The current state of housing in the foster care system is not an effective or reliable way to help troubled children nationally. The existing system causes confusion for children, places children in potentially dangerous or neglecting foster homes, and leaves many alone with no one to rely on at the age of eighteen. There are not enough families to provide for the children; much less “good” families. This results in bleak conditions, such as overcrowding children into group homes or abusive foster parents. Though permanency is a main goal of the system, it is rarely attained. The system needs improvement if it wants to benefit the lives of children instead of causing more problems. One way that the foster care system can improve is to adjust
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For most people images of dark boarding schools, juvenile institutions, or prison-like living quarters come to mind. However, “residential camps” are far from this idea, but instead like a perfect summer camp in which a child lives among others, and the managers of the camp will take on large parental roles. In fact, these camps are larger versions of group homes, but have the assistance and programs needed to reach and help children with problems far beyond physical needs. Camps provide the housing and education stability, but also mental strength and relational skills. The children will be able to mature and build relationships, and still receive “parental” supervision. The camp will also teach life skills and have outings, just as you would do in a nuclear family. The nation is adopting newer and better treatment plans for these centers as well. Through practice, the programs used in residential homes have dramatically reduced incidents of seclusion, restraint, and staff injuries at the centers (Brown). In addition, these centers admit up to 50,000 children a year (Brown). The number of people they can help is far greater than a single foster family. The adaptation of these new programs have once declining residential camps back on the rise as society sees the benefits this programs brings (Washington 76). Though these programs are still taking flight, …show more content…
This blossoming form of care is having tremendous success in Hope Meadows, a community founded 21 years ago in Illinois (Jaffe). In this type of neighborhood, the older adults can get a break in their rent by volunteering with foster families for a least 6 hours a week. The adults living her, however, usually have a desire and passion to do much more. No one is ‘assigned’ in this community, instead people seek out meaningful companionship. This program has shown to be such a wild success that similar programs are underway in Oregon, Florida, Massachusetts, and Washington D.C. This intergenerational solution is very promising, especially to single foster parents like the one family interviewed recently in Hope Meadows (Jaffe). This is a useful solution to enhancing a community and adding fulfillment to lives of children and the elderly. This program is an exciting solution to foster care and senior living that is sure to rise through the next few
For most people images of dark boarding schools, juvenile institutions, or prison-like living quarters come to mind. However, “residential camps” are far from this idea, but instead like a perfect summer camp in which a child lives among others, and the managers of the camp will take on large parental roles. In fact, these camps are larger versions of group homes, but have the assistance and programs needed to reach and help children with problems far beyond physical needs. Camps provide the housing and education stability, but also mental strength and relational skills. The children will be able to mature and build relationships, and still receive “parental” supervision. The camp will also teach life skills and have outings, just as you would do in a nuclear family. The nation is adopting newer and better treatment plans for these centers as well. Through practice, the programs used in residential homes have dramatically reduced incidents of seclusion, restraint, and staff injuries at the centers (Brown). In addition, these centers admit up to 50,000 children a year (Brown). The number of people they can help is far greater than a single foster family. The adaptation of these new programs have once declining residential camps back on the rise as society sees the benefits this programs brings (Washington 76). Though these programs are still taking flight, …show more content…
This blossoming form of care is having tremendous success in Hope Meadows, a community founded 21 years ago in Illinois (Jaffe). In this type of neighborhood, the older adults can get a break in their rent by volunteering with foster families for a least 6 hours a week. The adults living her, however, usually have a desire and passion to do much more. No one is ‘assigned’ in this community, instead people seek out meaningful companionship. This program has shown to be such a wild success that similar programs are underway in Oregon, Florida, Massachusetts, and Washington D.C. This intergenerational solution is very promising, especially to single foster parents like the one family interviewed recently in Hope Meadows (Jaffe). This is a useful solution to enhancing a community and adding fulfillment to lives of children and the elderly. This program is an exciting solution to foster care and senior living that is sure to rise through the next few