What are some reasons why foster children need to change homes so often?

Question

I have been reading some fictional books that happen to be about children in the foster care system (Quaking and Thief most recently, I've also read the nonfiction book A Child Called It a couple years ago.) Aside from if there is abuse in their foster home, why would they have to change so often? Anyway this question isn't meant to offend anyone, if somebody reads this who is a foster child or foster parent.

Answer 1

Usually foster parents only accept children at certain ages, for example 0 to three years old.

Answer 2

It varies. The foster family may only want a certain aged child; they could have difficulties in managing their foster child; they could change their mind about fostering; the child may need more care than they are able to provide...etc. Fostering is a labor of love. There are constant social worker visits, the needs of the child, the fact that the child is supposed to be returned or adopted out is often hard on foster parents. The child may need frequent visits to therapists or doctors. Many foster children are emergency placements....i.e. they need to be removed immediately. So, while family A can take them immediately, family B may be better suited to care for the child long term.

Answer 3

I was told by someone in long term foster care than she got shunted around frequently to avoid her or her foster parents from developing too much of a bond. How crazy is that? That's what kids need most, a bond with a parental figure.

Answer 4

Moving to avoid bonding? How ridiculous..

My boyfriend was moved around foster homes a lot when he was younger (he had anger issues, which is probably why?) but then when he reached high school he ended up at one place for 6 years. Those foster parents he thinks of as his actual parents.

Answer 5

Usually kids in North Dakota stay in the same foster home as long as everything is working out for the child and the foster parents. If the child develops emotional or physical problems the foster parents can't manage they are moved to someone who is equipped to handle their situation.

Very rarely, kids are moved into other homes because the foster parents' situation has changed such as their economic situation or their family developed a problem and they cannot care for the child any longer.

Answer 6

It could have something to do with age. Obviously if the child isn't happy with his/her new carers (depending on their age) they can request or the foster parents can request to find a better arrangement. I know sometimes foster parents also have other children and if the children don't get along with the foster child and vice versa, it could be better to place the child in alternative care.

Answer 7

From experience...

I left my first home, due to over crowding

I left my second home , due to them moving interstate.

I left my third home, due to they needing to be closer to school.

I left my fourth home, because of them adopting a child.

I left my fifth home, because I grew up, and moved in with my man.

I never had a so-called *Bad home* all the homes I lived in were truly wonderful, and I couldn't have asked for nicer people. My 5th home, became my family, and we are still close.

Just before I left home, my Foster Dad, was diagnosed with Cancer, and my Mum (foster), had a few kids taken, because of this.

She fought for 6 of the kids, (she had 11 at the time) who were family to her, and our Dad. It's been 6 years and 5 out of the 6 have moved out and began their own lives. But she is raising our younger Foster Brother solo.

Answer 8

When you become a foster parent you can choose the age  range and s*x you are willing to accept.  Foster care is supposed to be temporary so the idea is that they will go back to their parents after they have worked on whatever it is they need to work on.  If not then the kids go up for adoption. The flaw in the plan is that no one wants to adopt older kids and they end up in foster care until 18 then are basically turned out.

As to why they change it varies.  It used to be that kids were changed every two or three years to avoid them getting to attached. The thinking was that if they got to attached when they hit 18 it would be harder to be put out.  That has changed at least in my state. The idea now is that fewer moves the better.   Children need permanency and attachment is good even if they don't get adopted.

Another reason is that many foster kids have behavioral problems.   These stem from their abuse and anger of being placed.  Many act out on purpose to test your love for them and to see what will happen.   Some act out sexually because of abuse they had back at home. Many foster parents have bio kids and or other foster kids. If a foster child acts out and does things like starts fires, beats up the other kids (not play fighting like sends them to the hospital) They have to think of the family as a hole and they ask for the child to be placed somewhere else.     They warn you before you become a foster parent that this is not easy and they offer free counseling to the children and the foster parents but sometimes it is just easier to have them move on to the next home.  Also  the bio families and the kids make allegations on foster families all the time.  Many times these aren’t true but for the child safety they remove them until it can be investigated.  If it was the child being angry because you said no they could not go to the X  who made the allegation many foster parents say I don’t want him or her back let them stay  where they are.

Answer 9

My sister and I spent some a short period of time in foster care when we were children, and we were in multiple homes.  Sometimes, they will have to move children to another home if the placement is not working out for some reason (not just abuse, but situations like stress for the foster family or the children, health reasons, etc.).  Also, atleast back then, I know that they sometimes moved the children if the children and/or foster parents were getting too attached.