Foster care has been a process of successes and failures. Originally Foster Care was established for poor and poverty stricken families who were unable to adequately provide for their children. Prior to welfare involvement, children were simply placed with family members or community members who were able to care for the child. In 1636, Benjamin Eaton became the first official “foster” child. Since that time, numerous laws and policies have been set up in an effort to care for children who have experienced abuse or neglect and provide temporary services to families in crisis (Barbell & Freundlich, 2001).
History of Foster Care
United States
Originally “worthy widows” were paid by collections from the church to provide housing for children …show more content…
In 1935 as part of the Social Security Act, Aid to dependent children was established to prevent the disruption of families on the grounds of poverty alone (Committee on Economic Security, 1935). By the 1950s, foster care had become one of the largest components of the child welfare system. It was during this time that the first large-scale study of foster care was conducted. Maas and Engler’s Children in Need of Parents (1959), called attention to what became known as “foster care drift” the problem of children remaining in foster care indefinitely. From the 1960s-80s the number of children in foster care continued to increase topping out at around 500,000 in 1977 (Tatara, …show more content…
The law required welfare agencies to make “reasonable efforts” to keep families together and reunite families following foster care (Barbell & Freundlich, 2001). Following the passage of that act, the number of children in foster care decreased to around 276,000 in 1984 (Tatara, 1993). In 1993 congress enacted the Family Preservation and Family Support Program to provide funding for family preservation and support services. This program was renamed and reauthorized as part of the Adoption and Safe Family Act of 1997. The Adoption and Safe Family Act was established to ensure the safety of children in foster care and promote adoption (Barbell & Freudlich, 2001). The ASFA made clear that a child’s safety was the first concern when considering family preservation or reunification. Finally in 1999 the Foster Care Independence Act was enacted in an effort to prepare children who were discharged from foster care to live successful productive lives. Today, in the 21st century, foster care has been affected by a decrease in foster parents, increase in kin as caregivers, and alternatives to foster care programs (Barbell & Freudlich,
History of Foster Care
United States
Originally “worthy widows” were paid by collections from the church to provide housing for children …show more content…
In 1935 as part of the Social Security Act, Aid to dependent children was established to prevent the disruption of families on the grounds of poverty alone (Committee on Economic Security, 1935). By the 1950s, foster care had become one of the largest components of the child welfare system. It was during this time that the first large-scale study of foster care was conducted. Maas and Engler’s Children in Need of Parents (1959), called attention to what became known as “foster care drift” the problem of children remaining in foster care indefinitely. From the 1960s-80s the number of children in foster care continued to increase topping out at around 500,000 in 1977 (Tatara, …show more content…
The law required welfare agencies to make “reasonable efforts” to keep families together and reunite families following foster care (Barbell & Freundlich, 2001). Following the passage of that act, the number of children in foster care decreased to around 276,000 in 1984 (Tatara, 1993). In 1993 congress enacted the Family Preservation and Family Support Program to provide funding for family preservation and support services. This program was renamed and reauthorized as part of the Adoption and Safe Family Act of 1997. The Adoption and Safe Family Act was established to ensure the safety of children in foster care and promote adoption (Barbell & Freudlich, 2001). The ASFA made clear that a child’s safety was the first concern when considering family preservation or reunification. Finally in 1999 the Foster Care Independence Act was enacted in an effort to prepare children who were discharged from foster care to live successful productive lives. Today, in the 21st century, foster care has been affected by a decrease in foster parents, increase in kin as caregivers, and alternatives to foster care programs (Barbell & Freudlich,