Introduction

The Human Development Theory, formulated by Erik Erikson, a human development
theorist, identified that during adolescence, children are engaged in a “psychosocial
the moratorium,” a developmental stage in which children attribute themselves to “positive or negative personas,” greatly influenced by their mental “well-being” (Daughtery, 2011, p. 456). In the condition that this occurs in a “hostile environment,” the transition through stages of complex social development will fail to occur as negative external stressors prohibit a child’s understanding of personal changes (Daughtery, 2011, p. 456). Subsequently, adolescent mental health care plans have taken preventative measures such as “focusing on the acquisition of independent living skills” and cultural “identity development” to ensure children become successful adults (Daughtery, 2011, p. 456). Such plans have been most beneficial to foster children, who are in contact with surroundings that render themselves “socially devalued” (Daughtery, 2011, p. 456). Specifically, the child welfare system, a subsidiary of the
government, strove to adapt parameters for deciding custodial agreements by understanding a
child’s developmental necessities to assess compatibility to caregivers (Daughtery, 2011). While promising for the future, the benefits of altering the application process and establishing therapy have become ineffectual by the decreased amount of foster parent candidates, attributable to “poor public perception[s] of the foster care system” (Moromey, 2013, p. 229). In response to the disproportionate ratios of foster care children to caregivers, officials have expedited the enrollment procedure to accommodate newly orphaned children as well. Despite this, the application process remains inefficient, introducing difficulty in ensuring future parents’ commitment to their applications (Barth et al., 2010). In efforts to establish custodial
relationships within strict deadlines, officials have assigned children to abusive caregivers who
are often isolated from favorable communities, damaging a foster child’s formation of communal relationships (Barth et al., 2010). The victimization of foster care children coupled with the encumbered child welfare system incites a pertinent question: Given the implications, foster care has on children, to what extent does the influence of the U.S. government upon the foster care system impact the well-being of foster children in the 21st century? Through evaluation from the social perspective, the impacts of the government and different placement types on children and caregivers can actuate a solution that may decrease trauma in foster care settings.

Implications of Differing Foster Relationships

With respect to burdens on the system, it has become urgent to comprehend the impacts
of kin and non-kinship caregiver categorizations as the consistent abuse of foster children have
raised uncertainty about the effectiveness of current and past placement types. Tessa Bell and
Elisa Romano (2017), from the School of Psychology, demonstrated that while kinship
caregivers tend to raise children with better communication capabilities, they are likely to be
“less educated” and “unemployed.” Consequently, depressive emotions in foster children and
caregivers become increasingly prominent, even so, research remains inconclusive, indicating
that external emotional support is vital (Bell & Romano, 2017, p. 269). Accordingly, Scott Leon
and Daniel Dickson (2019), professors of Psychology, share the concerns of Bell and Romona
that children are extremely impressionable but elucidate that external protection is unnecessary as children possess “buffer factors” (p. 170), natural coping mechanisms that inhibit the mirroring of emotions. Leon and Dickson challenge Bell and Romano’s concerns towards kinship care by illustrating that kinship relationships promise children’s safety while buffer factors sustain mental health. Nonetheless, Leon and Dickson recognize that without parental influences, such structures lose efficacy. Yet A. Rayburn et al. (2018), professor of Family Development recognizes that emotional stability should be ensured within all caregiver
relationships, as children possess predisposing factors, such as personality and health, that
impact their future regardless. In contrast to Bell and Romano, Rayburn et al. explain that
predisposing factors can cause buffer factors, as theorized by Leon and Dickson, to increase a
child’s impressionability. Thus, addressing confounding variables such as the mental strength of a child is crucial when deciding placement types.

Influences of Familial Atmosphere and Prejudices

Through the recognition of developmental interferences, such as trauma, consequential to
government-imposed custodial relationships, discussing apprehensions regarding future
implications could be beneficial as it would provide insight into institutive action that former
foster children might require such as health care. Christopher Wildeman, a Sociologist, and Jane Waldfogel, a professor of Prevention of Youth problems (2014), reported that longitudinal
studies focused foster children’s lifestyles have indicated that racial prejudices have decreased
opportunities for children to be introduced into caring families, implying conducting sociological
research to eradicate preconceptions is a definite solution. Conversely, Richard Barth et al.
(2010), from the School of Social Work, attempt to clarify Widleman and Waldfogels’
the generalization that racial bias is the only facet of the issue and sociology, the study of human relationships, the only resolution, arguing that impaired familial connections after transferring to custody are the primary issue, which cannot be solved without aid from foster parents. In response, Wildeman and Waldfogel indicate that without the “theoretical traditions” of sociology, identifying correlations among future living conditions and placement types to create a solution would be challenging, allowing Bath et al. to compromise that increasing access to “independent living services” to ensure weak family connections do not have substantial negative impacts is essential. However, Sarah Font et al. (2018), a sociologist, elucidates that the “resources” rather than a supportive familial atmosphere will result in the” success of youth;” thereby, Font et al. do not sympathize with increasing sociological research, as proposed by Wildeman and Waldfogal, and strengthening familial bonds, based upon Barth et al.’s observation that success is dictated by behavioral health (Font et al, 2018, p. 26 & p. 4). Hence, it is implied the government should formulate policies that will ensure stronger family structure and economic independence within foster children.

Methods of Reform

While the foster care system has repercussions affecting adulthood, aiding children and parents currently in the foster system has become a goal for the government. In efforts to increase the quality of experience within the system, Tanya Coakley and Kenneth Gruber (2015), child welfare experts, propose a solution to negligence by conveying the importance of “cultural receptivity among foster parents” by asserting that insensitive behavior towards unique cultural traditions can be perceived as “rejection ... of ... [children’s cultural] ... values” (p. 2), inducing low self-confidence. Hence, “intensive training” for those interested in “transcultural parenting,” caring for children of different races, will diminish racially-biased custodial terms without governmental involvement, as parents will recognize that race does not define a child (Coakley & Gruber, 2015, p. 10). This focus on ethnicity causes Coakly and Gruber to elicit Micheal Moroney (2013), Ph.D. in Urban Affairs, to argue that while training would be advantageous, stability cannot be achieved without “faith-based programs” (p.1), communities formed through religious texts under government supervision. This would increase participation among caregivers, stabilizing proportions of parents to children, difficult to achieve by furthering knowledge regarding ethnicities, as proposed by Coakley and Gruber. Likewise, Laura Daughtery (2012), a Social Services officer, exemplifies religious training can contribute to a child’s success by preventing delaying factors in the process of the aforementioned “psychosocial moratorium.” However, Moroney and Daughtery fail to reach a consensus over the role of religious communities, as Morony implies that supplemental support such as therapy groups for children themselves is required. Evidently, devoting efforts to eliminate ethnic preconceptions and uniting caregivers through spiritual communities requires initiatives to be taken by the government and foster parents.

Recommendation

By examining sociological influences on foster children, cooperation between caregivers,
children, and governmental organizations has proven to be pertinent. Offering a plausible
solution, Vanessa Vorhies et al., professor of Psychiatric Rehabilitation, urges 
government-organized services that will promote “Social Capital,” “a non-financial resource
gained through interpersonal connections" in children to improve behavioral health, allowing for future economic and communal success (2012, p. 258). Nonetheless, increasing the efficacy of the application process and alleviating the pressure upon the government remains in question.