6 Reasons Why a Child Might Need Fostering
Thousands of children are placed into foster care for one or a combination of reasons. The decision to remove a child or teenager from their parent(s) is never easy, but it is an essential step to ensure they enjoy a healthy, safe, and secure childhood.
Every young person’s story is different, but some common factors are often behind their placement. Learn about the six reasons why a child might need fostering.
1. Abuse
Sadly, abuse is a common reason children enter foster care. A child or teen might experience one or more forms of abuse, such as physical abuse, emotional abuse, or sexual abuse.
Physical abuse is often detected by a person outside the home, such as a loved one or teacher. For example, they might have frequent or unexplained bruising. Emotional abuse is also damaging to a child’s wellbeing, but it is often harder to identify. For example, a child might experience bullying, belittling, name-calling, or exclusion from their family. Arguably, sexual abuse is the worst type of abuse a child or teen can experience.
Every form of abuse a foster child or teen experiences can lead to trust issues, mental disorders, and behavioral problems. It’s for this reason why children and teens of all ages depend on loving foster parents to help them enjoy a happier, healthier future. Reach out to FCA for more information on fostering.
2. Neglect
Neglect can occur in various forms, such as emotional neglect, the neglecting of basic needs (such as food, water, and a clean home), or medical neglect. While neglect can be deliberate, it can also be due to a parent’s lack of capacity, such as a mental illness or an addiction.
3. Abandonment
Unfortunately, many foster children have experienced abandonment by a parent or guardian. For example, they might leave a child at home for extended periods or drop them off with a babysitter and never return. As a result, a young person will need to enter the foster care system for their safety and protection.
4. Death
Tragically, the death of parents or guardians can result in a child entering the foster care system. Unless an appropriate adult can care for them daily, such as a grandparent, auntie, uncle, or an adult sibling, a child is placed into care.
5. Illness
A mental or physical condition may prevent a parent or guardian from caring for their child’s every need. Depending on their illness, capacity, and health outcome, a child may enter temporary or permanent foster care.
6. Incarceration
If one or both parents or guardians go to jail, and no one is available to care for a child or teen, they will be placed into care. Again, they might enter temporary or permanent foster care, depending on the parent’s crime and incarceration time.
Children can enter foster care for one or more of the above reasons. Also, other circumstances may determine a foster care placement, such as homelessness, a family conflict, a child’s behavioral issues, or a job loss that affects a parent’s ability to care for a child.
