FOSTER CARE AWARNESS

Abuse Trauma

Foster care awareness needs to be brought to so many people’s attention. Children in foster care are being mistreated and neglected. In foster care it is more likely to be physically, mentally, and sexually abused. 3.4 million children were affected by some form of abuse or neglect by Child Protective Services. Many children in foster care experience the worst abuse in an out or home placement than with their biological families. According to the Casey Family National Foster Care Alumni Study, 21% of children reported abuse and/or neglect that took place during in an out-of-home placement.

MENTAL ABUSE

25% of foster children experience PTSD (comparable to the rate of U.S. war veterans), and tend to suffer high rates of debilitating depression and low self-esteem. 80% of foster children have a mental disorder such as depression, anxiety, panic attacks being the major ones. As a foster child you feel as if you are alone in this world and no one is here to help you. You walk around acting as if your fine when deep down you want to disappear. 15% of foster children commit suicide because of the depression they are experiencing. In foster care the caseworkers don’t care enough to seek help for those who need the help. Kids with mental illnesses need therapy and psychological help in order to get better at controlling their emotions and condition.

SEXUAL ABUSE

Another issue in the foster system is that there is an ongoing epidemic of sexual abuse happening in the system. Current statistics show that 75% of children in foster care have been sexually abused. These children are very afraid of telling loved ones or authorities because they are disgusted or they have been threatened. Children who are placed in foster care are more likely to be abused and kids who are in group homes are 28 times more likely to get sexually abused. In group homes the teens are more likely to run and become missing for years. Eventually more than half of the teens are sex trafficking victims that came from these group homes around the United states. Most children get abused by the people they live with like 36.7% are foster parents and 37.4% are the staff members of the group home.

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In conclusion foster care awareness should be just as import as the Syrian war or as the politics on voting. Children are fighting a battle that they can’t speak on because they feel like they have no voice. Children in state are 10 times more likely to get abused than those with their biological family. People turn the other way or tend not to actually put effort on helping them. Foster children are getting hurt by those who should be taking care for them, who should be keeping them safe. Kids need to feel like they have a chance in this world. They need your help to fight for them and be that voice that they can rely on. Be the help that they need to survive this corrupt system.