America''s foster care system has a noble goal - to care for children that for various reasons can no longer be cared for by their families - but years of inattention and inadequate funding have left many foster youth in a precarious state. This resource provides a comprehensive and authoritative overview of the American foster care system. Areas of coverage include the scaffolding of foster care systems in the various states (each of which operate their own unique systems through their social service agencies); conditions under which children are taken out of their families of origin and placed in foster care; the experiences of both young children and older teens in foster homes; challenges for foster children who "age out" of the system; and proposals to reform and improve foster care across the nation. Geared for students, this book contains chapters devoted to the background and history of foster care in America; the system''s problems, controversies, and solutions; original essay contributions exploring various facets of the system; profiles of leading foster care activists and organizations; governmental data and excerpts of primary documents on the topic; and an annotated list of important books, scholarly journals, and nonprint sources for further research. It closes with a detailed chronology, glossary of terms, and subject index.

Autorentext
Christina G. Villegas, PhD, is Professor of Political Science at California State University-San Bernardino, USA.

Inhalt

Preface
Acknowledgments

1. Background and History
Introduction
Overview of Current System

• Reporting and Investigation of Abuse
• Substantiated Cases of Abuse and Neglect
• Forms of Placement
  Historical Foundations of Foster Care in America
  The Evolution of Federal Policy
• The Social Security Act of 1935
• The Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act of 1974
• The Adoption Assistance and Child Welfare Act of 1980
• The Influence of Cultural Heritage, Race, and Ethnicity on Child Welfare Policy
• Permanency Planning and Child Welfare Policy
• Increased Focus on Aging Out
• Prevention, Family Preservation, and Promoting Family versus Institutional Care

• Strengthening the Child Welfare System for America's Children
  Conclusion
  References

  2. Problems, Controversies, and Solutions
  
  Introduction
  Aging Out of Foster Care

• Foster Care Runaways
  Placement Instability, Delayed Permanency, and Other System Failures
  Restrictions on Congregate Care
  Ensuring Protection and Permanency for Native American Children
  Racial Disparities in Child Welfare

• Addressing Racial Bias in the Foster Care System
  Do Racial Disparities in Child Welfare Cause Pervasive Harm?
  The Question of Kinship Care
  Recruiting and Retaining Foster and Adoptive Families
  LGBTQ Rights and Religious Exemptions
  Increased Focus on Older Youth
  COVID-19 and Child Welfare Challenges and Opportunities
  Conclusion
  References

  3. Perspectives
  
  Introduction
  Changing Laws, Changing Lives, Darcy Olsen
  Combating "Stereotype Threat" among Foster Youth, Tori Petersen
  My Life in Foster Care, Jaymie Gonzales
  Improving Trauma-Informed Treatment of Foster Children, Terri Galindo
  Faith-Based Agencies and Communities Are Essential in Child Welfare Work, Natalie Goodnow
  Fostering amid the Opioid Crisis: My Family's Story, Vienna Scott
  They Call Me Mom, Diana Hayes
  4. Profiles
  
  Introduction
  AdoptUSKids
  Aging Out Institute
  Annie E. Casey Foundation
  Better Together
  The CALL
  Casey Family Programs
  Center for State Child Welfare Data
  CHAMPS
  Child Welfare League of America
  Children's Bureau
  Children's Rights
  Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute
  Court Appointed Special Advocates
  Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption
  DC Family and Youth Initiative
  FaithBridge
  Family and Youth Law Center
  Family Equality
  Foster America
  Foster Care Alumni of America
  Foster Care to Success
  FosterClub
  Fostering Court Improvement
  4KIDS, Inc.
  Gen Justice
  Healthy Foster Care America
  Heart Gallery
  iFoster
  Isaiah 117 House
  Love Fosters Hope
  Mayfly Project
  Monument Academy
  Multi-System Trauma-Informed Collaborative
  National Foster Parent Association
  Native American Youth and Family Center
  One Church One Child
  One Simple Wish
  Project 1.27
  Safe Families for Children
  Safe Haven Services
  Utah Youth Village
  5. Data and Documents
  
  Introduction

  Data

• Figure 5.1. Number of Children in Foster Care, Fiscal Years 2015-2019
• Figure 5.2. Number of Children in Foster Care on September 30, 2019, by Sex and by Race/Ethnicity
• Figure 5.3. Race and Ethnicity of Children Entering Foster Care in FY 2008 and FY 2018
• Figure 5.4. Circumstances Associated with Child's Removal for Children Entering Foster Care, FY 2019
• Figure 5.5. Children Exiting Foster Care during FY 2019 Broken Down by Reason for Discharge

• Figure 5.6. Youth Outcomes Reported at Ages 17, 19, and 21

  Documents

• President Ronald Reagan's Presidential Proclamation for National Foster Care Month (1988)
• Senator John H. Chafee's Remarks in Defense of the Adoption and Safe Families Act (1997)
• Testimony of Youth Aging Out of Foster Care (2007)
• Testimony of Former Foster Youth Dawna Zender Hovenier and Celebrity Psychologist Dr. Phil McGraw on the Overmedication of Youth in Foster Care (2014)
• Dr. William C. Bell's Testimony on the Importance of Fathers in Reducing the Need for Foster Care (2019)
• Sharonell Fulton, et al. v. City of Philadelphia, Petition for Writ of Certiorari and City Respondents Brief in Opposition (2019) (Excerpts)

• Donald Trump's Executive Order on Strengthening the Child Welfare System (2020)

  6. Resources
  
  Introduction
  Books
  Articles and Reports
  Journals, Magazines, and Online Forums
  Nonprint Sources
  7. Chronology

  Glossary
  Index