If more money were going into the USA foster care system...?

Question

What would/should it go towards?

Answer 1

Boy... this is one of those "where to start?" problems.

1. I think better funding, training and hiring more CPS case workers is a start.  Due to the overloaded system the case workers are often dealing with more cases than anyone can effectively manage.  This is how children fall off the radar and wind up dead (something that has gotten a LOT of recent attention in my state).  

2. Assistance and transition for children who "age out" of the system.  They need a little more than $50 and a bus ticket, so to speak.  Lining up continuing education, job placement, ongoing counseling, skills of daily living training, etc.  

3. More education on parenting classes, substance abuse classes, family planning, for parents of children in foster care.  

That's off the top of my head.  Probably zillions more things that need money.  Foster care is one of those overwhelming issues.

Answer 2

what is natural family education? I think there's no question that education is a better place to spend money than just about anywhere else. Money spent on education almost always saves money in the long run. If people (research shows that for women in particular) are educated and given choices there is no question that they make better decisions and they cost the government far less money in the long run. Children who are in foster care have a far less chance of succeeding in our world, and a far greater chance of needing help. They are far more likely to end up in jail, or in juvenile detention centers, to be adicts, to be runaways, to turn to prostitution and drugs, to be uneducated. I'm talking in generalizations certainly but, there is no question that a loving permanent home is number one in ensuring healthy children.

Answer 3

I think it should go to help kids age out of the system.  It's my understanding that once they hit 18, they're pretty much thrown out on the street.  I think they should have programs to help them with home finances, additional job training, helping them set up their apartments, etc.  Maybe even some college scholarships specifically for foster kids.

ETA:: heather, we have a program here similar to your sure start -- it's called HeadStart and helps "at risk" parents with parenting skills, financial skills, etc.  It helps women find resources such as WIC (Women, Infant, Children), nutrition, etc.    but yes, i think more money should go to that type of program.

Answer 4

I agree with Carnie that it should help the kids aging out.

The fact of the matter is you can't keep throwing money at a problem meaning birth families who are ill equipped to parent. These programs are vastly underused anyway. You can lead a horse to water but you can't make em' drink.

How many families within the foster care system actually complete their court ordered parenting classes....anger management.....drug rehabilitation? Not enough.....how can someone begin to address their parenting  inadequacies when they can't even admit there is a problem/

Answer 5

However much it is, it should be more.

The CPS department in my state has horrible turnover because of overwhelming workload and lack of general support.  Our sons had three different caseworkers over the 8 months we fostered them.

Answer 6

Maybe towards birthfamily rehabilitation or education, or towards court fees to get the ball rolling on cases where adoption is inevitable that way kids don't have to keep going back and forth between families.

Answer 7

I would like to see an increase in the training and education that the social/case workers receive so that they truly can focus on what is best for the child rather than how their state is going to benefit from bonuses.  

But I would also like to see more resources and money put towards children who are aging out of the program so that they are not lost to society when they turn 18.

Answer 8

The money alread goes towards those things....just the parents don't participate or Pay the State child support while other people are taking care of the child they don't take the steps to get back....

Perhaps sterilization so that these mothers were not having 5-6-7-10 children needing to be taken care of.

The state already hands out Birth Control and offers Free Planned Parenthood classes.... Not sure how much more FREE prevention could possibly be provided...

Maybe it could be used to Lock up Dope Moms so they don't give birth to drug affected babies that cost millions of dollars to save at birth--and then require unbelievable amounts of resources to educate--or provide mental health services for

Maybe we could get the parents to go get a job and support their own children instead of using drugs--neglecting and abusing them....

Sorry, I am the first to say better services to families needs to be put in place but Not Willing to take what little is being spend on the Children to help parents who don't want to help themsleves....

Take the money away from something else...but leave the Kids alone and Double what we spend now and maybe things can be different in the future....

Answer 9

I'd love to see something like the UK's Surestart Program supporting and preserving all natural families in effect in the USA (we can dream, can't we)

http://www.surestart.gov.uk/

I also volunteer for Homestart, which has the same goal - keeping families together wherever possible

http://www.home-start.org.uk/

Just a couple of ideas