PROFESSOR SIPIN

English211C

THE EFFECTS OF FOSTER

CARE
LeShawn Pettaway

LeShawn Pettaway
April 6, 2015
Professor Sipin
English211c

Abstract:
This dissertation examines the short-term and long-term effects of foster care and if they
have a negative or positive affect on one's success. Data collected came from a number of
previous research studies, articles, and interviews of former foster children. These studies include
the psychological, emotional, educational, and financial stability effects of foster care. They also
explore how former foster children, who are now adults with children of their own, parent their
children. This dissertation explores how people who were or are currently in the placement of
foster care and how their experience in the system helped shape or misguide them. Due to these
studies, people will be able to have insight on how foster care can have an effect on someone's
life and whether or not if it was a positive or negative affect. All of the sources that were used in
the collection of this data were all valid and reliable. They were all credible and pertained to the
focus of this study. The interviews of Derek Clark and Tony Jones are provided as primary
sources and actually give an "inside look" on the effects of foster care and life after. The findings
of this study have led to conclusion that in fact it is possible for one to be successful despite the
experience and long-term or short-term effects due to placement in the foster care system. It also
gives insight on what to expect when dealing with foster children and how to care and be there
for them.
What is Foster Care?:
Foster care is a temporary arrangement for children whose living situation has been
deemed unsafe for them to live because of abuse, neglect, mental health issues, or any other
unsafe issue provided by the government. The goal of placement in foster care is to land the

LeShawn Pettaway
April 6, 2015
Professor Sipin
English211c

child(ren) in a safe, permanent environment. The purpose of adoption is to keep the child from
lingering throughout the system. In some cases, the child(ren) may be reunited with their
biological parent(s). In order to be granted reunification with the child(ren), the parent(s) must
reach the goals outlined in the reunification plan and maintain supervised visits with the child
and psychological counseling for 12 months. If failed to do so, then a petition will be filed for
parental rights to be taken away. If the goals still arent reached by the deadline, then the
child(ren) will maintain permanency with the current caretaker. The children in the system range
from infants to 21 years old. Children who are younger usually stay in the system longer than
those who are older.
The first well known foster care program is, The Placing Out of the New York Childrens
Aid Society established by Charles Loring Brace in 1853. The program was established to
dispose of the homeless children by rounding them up off the city streets and institutions then
sending them to families willing to provide for them. Even though many of them werent
orphans, they were permanently removed from the care of their biological parents. Despite a
little opposition, more caught on to the idea and by 1923 thirty-four states had their own private
organizations for shipping children to other communities. Today, there are up to 500, 000
children in the foster care system.
Although, placement in foster care was seen to be a solution it soon became a problem.
People felt that it was getting in the way of families being reunited with their child(ren). The
system is blamed for keeping children in temporary placement when in reality the best placement
for the child is with their biological or adopted parents.
Epigenetics and Foster Care:

LeShawn Pettaway
April 6, 2015
Professor Sipin
English211c

According to studies, children who are victims of a strongly negative environment may
cancel out genes involved in the development of empathy through a process known as
epigenetics. This is the process in which environment influences the genes. Changes in
epigenetics can have major consequences on an individuals empathy and their capacity to form
long, positive relationships after being removed from the negative environment. Studies show
that if a grandparent experienced a negative childhood, the consequences of that can be passed
on epigenetically not only to their children but also to their grandchildren. The offspring is more
likely to be more antisocial and anxious, even if they were brought up in a normal environment.
Leaving the children in an abusive, non-empathetic environment for too long will most
likely result in long-term behavioral problems and the same repetitive cycle of abuse in future
generations. Moving these children from the negative environment and placing them with loving,
caring foster parents should be a priority in order to give them the best chance of a successful
new life.
Race and Foster Care:
Race correlates with involvement in the foster care system more effectively than poverty.
African American and Native American children represent twice the percentage of the foster care
population than they do in the general population of children. Caucasian children represent
significantly lower in percentage than they do in the general child population. Asian children are
less likely to enter, and Latino children have not traditionally been over-represented in the foster
care population. The disparity in poverty rates for African-Americans and Latinos is relatively
small in comparison to disparity in foster care placement, therefore race operates as the main
factor. the system is most aggressive towards African-American mothers.

LeShawn Pettaway
April 6, 2015
Professor Sipin
English211c

Effects of Placement in Foster Care:

Children in foster care face a number of challenges. Having to deal with strangers, alone,
can be a major burden on them. Children are torn apart from their families and familiar
surroundings, and they also have to learn to cope with the uncertainty of whether or not theyll
be reunited with their families. The effects of foster care on a child may vary from behavior to
academic success. Many children placed in foster care lose their ability to trust or become attach
to people. As young children, they depend on their parent to be there for them and when that is
disrupted their ability to trust is weakened. By their trust for others being weakened due to past
experience with their parent, this gives them a hard time attaching to others in the future. Not
only do they tend to have trust issues, but they also tend to suffer from some type of psychiatric
or mental disorder. About 80% of children placed in foster are diagnosed with 1 or more
psychiatric disorders. About 60% suffer from developmental issues such as problems with
language, problem solving, and even some growth problems.
Those who are placed in foster care may be more aggressive, sensitive, and disobedient
than those who were not. They also suffer from depression. They have issues with
belongingness and attachment because of their past experiences, so theyre always testing
someones love and loyalty to them. Those placed in foster care have a higher rate in teen
pregnancy and in criminal activity.
Those who are placed in foster care have a level of education below the average of those
who werent. Children placed in foster dont always get the education needed to support
themselves in the future effectively. They are more likely to attend a vocational trading school
rather than a university.

LeShawn Pettaway
April 6, 2015
Professor Sipin
English211c

Foster children are released at the age of 18, but most of them find it hard for them to be
able to support themselves. They tend to lack academic and job related skills, have little or no
support from family, and a lack of communication skills. According to the U.S. Department of
Health and Human Services, about 50% of former foster children end up being homeless within
the first year and a half of their release from the system. Other studies show that between 64%
and 92% of those placed in foster care though grow up to be self-supporting. About 25% percent
of them receive government assistance. Those who experienced more neglect tend to overwork
themselves, so that they avoid poverty and homelessness.
Life After Foster Care:
Although, there are many negative effects of foster care on the fostered child, it is still
possible for the child to have a successful life in the future. Tony Jones and Derek Clark are
living proof that one can overcome the negative effects that came from placement in foster care.
They are proof that you can take the experience of foster care and use it as motivation to push
forward and become successful.
Tony Jones, a former African American foster child, was adopted by Jackie Jones when
he was just four years old. He was a victim of neglect and abandonment while living with his
biological mother. He was taken from his mother and stayed in the system until he was adopted
by Jackie. Tonys behavior was a bit out of control at first and he often felt insecure and alone
due to his past experience with his biological mother, but no matter how bad it got Jackie stuck
by his side. Once Tony saw that Jackies love for him was unconditional, things better. Tony is
now a college graduate with a career as a sportswriter, and father. He uses his experience in
foster care and the way that Jackie brought him as his guide in parenting his daughter, Kelsey.

LeShawn Pettaway
April 6, 2015
Professor Sipin
English211c

Derek Clark, a former Caucasian foster child, had an experience quite similar to Tony
Jones. Derek experienced brutal child abuse and abandonment as a child. When he was five
years old, he was placed in the foster care system. When he was 6 years old, doctors diagnosed
as mentally handicapped as well as a number of many other labels. At first, they said he couldnt
be adopted, but that changed when his foster parents were granted the approval of adopting him.
As he developed with his new loving foster parents, all accusations of mental retardation against
him were out of the picture. Derek suffered from anxiety, distress, and anger issues. He often got
into trouble as well. As his foster parents stuck by his side and never gave up on him, Derek
made a huge change in life. He found joy in rapping and using his words to express his feelings
and tell his story. He is now a successful motivational speaker. He often uses his raps in his
speeches and is now a popular voice known as The Rapping Dad.
Conclusion:
By doing this study, I have concluded that in fact foster care does have in fact have an impact on
ones life. Although, most of the effects that come from placement in foster care are negative
there are some positive effects. The effects and the experience of foster can determine whether or
not one will be successful in the future, but it is up the individual to determine his or her path in
the future. Either you can take the experience and use it as motivation to succeed in life or you
can let the experience bring you down even further.

Annotated Bibliography
Beth Troutman, Susan Ryan, Michelle Cardi. "The Effects of Foster Care on
Young Children's Mental Health." (n.d.): 6.
In this article, Troutman, Ryan, and Cardi express some of the factors leading to
placement in foster and the start of attachment problems in the children. With this
source, I will be able to provide examples of problems with attachment and how to
reduce and maintain them. I also will be able to discuss how to help the foster
parent be more responsive and helpful to the child.
Chideya, Farai. "A Rare Foster Care Success Story." 4 December 2006.
http://www.npr.org. 15 March 2015.

LeShawn Pettaway
April 6, 2015
Professor Sipin
English211c
In Farai Chideyas A Rare Success Story, she interviews Tony Jones who was
adopted by Jackie Jones when he was four years old. In the interview they talk about
some of the effects on him from being in foster and how it plays a role in his success
today. Through this source, I will be able to give live proof of a successful person
who was placed in the system. It also shows some of the social and emotional
effects it has on them as well. Tony was insecure and was always asking, what if
somebody steals me? graduated college and is now a Sportswriter. He is also a
father, who tries to pattern his parenting after his mother.
Clark, Derek. n.d. www.iwillnevergiveup.com. 15 March 2015.
In Derek Clarks TED Talk, Power of Determination, he talks about his experience
in foster care and how it helped him be the man he is today. Through this source, I
will be able to show the negative effects of ones life before foster care and how
they changed with it. In his speech, he talks about how he diagnosed mentally
retarded I will be able to show much love and attention effects a child. In his
speech, Clark says I gave my parents hell, but they never gave up on me.
Harden, Brenda Jones. "Journal Issue: Children, Families, and Foster Care."
2004. http://futureofchildren.org/future of children/. 15 March 2015.
In the article, Safety and Stability for Foster Children: A Developmental
Perspective, by Brenda Jones Harden, she addresses some of the more negative
effects of foster care on a child. Through this source, I will be able to point out some
negative effects. This will allow great back up research for my counterargument.
Thomas McDonald, Reva Allen, Alex Westerfelt, Irving Piliavin. "Assessing
the Long-Term Effects of Foster Care: A Research Synthesis." IRP
Special Report. n.d.
In Assessing the Long-Term Effects of Foster Care by Thomas McDonald, Reva Allen,
Alex Westerfelt, and Irving Piliavin, we learn about some major effects from
placement in the foster care system. With this source, I will be able to explain where
the system started and how it began being viewed as a problem. I can address the
outcome of kids who are placed in there for abuse and neglect rather than those
placed there for mental or health issues. Lastly, I will be able to discuss some long
term effects like stability as an adult. Majority of those fostered are self-supporting
adults (between 64%-92%). Only about 25% receive public assistance.

Bibliography, other sources used

Race and class in the US Foster System. 2014. 20 April 2015.
Spector, Tim. Abuse, Adoption, and Epigentics. 31 July 2013. 20 April 2015.

LeShawn Pettaway
April 6, 2015
Professor Sipin
English211c