This piece is published in partnership with Foster Advocates.
Imagine being perceived differently based on your case file rather than the independent person you are. That’s what happens to most youth involved in the child welfare system. While I was in the foster care system, I barely got to speak for myself, and my file was my identity. This led me to feel unheard and misrepresented most of the time.
In an article written by Jessica Lovaas in Global Studies of Childhood, she states, “Mirroring the former three-strike policy of the California criminal justice system, many group homes in Los Angeles expel young people from the facility after a certain number of successive infractions, even minor ones, are documented in their file.” While I am not trying to excuse behaviors, documents can often become fabricated and used against the youth. This can become unfair as youth have to experience the consequences, such as getting moved from a placement that they considered home and/or having a court appearance for a petty mistake. The outcome of that can result in youth having a hard time adjusting to their environment.
Instead of criminalizing children who have endured trauma, the child welfare system can give solutions to get to the root of the problem. In order to understand a child, sometimes you have to look at things through their perspective and allow time for patience. Personally, when I was in the process of finding a temporary home, I got denied multiple places because of a previous incident that was documented in my file. It made me feel unlovable and miserable as I never got to tell my side of the story. Because maybe if I did, I wouldn’t have been looked at as the problematic child. Instead, I would be looked at as a child because that’s all I was. I was a child trying to figure myself out and call someplace home.
The child welfare system gets thousands of cases a day, but that doesn’t justify the reason why youth only get looked at by their file. Everybody deserves the chance to speak up for themselves and get their needs met accordingly. One incident shouldn’t be the reason for an outstanding punishment. Most youth are still developing emotionally, physically, and mentally. Also, most youth involved in the child welfare system have unresolved trauma, which can lead to unexpected behaviors. That shouldn’t be a reason a child cannot have a place to call home.
I believe if youth in the child welfare system are given more support and resources, such as counseling, food, and transportation, during placements and in transition, youth will feel better overall. It may be more helpful for youth to have a helping hand in times of need instead of getting kicked to the curb or getting a different placement because of previous barriers.
I think everybody deserves a clean slate and a second chance, especially when it comes to housing. Once a youth is a ward of the state, it can be hard for them to get comfortable and feel secure where they are at. So you can only imagine the distress it may cause when that happens. Foster parents also need to realize not everybody is perfect, and they can’t expect rainbows and sprinkles when getting a child. This might not solve all the problems, but it can help guide youth and foster parents in the right direction. Overall, with better approaches, the child welfare system can improve.
