In the United States, more than half a million children are in foster care on any given day 1. Many will experience feelings of confusion, fear, loss, and anxiety 2. The Pacific Northwest Alumni of Foster Care (PNAFC) believes that these feelings and experiences must be addressed early to improve the experiences of childhood and quality of adulthood of those in and from foster care. PNAFC was created to give youth and alumni of foster care a voice to help improve the poor developmental, mental, and educational outcomes of those from foster care 3. With a collective voice, we strive to educate those involved with policy and practice of the child welfare system so they can learn what the important issues and needs are of those in and from foster care. It is our hope that a greater awareness of foster care issues will positively influence those who help determine a child’s future.
Delilah Bruskas was about about of five years old when she became part of the child welfare system. As a dependent of the states of California and Washington, she struggled with emotional and educational issues, and had a difficult time making the transition from youth to young adult. Delilah graduated from Seattle University in 1995 with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. In 2006, she graduated from the University of Washington-Tacoma with a Masters of Nursing. While in graduate school, Delilah researched the outcomes of youth and alumni of foster care. The results of her research were shocking and disturbing; she learned of the many developmental and mental health problems of those from foster care. She observed that children in foster care also struggled to do well in school and had difficult times as young adults 4. In March of 2006, she synthesized her research findings and wrote a paper titled: Foster care children: A vulnerable population at risk. [Disclaimer: This is an electronic version of an article published in Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Nursing: complete citation information for the final version of the paper, as published in the print edition of Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Nursing, is available on the Blackwell Synergy online delivery service, accessible via the journal's website at http://www.blackwellpublishing.com/jcap or http://www.blackwell-synergy.com.]
In October of 2006, Casey Family Programs invited Delilah to attend an inaugural Foster Youth and Alumni Leadership Summit. The summit was welcomed by Justice Bobbe J. Bridge, the co-chair of Washington’s State Supreme Court Commission on Children in Foster Care. It was at this summit that Delilah realized the need for a collective voice for youth and alumni of foster care. In addition to realizing the need for a voice and a desire to help develop this voice, she experienced her first encounter with others from similar backgrounds.
Traditionally, the child welfare system has not been held accountable for performance outcomes of children in foster care. In 2000, the Children’s Bureau developed an evidence based Statewide evaluation of child welfare system performances and implemented it in 2001 5. The State assessments of performances are called Child and Family Services Reviews (CFSRs). The CFSRs assess how well each state is meeting the needs of the children it serves in addition to how well they meet systemic requirements. In March, 2004, the first CFSRs were completed. The 50 states, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia failed to meet not just some, but all areas of child welfare standards6.
As a result of the CFSRs, Delilah has committed to advocate for youth and alumni of foster care. The Pacific Northwest Alumni of Foster Care is focused on issues important to children in foster care to create a greater awareness of their needs in order to influence and improve policy and practice. It is not the goal of PNAFC to point out any failures of those in charge or to criticize how they do an incredibly difficult job. Since the beginning of 2007, Delilah has continued her role as an advocate by testifying at Washington’s State Capital for Senate and House Bills that will help improve the lives of those in foster care.
The Pacific Northwest Alumni of Foster Care believes that creating a collective voice for youth and alumni of foster care will produce innovative social changes, offering consistent and steady improvement in the quality of life for those in the child welfare system. Such a voice will ensure that improvement plans consider their perceptions and experiences. Developing this voice cannot be accomplished alone by one organization. PNAFC needs support and others to partner with so that it can continue with its endeavors.
References
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1. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Children’s Bureau (2007). Summary: Child Maltreatment 2005. Washington DC: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Retrieved March 9, 2008, from http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb/pubs/cm05/summary.htm
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2. Dubner, A.E., & Motta, R.W. (1999). Sexually and physically abused foster care children and posttraumatic stress disorder. The American Psychological Association, 7(3), 367-373.
Racusin, R., Maelender, A.C., Sengupta, A., Isquith, P.K., & Strauss, M.B. (2005). Community psychiatric practice: Psychosocial treatment of children in foster care: A review. Community Mental Health Journal, 41(2), 199-221.
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3. Casey Family Programs (2005). The Northwest Foster Care Alumni Study. Retrieved May 12, 2005, from http://www.casey.org/NR/rdonlyres/4E1E7C77
Children's Administration Research (2004). Foster Youth Transition to Independence Study: Final Report: 2004. Seattle, WA: Department of Social and Health Services. Retrieved February 28, 2005, from http://www.dshs.wa.gov/pdf/ca/FYTfinal2004.pdf
back4. Jones Harden, B. (2004). Safety and stability for foster children: a developmental perspective. The Future of Children, 14(1), 30-47.
Kools, S., & Kennedy, C. (2003). Foster child health and development: Implications for primary care. Pediatric Nursing, 29(1), 39-45.
Racusin, R., Maerlender, A.C., Sengupta, A., Isquith, P.K., & Straus, M.B. (2005). Community psychiatric practice: Psychosocial treatment of children in foster care: A review. Community Mental Health Journal, 41(2), 199-221.
Zetlin, A.G. Weinberg, L.A., & Kimm, C. (2005). Helping social workers address the educational needs of foster children. Child Abuse & Neglect, 29, 811-823.
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5. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (2005). ASPE issue brief: Federal foster care financing: How and why the current funding structure fails to meet the needs of the child welfare field.
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6. Children's Administration Research (2004). Foster youth transition to independence study: Final report: 2004. Seattle, WA: Department of Social and Health Services. Retrieved February 28, 2005, from www.dshs.wa.gov/pdf/ca/FYTfinal2004.pdf
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (2005). ASPE issue brief: Federal foster care financing: How and why the current funding structure fails to meet the needs of the child welfare field. Washington, DC: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation. Retrieved October 5, 2005, from http://aspe.hhs.gov/hsp/05/fc-financing-ib/
