A Safety Net or Just Another Trap Door: Why Foster Care Reform Must Happen

The foster care system in this country is clearly flawed. Instead of providing foster children a temporary safe haven, the system is too often just another trap that pushes them into another wave of rejection, loneliness and harsh conditions. Foster children are continually at risk, and the need is urgent for the federal government to implement reforms to ensure that the program offers foster children safety, security and stability, and a chance of a better life.

Any reform should begin by understanding the foster care system. Because foster children are moved around so much, their lack of stability may contribute to lower scores on standardized tests, and higher school dropout rates when compared to non-foster children. Frequent transfers from school to school can cause considerable emotional stress, and be disruptive to a child’s learning process. Each transfer also forces the foster child to adjust to new classroom settings and new relationships.

- See more at: http://www.annetcoppola.com/a-safety-net-or-just-another-trap-door-...