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Effects Foster Care has on Children: Scientific/Psychological

“In 2013, an estimated 3.5 million referrals were made to child protective service

agencies, involving the alleged maltreatment of approximately 6.4 million children” (Sirotnak).

Within the foster system, scientific and psychological aspects affect youth’s behavioral

outcomes. Foster children within the system have dealt with one or more maltreatment issues

including abuse, sexual assault, and substance abuse from those surrounding them. An adoption

social worker, Derek Williams, goes into depth about how children end up in foster care and the

new issues they develop. “Most foster children are in care due to abuse, neglect, or

abandonment; those factors alone affect development. Foster kids are in care through no fault of

their own and being in care add a whole new set of development issues on top of the already

obvious ones” (Williams). Youths in the system have gone through so much, yet still, deal with

the after-effects of foster care. Their behavioral traits are altered through emotional, physical,

and mental abuse. Scientific and psychological aspects of the foster system help with the

understanding of why children need better surroundings. Due to their maltreatment, risks of

suicide and delinquency are increased, externalizing and internalizing behavior is altered,

therefore, changes their future outcomes suggesting the need for better regulations.

Suicidal risk and delinquency from maltreatment are high for youth in foster care.

Researchers of behavioral science and psychology wrote on the youth risk behavior surveillance

system; the study was conducted in 2013 on suicidal risks. “The rate of suicidal thoughts was

higher for females (22.4 %) than males (11.6 %) and higher for Hispanic (18.9 %) than

Caucasian and African American youth (16.2 and 14.5 % youth, respectively)” (Gabrielli et al.

893). The data indicates that there is a clear line between genders as well as between race. Risks
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of suicide increase as the children age. In addition, age has been a huge block for permanency1.

Using regression models, Andrea Lane Eastman and Emily Putnam-Hornstein, experts in child

maltreatment and welfare, discussed the relationship between CPS and 17 years old's exit types

between 2008 and 2012. “Of the PSFC 2youth, 64.6% had previous allegations of maltreatment

and a quarter had been reported at least 6 times. Youth with a history of placement in CPS foster

care were more likely to age out relative to achieving permanency in comparison to PSFC youth

with no maltreatment history...” (Eastman and Hornstein). As aging increased, it was more likely

for minors to age out of foster care than to get permanency. Exiting foster care in this way

without connections to anyone could lead to delinquency. Joseph, Mark, and Fuhua have Ph.D.’s

in social work and welfare wrote about how juvenile delinquency comes abundantly from

abusive and neglective foster families. To lower delinquency rates, one has to have a connection

with something or someone strong enough to keep them out of trouble. “Involvement with

religious organizations also decreases the risk of delinquency”(Ryan et al. 115-116). However,

influences from relatives in the same situation seemed to amplify the amount of delinquent

behavior.

In addition, the number of foster placements can affect children in both internalizing and

externalizing matters. Catherine R. White and co-authors wrote on the number of placements,

length of placements, etc...related to the amount of alcohol dependence (e.g “(see table 1)”).

1
​Social work practice philosophy that promotes a permanent living situation
2
Probation Supervised Foster Care
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(White et al. 419). The analytical approach indicates the placement changes and their rates along

with their lengths within their foster homes, the number of runaways, reunification failures, and

living situations all contribute to the same factor. This externalizing factor of alcohol dependency

coincides to the number of placements. Previous inadequate placements affect children's future

self. Rae R Newton is a Sociology Emeritus professor who looked at the relationship between

placements changes and behavioral problems.“The results suggest that volatile placement

histories contribute negatively to both internalizing and externalizing behavior of foster children

and that children who experience numerous changes in placement may be at particularly high

risk for these deleterious effects”(Newton et al.). 415 youths that were in foster care for five

months or more were tested on behavioral problems and the number of placement changes within

18 months of first entry. These behavioral problems were concluded to be the cause of change in

placements as well as a results of continuous changes. However, Anouk, Mitch, and Paul
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combined their expertise in child/adolescent studies, psychology, youth care, and behavioral

problems to analyze foster care relations to behavior issues. “No overall increases or decreases in

internalizing, externalizing or total behavior problems were found..it is concluded that foster care

does not negatively or positively affect foster children's developmental trajectories”(Goemans et

al.). They used a total of 81 meta-analysis studies from both long and short time spans as well as

group size to show that there is no relation to foster care and behavior.

Youths in the foster system went through so much that it altered their future outcomes. A

study repeatedly observed stress in foster care families and the youth’s behavioral outcomes

were conducted by Erum Nadeem and her fellow associates, who all have a Ph.D. in clinical

physiology. “A history of abuse/neglect predicted significantly higher externalizing 3and

internalizing 4problems at a borderline level of statistical significance” (Nadeem, et al.). 82

children were adopted and tested through a range from two months to five years. Abuse and

neglection caused changes in how children expressed words, actions, and behavior. Being

surrounded by abuse and violence, adolescents have adopted the habit of substance abuse, which

is shown by Catherine Roller White, expertise in quantitative social research and psychological

development like the other researchers. “A national study of 4,023 adolescents ages 12 to 17

found that 6.2% of girls and 8.2% of boys had substance abuse or dependence” (White et al.

419). The older the adolescents the higher risk of substance abuse. Alcohol abuse and violence

from families contributed to the risk of children dealing with substance abuse, withstanding these

situations caused suicidal risks. Six researchers that specialize in psychology and behavioral

sciences, used longitudinal data in their study of self-harm risks and future morbidity.

3
​Express (a thought or feeling) in words or actions.
4
​To accept an idea, attitude, belief, etc., so that it becomes ​part​ of your character
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“...Pilowsky and Wu [4] noted that 26.8 % of youth with a history of foster care reported suicidal

ideation, compared to only 11.4 % of those without a history of care” (Gabrielli et al. 893).

Being abused or in unwanted situations in foster care led to suicidal risk more than those outside

of foster care. However, not all potential risks admitted to feeling suicidal. Furthermore, gender,

race, and belonging have huge impacts on the behavioral and psychological outcome of foster

care children.

In closing, better regulations within foster care are necessary due to the suicidal and

delinquency risk factors, externalizing and internalizing outcomes, and the alteration of a youths

future because of the maltreatment they endure. The high risks for both suicidal and delinquency

factors could possibly be reduced by looking deeper into foster care systems with better

regulations. If they would look into the foster parents more and keep track of all the

maltreatment and put the children in good homes bad behavioral outcomes could be lessened.

Altogether, with the less mistreatment of youths in foster care, their future outcomes could be

better due to a greater connection with their foster parents. The scientific and psychological

aspects are vital to understanding why there should be better regulations in the foster system to

help prevent more suicides, delinquency acts, substance abuse, abuse, and psychological mishaps

from those who are or were in foster care.

Works cited

Eastman, Andrea Lane, and Emily Putnam-Hornstein. “Exit Outcomes for Probation-Supervised

Youth in Foster Care: An Examination of Past Child Protection Involvement.” ​Child

Maltreatment,​ vol. 23, no. 1, n.p., Feb. 2018, pp. 34–43. ​EBSCOhost.​ Accessed 14 Jan.

2019.

“Externalize.” ​English Oxford Living Dictionaries, ​n. P., 2019,

en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/externalize​. Accessed 19 Jan. 2019.

Gabrielli, Joy, et al. “Longitudinal Assessment of Self-Harm Statements of Youth in Foster Care:

Rates, Reporters, and Related Factors.” ​Child Psychiatry & Human Development,​ vol.

46, no. 6, n.p., Dec. 2015, pp. 893–902. ​EBSCOhost​. Accessed 14 Jan. 2019.

Goemans, Anouk, et al. “Over Three Decades of Longitudinal Research on the Development of

Foster Children: A Meta-Analysis.” ​Child Abuse & Neglect​, vol. 42, n.p., Apr. 2015, pp.

121–134. ​EBSCOhost​. Accessed 14 Jan. 2019.

“Internalize.” ​Cambridge Dictionary,​ n.p., 2019,

dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/internalize​. Accessed 19 Jan. 2019.

Nadeem, Erum, et al. “Long-Term Effects of Pre-Placement Risk Factors on Children’s

Psychological Symptoms and Parenting Stress Among Families Adopting Children from

Foster Care.” ​Journal of Emotional and Behavioral Disorders,​ vol. 25, no. 2, n.p., June

2017, pp. 67–81. ​EBSCOhost​. Accessed 15 Jan. 2019.

Newton, Rae R, et al. “Children and Youth in Foster Care: Disentangling the Relationship

Between Problem Behaviors and Number of Placements.” ​Child Abuse & Neglect​, vol.

24, no. 10, n.p., Sep. 2000, p. 1363-1374,

www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0145213400001897?via%3Dihub​.

Accessed 16 Jan. 2019.

Ryan, Joseph P., et al. “African American Males in Foster Care and the Risk of Delinquency:

The Value of Social Bonds and Permanence.” ​Child Welfare​, vol. 87, no. 1, n.p., Jan.

2008, p. 115. ​EBSCOhost​. Accessed 15 Jan. 2019.

Sirotnak, Andrew P. “Chapter 8: Child Abuse & Neglect.” ​Access Medicine, ​n.p., n.d.,

accessmedicine.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?bookid=1795&sectionid=125737263.

Accessed 29 Jan. 2019.

“1201 Child Placement Services.” ​North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services​,

n.p., n.d. ​www2.ncdhhs.gov/info/olm/manuals/dss/csm-10/man/css1201c6-02.htm

Accessed 19 Jan. 2019.

White, Catherine Roller, et al. “Alcohol and Drug Use among Alumni of Foster Care:

Decreasing Dependency Through Improvement of Foster Care Experiences.” ​Journal of

Behavioral Health Services & Research,​ vol. 35, no. 4, n.p., Oct. 2008, p. 419.

EBSCOhost​. Accessed 17 Jan. 2019.

Williams, Derek. “How Does Foster Care Affect a Child’s Development?” ​Adoption.org,​ n.p,

n.d, ​adoption.org/foster-care-affect-childs-development​. Accessed 16 Jan. 2019.