Importance of Children in Foster Care Homes Thesis Proposal

Importance of Children in Foster Care Homes - Thesis Proposal Example This time, however, one of the peasants jumps up and begins to run away from the shore. His friend, horrified, rushes after him shouting, â€Å"Where are you going? Aren’t you interested in saving this child?† The departing peasant looks back and replies as he rushes away. â€Å"I can’t sit idly by and watch the destruction of one child at a time. I am going upstream to find the root cause, what’s at the heart of this unfortunate situation.† Introduction Children in foster care homes have been separated from their parents and families over a period of time. There are various factors that contribute for children being in foster care homes. Some of the factors are poverty, violence and abuse in the home, the death of parents, armed conflict or natural disasters. Separated children are not a homogenous group. Separation comes in many different forms. Children in foster care homes can be categorized according to the factors that may have caused their se paration. Some examples are: children who have been orphaned, especially those orphaned by HIV and AIDS; children who have been separated for the purposes of exploitation; child refugees who have been separated from family by armed conflict; and children with a disability placed in institutional care. There needs to be more focus on children living in foster care homes by providing safe, permanent, nurturing families within the child's community. Children being separated from their parents are an important issue because it can affect a child's survival and development. Very young children are especially vulnerable, with 0-3 years old facing increased risk of mortality if they lose their mothers (UNICEF et al 2006). The sexual abuse and early sexual activity associated with some forms of separation, such as early marriage or trafficking into prostitution, exposes children to sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and girls to the risks associated with early pregnancy (Pinheiro 2006) . Children living on the streets and children who have been in conflict with the law have been noted to engage in risky activities which expose them to HIV infections. Orphans are also more at risk of STIs than non-Orphans. Violence, abuse and neglect suffered by separated children can threaten physical health and chances of survival. The abuse, neglect, exploitation and loss often associated with separation can also cause major mental health problems. Researchers suggest high levels of anxiety and depression amongst orphans with 12% stating that they sometimes wished they were dead (UNICEF et al 2006). It has also been reported that a staggering 1 in 10 young people living in the foster care homes commit suicide (Pinheiro 2006). There is widespread evidence that children who are denied a loving, continuous bond with a parental figure suffer major developmental setbacks. Background and significance There are over 500,000 children in the United States that have currently resided in s ome form of foster care. Placements in foster care have dramatically increased over the past 10 years. Despite the increasing numbers, children in foster care and foster parents are mostly invisible in the communities and often lack many needed supports and resources. Majority of children that are separated from their parents are unable to receive an adequate education. Children in foster care homes lag behind their peers on every measure of educational opportunity. The numbers include a 23 percent dropout rate compared with 9 percent of the general student population, half in special education compared with 12 percent, and 52 percent reading below grade level compared with 38 percent. In addition, only 3 percent of foster children obtain a Bachelor's