Homelessness and Foster Care: The Case of American Youth

Abstract

This paper discuss the issue foster care in the American society and the challenges the children face during their transition from their families to foster care and later in life when they leave foster home. The issue is deeply engraved in our society and is one of the leading causes of juvenile crime. Children who live without the guidance of adults resort to taking up crime. There are also psychological issues that children face when living in foster care. By separating children from their family, they lose confidence and their self-esteem becomes significantly low. The paper contains research conducted on the psychological effects of separation on the children and behavior. Through these researches, results conclude their children respond to rejection or negligence in a unique way. To counter the issue, there are child protection services and foster homes but even with these present, the problem remains. The government needs to work on the gaps in the system and devise a solution that would adhere to every child's situation accordingly (Farrar et al, 2011).

Homelessness and Foster Care: The Case of American Youth

Introduction

All over the world, a huge population of youth is faced with the problems homelessness and foster care. The same can be said for the American society. Children living in foster care or those that are homeless can suffer psychologically. This is largely due to the trauma the child has to suffer when there is no consistent and reliable form of support from their family or friends. Sociologists believe that parents often find it difficult to assist their children due to their own psychological problems. For children of such parents, rejection and negligence puts them through severe mental stress. Even when parents are willing to help, the damage done by the stress makes it tough for the children to believe the intention to help is true. Tyler and Melander (2010) reveal that such often resort to substance abuse, become victims of sexual abuse and suffer from depression. Rejection, abuse and depression are the most prominent reasons behind children choosing to leave their homes or the shelters they live in. Once the children are on the streets, putting them in rehabilitation programs can become a major challenge for institutions and families. Homeless children require support that must be helped out of the strife by analyzing their situation. Thompson et al (2010), states it is imperative for helpers and psychologists to find out the actual reason behind the child's decision to leave home or shelter and then come up with solutions that would help them in making the child's life better.

In 2000, Nunez carried out a study in 20 cities in the United States and concluded that family support is a common and widespread cause of homelessness. Homelessness was a problem found mostly among children belonging to poor families. These children have little or support from their parents and should have a proper home or a group setting where they can be given ...