing concern is first recognized. The problems the system faces are also introduced, including systematic concerns, which can tragically harm the children. Some suggested areas for improvement are then presented, notably recommendations for how to best support foster parents. Effectively supporting foster caregivers results in their own success as well as a stable refuge for children in need. This paper addresses the themes of the Pell Scholars Honor Program, notably by reflecting upon the appropriate public policy to remedy this situation, by acknowledging the importance of respecting the rights of all humans, acting to increase public awareness of the problem, and examining the importance of a collaborative effort to remedy the injustice.