Fix the Broken Foster Care System

Health
,
1

Statistically, there are 550,000 children in Foster Care at any given time in America. I would be encouraged to participate in or see a complete overhaul, investigation and dismantaling of the current BROKEN Foster Care System.

These children often times grow up with little to no skills that would help them to become emotionally stable, productive members of society. They are forgotten and in some cases lost between the cracks of a system bursting at the seems.

According to an analysis of statutes by “Shared Hope”, my home State of Ohio scored an “F” on ways that they are preventing exploitation and trafficking of these very vulnerable and already hurting children.

Something should be done to reimagine how we will house and treat these children once in our care. The system, as it has functioned for many years with virtually no accountability, is not operating in the best interests of the children. It currently does more damage than good and should be closely examined, overhauled and then reimagined.

I imagine a world where instead of children coming out of foster care broken, they come out well rounded, educated, emotionally stable, happy adults. I believe this is possible. But only if the current system is removed and replaced with something new and different.

22 Likes
2

More incentives for family members who take on the responsibility of raising their grandkids, neices,nephews etc vs foster care. This will keep the children within the family they came from, but these family members should get the same financial relief that foster parents receive!

6 Likes
3

Doesn’t the whole incentive aspect of foster care tend to produce people only doing it for the money though? I’ve heard it be said that a lot of foster families only do it for the check and then neglect the kids, but because we are so desperate for foster families they settle for unfit foster homes?

4 Likes
4

I think you misunderstood. I was saying there should be more incentives for the childrens other family members to take them instead of putting them in foster care. Maybe I should have worded it differently because no one should take on the care of children just for the money.

As a Grandparent who is currently raising 3 of my own grandkids I can certainly testify that NO amount of money can replace the sacrifices we have made, willingly and out of love.

I took on my grandkids because I lived in foster care for a time when i was young and it was not a nice experience. I was not going to have my grandkids go through anything worse than what they were already having to go through. We’ve been taking care of 2 of them for 9 years, their younger brother for 5 years.

As much as I love them as my own, it has been a struggle at times, financially.

At a time, 2 of the fathers were imprisoned so we applied for TANF ( Temporary assistance for needy families) for 3 children it was less than $400 a month. Foster parents receive a little over $1000 for each child for their "inconvenience ". Now that the fathers are not incarcerated we are not qualified for TANF and had to file for child support. Which we get sometimes, if the parents work.

Food, clothes, school supplies, sports equiptment, and field trips is costly but we figure it out.

1 of the kids has had a lot of issues (mentally, emotionally and medically) . Luckily they have medicaid because of the amount of times hes been to the dr. He also has a psychiatrist he has to see, he has been admitted to a psyche facility, he has had intense inhome therapy. He has had equine therapy he has had a caseworker that texted me everymorning about him, He has had emotional breakdowns and destroyed our property. We have been through so much, emotionally and mentally with this kid, but we dont give up, we keep helping him deal with his issues. Because he is ours, because he is loved.
If he was in foster care he would have been labeled a problem and bounced around a few times, which would have been worse on his mental health.

So maybe I shouldn’t have said families should get more incentives to take on the children of their other family members. There are no incentives for the struggle and emotional and financial pains, other than knowing you are doing the right thing.
I should have said that families should get more or at least equal the amount of financial help that Foster Parents get.

5 Likes
5

Bless your heart! You would be a good one to tap on ideas on how to fix this system. Maybe there shouldn’t be a system at all. If you had abundant money, would that make almost all of those issues be more manageable or even go away? We are heading into a new paradigm… health, abundance, and Peace on Earth! NESARA now for all. :heart::heart::heart:

6

Its not about having an abundant amount of money.
Its about families receiving the same amount of compensation as foster parents.
Its about raising the kids sufficiently. Feeding and clothing them. Making sure they have the opportunities that other children have to participate in sports or music programs.
Adding children to your home emergently takes a toll on you financially.
There are many children being raised by their grandparents who struggle financially, but we do it to keep the family intact.
Foster care does not do that.

2 Likes
7

There should be cameras in foster homes these kids are intrusted with you you need to be open and vulnerable with how you treating them. Too many kids are treated worse in foster homes than in the home they were taken from

3 Likes
8

I agree that family members who take on the kids should most definitely receive the same amount of money as a foster parent would and I also believe family members should be the “first choice” when looking to place a child. BUT the vetting process should be the same for both family members and foster parents also and the vetting process in general I think should be more extensive or something to help make sure kids aren’t sent to a bad foster family or even family member’s home just because those people are after a “paycheck” or think if it as an opportunity to take advantage of a vulnerable child. God Bless you for caring for those kids and not giving up on them!

2 Likes
9

I heard of this story in a video I received so I looked it up and found out it is true. I am very concerned for this girl’s life as it seems like no one is doing anything to help her and I feel certain she is not the only one out there in this horrible situation. I hope it is Ok to post this here.
THIS IS HER STORY: EMERGENCY: Ohio Foster Care Abuse, Teen Suffering in Silence

This is an urgent appeal to help Kaitlynn Marie Hunter, a 16-year-old in Ohio Foster Care facing severe abuse and neglect. Kaitlynn’s injuries are left untreated, including severe head trauma from a beating on November 8, 2024. Authorities and Dimensional Phases Group Home staff in Dayton, Ohio, refuse to let her mother, Jeannine Jarrick, intervene. Kaitlynn’s repeated cries for help go unanswered, and her caretakers have actively prevented her from accessing vital medical care, despite her obvious physical injuries.

Kaitlynn’s Story of Abuse:

Kaitlynn reports constant bullying, beating, and neglect by other residents, often instigated or ignored by staff. After the latest assault, Kaitlynn’s left eye color changed—a clear sign of head trauma.
Despite symptoms of a severe head injury, Ohio Child Protection Services (CPS) refuses to intervene, and caretakers have blocked her mother’s efforts to provide Kaitlynn with a CAT scan and medical attention.
She’s been in Ohio Foster Care for over six years, surviving starvation, beatings, and emotional abuse. She’s lost over 60 pounds, been denied essential nutrients, and suffers from untreated liver issues.
A Dangerous Environment:

2 Likes
10

Kaitlynn’s foster home is in a high child trafficking area. She has expressed fear for her safety, as Ohio State agents have listed her as an organ donor without her consent.
Kaitlynn has been moved between multiple homes, with no stability or consistent schooling, and her health needs are constantly neglected. She attempted suicide multiple times due to the trauma inflicted by her state “protectors.”
Kaitlynn’s account highlights systemic failings: Ohio CPS and state agencies prioritize bureaucracy over protecting children, forcing them into dangerous environments with negligent “care” providers. This is not just Kaitlynn’s story; it’s a tragic reflection of countless children lost in Ohio’s broken foster system.

This is a call for anyone with influence or resources to take action. Kaitlynn and thousands like her need immediate intervention to stop the suffering inflicted upon them by those who claim to “protect” them.

11

Sadly, her story is not unusual. These vulnerable children are often exploited and abused. Many are lost between the cracks and have little hope of rescue.

2 Likes
12

Money will not solve the problem. Fostering children, as the model is today, does NOT work. If money should be thrown at anything, it should be thrown at ways that will ensure each child is individualized and not just another, exhausting number for an overworked and underpaid social worker, whose hands are often tied by bureaucracy.

Unless the current way (housing children in foster homes or with other family members for money or incentive) is thrown out and reimagined, nothing will change.

13

What needs to be done here to FIX the problem, is to have through Investigations, not just go in, ask a few questions and be done with it. Have court orders in place that demands to turn over all records and documents so that each child is accounted for at the present, in the future and in the past. (I’m sure any records for any child that has been “sold” or adopted out into “Child Trafficking” have been destroyed) and for any child that is in question, demands answers…“Where is this child?” , “Who has information about this child?” Have each owner/Administrator and employee Vetted, search their backgrounds, investigate their connections. Get to the bottom of things! Prosecute those who are connected in any wrong doing such as abuse, neglect, grooming for Child Trafficking, anything that may have lead to the disappearance or death of a child. Make an EXAMPLE for all to see! Most of these facilities have turned into “Money Markets” instead of places where the children are to be loved, cared for and prepared to go to a loving families. These are not just ITEMS to be tossed around, beat on and allowed to be Bullied, these are our CHILDREN, our FUTURE and we must help save them in any way we can. And of course, there is probably a lot of children in this system that become unruly…they are lost, some have no sense of direction, no freedom, no one to show affection and they did not ask to be where they are. They’re already being punished for something out of their control, why continue to punish them?? These are the ones who are released at a certain age and go out and commit crimes or resort to drugs (usually both) because they weren’t taught by the system because the system doesn’t care, they’re just in it for the money. I have personally talked to a couple kids, one 19 yr. old and one 20 yr. old. who spent a huge portion of their life in Foster homes. The 19 yr. old was a confused person, homeless, was sad about missing out on many things in life and seemed somewhat suicidal. The 20 yr. old was more optimistic, determined to make her life better (on her own!) Both talked about how uncaring most of the workers were, but that a small few DID care and they were the ones who gave them hope. Therefore, keep in mind, that I am not speaking about all when I say some should be terminated, but having a Staff who DO care about these kids feelings and take time to listen to them would be a good start in changing things. Hopefully, our new President and Administration will step in and change this.

1 Like
14

As a grandmother that raises her granddaughter for 15 years. I get no help even from parents and am often still financially helping her parents and my elderly parents. I make good money but most aren’t as lucky as me and am def in that sandwich generation of helping everyone except myself

3 Likes