April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month. These thirty days are dedicated to raising awareness about the horrors of child abuse and neglect and taking the opportunity to encourage communities to support children and families.
The foster care system was created as a safety net for children who cannot live with their families for various reasons. Most often children are removed from their homes after suffering some sort of abuse and/or neglect. Statistically speaking, youth who age out of the foster care system without finding a permanent family or supportive community connections are at higher risk for unemployment, homelessness, and incarceration. Although many foster parents provide safe, nurturing homes, children in the foster care system are at a higher risk of abuse and neglect.
Multiple placements, non-family placements like institutions and group homes, and runaway youth can contribute to increased levels of risk. Abuse can take place at the hands of foster parents, other foster relatives, or other youth in the foster care system. A few times throughout the year we learn of the tragic deaths of innocent children murdered while in the custody of their state. These highly publicized cases highlight deeper problems – shuffling and displacement of children, children who are lost in the system, burned out case workers, cover up of abuse and neglect, and a system in overall disrepair. In fact, it was difficult to find recent national or state by state statistics to accurately reflect the numbers of youth abused while in foster care. My research has led me to believe that the numbers are grossly under-reported.
Every child needs and deserves stability and love. We can do two things to make this vision a reality: (1) raise awareness about the need to fix the broken foster care system, and (2) support families in an effort to prevent the need for children to be placed in foster care in the first place. Still not sure what to do? Connect with a local foster care agency in your area and mentor a foster child or parent or create a campaign to promote child abuse awareness in your community. Simple strategies can yield huge results.
Nicki Sanders, MSW, Chief Visionary Officer
The Teen Toolbox utilizes youth portfolio development and civic engagement and academic empowerment strategies to help teens set goals for life after high school and create a road map to reach those goals through its PACKAGED FOR SUCCESS™ Programs. We are committed to supporting and raising awareness about the needs and potential of teenagers in the foster care system.
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