CONTENT NOTICE: CHILD ABUSE & NEGLECT, SEXUAL VIOLENCE
A note from the author: Before I begin, I want to emphasise that I am in no way an expert in this topic. I, just like many of you taking the time to read this blog, look to reputable sources for statistical and informative data that is non-leading and will allow me to reach my own conclusions. If you are like me, please feel free to click on the links provided in the Additional Resources section below to review the gathered information for yourself.
In honor of National Foster Care Month and the work we do here at Fear 2 Freedom, join me in examining the epidemic of sexual abuse occurring within our foster care system. In 2020, it was reported that a total of 407,493 children and youth were living in foster care. Children ages 1-5 entered at the highest rate per age group while Black and American Indian populations continued to be overrepresented due to racial inequities throughout the U.S. welfare system. Based on current statistics, the median stay for children and youth in foster care has increased to nearly 16 months. For many, this experience will include two or more changes in their living arrangements within a given year (The Annie E. Casey Foundation, 2022).
The foster care system is meant to be a safe haven for children and youth experiencing maltreatment, abuse, and/or neglect. Unfortunately, studies show that many of these vulnerable individuals fall victim to sexual predators during their time within the system. Focus for Health provided the following staggering statistics:
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“A John Hopkins University study of a group of foster children in Maryland found that children in foster care are four times more likely to be sexually abused than their peers not in this setting, and children in group homes are 28 times more likely to be abused.
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An Oregon and Washington state study determined that almost one-third of foster children reported abuse by a foster parent or another adult in the home.”
Remember, sexual predators can be anyone. These individuals often use their position or relationship to the child or youth to manipulate or exploit them into unwanted sexual acts. Acts could include but are not limited to taking pictures, kissing, touching, groping and/or sexual penetration of an individual unable to provide legal consent. It is vital that we all understand and recognize both common sexual development actions and behaviours in children and youth as well as potential signs of sexual abuse to help prevent and protect this vulnerable population. In some instances, it may be difficult to distinguish if actions and behaviours are developmentally appropriate. Seek medical and/or professional guidance if you have questions or need assistance in determining and addressing these actions and behaviours.
Children and youth transition out of the foster care system for many reasons. We all hope and wish for them to be adopted into or returned to a safe and healthy family, but this is not always the case. In some cases, children and youth are reunited with their parents, extended family members or previous caregivers and returned to non-ideal circumstances. Others age out of the system without having a permanent and stable residency to go to. For some, their decision to leave means running away from their foster care placement. In many cases, trauma plays a significant role in the impact and direction these individuals take after leaving foster care.
Check out these key takeaways from The Annie E. Casey Foundation on youth transitioning out of foster care:
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“One in five report experiencing homelessness between ages 17 and 19, and over one in four (29%) report being homeless from 19 to 21. Among American Indian young adults, the figure jumps to almost half (43%) for ages 19 to 21.
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One in five report being incarcerated between ages 17–19 and 19–21.
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One in 10 report having a child (i.e., giving birth or fathering a child) between ages 17–19, with nearly one in four (23%) saying they became parents between 19–21.
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Just 57% report being employed (full- or part-time) at age 21, with this figure ranging from 51% for American Indian young adults to 63% for Asian Americans.”
It is also important to recognise the vulnerability of the LGBTQIA+ community within the foster care system. According to Freedom Network USA, these individuals are more likely to run away from their foster care placements which increases their likelihood of being trafficked due to homelessness. They reference a 2016 study by Loyola University and the Modern Slavery Research Project where 19% of participants identified as LGBT survivors of human trafficking.
Traffickers often prey on these youths due to their need and/or desire for food, shelter, and companionship.
So, what do we do with all this data? This is a hard question to answer. The best way I know how to answer this is to encourage everyone to be more observant, become trauma-informed, and be vocal with your legislators on changes needed within our foster care system. You can take action by:
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Paying Attention. Observe the actions and behaviours of those around you. You may be the only person who sees a cry for help, even if the person relays it unintentionally.
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Becoming Trauma-informed. Learn how to meet the needs of the person as a whole and where they are in that current moment. Recognize and address the trauma faced by this individual and use this information to meet their needs without judgment or consequence.
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Reaching Out. Call/write/email your local and state representatives to demand an investigation of safety measures within the foster care system. Focus for Health recommends changes that include “stricter screening of caregivers, a more extensive protocol to combat and investigate abuse claims, [and] a higher rate of prosecution for crimes committed in an institutional setting.”
If we all answer this call for action, just image the positive impact we could make in sexual violence prevention within our foster care system.
Source : https://www.fear2freedom.org/bethechangeblog/2022/5/23/sexual-abuse-in-the-foster-care-system
