Foster care in the United Kingdom
- Why was foster care created in in the UK?
- What leads children the foster care system?
- Who should be allowed to become a foster parent?
- How to become a foster parent?
- The statistics of children in the foster care system. Are they having negative or positive influences?
- Is the foster care system a better alternative than orphanages?
- How are birth parents being involved while in a foster family?
- How many children go back to their birth family/parents?
- How many children get adopted from their foster parents?
- How many children have been in and out of fosters homes and what are the effects of that? Foster care system in the United Kingdom In the United Kingdom, over 70,000 of their children have been put in the foster care system.[1] More than half of those children are placed in the foster care system because of abuse or neglect. There are two types of abuse that children endure; physical and sexual. In 2016, there were over 50,000 children who needed help from abuse, and there was a sharp increase of reports against children of sexual offense. Sexual abuse was identified with over 3,000 cases in children last year.[2] These statistics are found for children 18 and under. Children at such a young age shouldn’t have to endure such horrific trauma. Most are embarrassed or scared, and every 1 and 3 children never report it. [2] The United Kingdom has a service line dedicated to help children. NSPCC is a hotline that answers and helps children in need. In 2016, over 9,000 children contacted Childline identifying as physical abuse.[2] There are many other reasons why children go into foster care. When a child loses both parents and the family can’t take them, they are put in foster care. There are situations where the child choose to take themselves out of their home and into the system. There are also situations where the parents give up the child. The effects of this are either due to financial problems where they can't afford to take care of the child anymore or because of behavioral problems. Children either go into non-relative foster homes or relative foster homes. Foster groups are also an available option to some children, but group homes never show a positive influence on young children. Foster homes need to establish and develop stable trust relationships with their caregivers as well as their social worker. According to NSPCC, "children in care are 4 times more likely than their peers to have a mental health difficulty". [3]Children that are put into the system are less likely to finish school than their peers. Out of the 70,000 children, 53% of children leave school without any formal qualifications. [4]Also, only 30% of those children receive only five A-C grade GCSEs which is compared to 47% of all children. [4]Only 6% of children in the system move on to higher education. [4] Children put in the system are failing instead of striving. When they are put in environments were they are told to start over, it puts pressure on these children. There are certain children who act out against their new foster parents, resisting to listen and corporate. There are some children that will zone out and never talk. Then there are some children who interact well with their foster parents and who want a better life. To become a foster parents, the main requirements are to provide a safe, nurturing, and loving environment. To become a foster parents, you can either be single or married. You can own a home or be a tenant. According to the National Fostering Association, it takes around three to four months, and requires a detail look at your life. [5]Once you become a foster parent, they will make a check to you with your consent and "your family with the Criminal Records Bureau, Local Authorities and other agencies". [5]They will pay you to have a full medical check up with your GP.[5]You will also have to take a three day 'Skills to Foster' training course. [5]There are many reasons as to why people become foster parents. Some people feel that it is their right to help children. They are willing to sacrifice their home and time to help traumatized children feel safe and nurtured. There are also people who have had children but they have grown up and moved out of the house. So to fill that void of having no children around, they foster. Some people feel that it is rewarding to help children in need, and that corresponded to their love for children.[6]People are willing to give up space and time to help further their life as well as the life of a young child. Its a difficult role to take part in, these children take time to open up and in many cases they won't.
- ^ "Foster Care - Children's Rights". Children's Rights. Retrieved 2017-04-13.
- ^ a b c NSPCC. "Facts and statistics". NSPCC. Retrieved 2017-04-13.
- ^ NSPCC. "Children in care". NSPCC. Retrieved 2017-04-13.
- ^ a b c Gentleman, Amelia (2009-04-19). "Children in care: how Britain is failing its most vulnerable". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2017-04-17.
- ^ a b c d "Becoming a foster carer". NFA. Retrieved 2017-04-18.
- ^ "Why do people foster? - The Moray Council". www.moray.gov.uk. 2004-04-21. Retrieved 2017-04-18.