There is a significant need for comprehensive reform within the Department of Family and Children Services, particularly in the areas of Child Protective Services, Foster Care, Adoption, and Kinship Care. A thorough restructuring is recommended to enhance processes across all levels, ensuring that policies and procedures in every state and county are closely examined and updated. Ideally, this review would encompass at least a three-year analysis period to assess trends and outcomes for children and families who have interacted with the system. Importantly, this evaluation should consider perspectives from both biological and foster parents to gain a holistic view of the impact.
Through experience with two ministries serving various branches of this department, I have observed firsthand how families and children face prolonged and complex challenges within the system. For example, some children remain in care for extended periods—up to 13 years—moving through multiple placements without the stability of a permanent home. Families aiming to reunify sometimes face financial barriers that delay the process, such as the inability to immediately provide certain home essentials, which leaves children in foster care until resources are available.
Additionally, I have seen cases where foster parents strive to advocate for children in their care yet find themselves without a platform to be heard in court proceedings. Currently, foster parents lack legal standing in case-related decisions, even though they may have insights critical to the child’s well-being. Furthermore, not all court-appointed special advocates (CASAs) are actively engaged, often leaving foster parents to navigate these challenges alone. Some foster parents have expressed concern over judicial decisions that prioritize reunification, even in cases involving environments with potential risks.
In North Carolina, recent stories and circumstances underscore these systemic issues: families affected by natural disasters, like hurricanes, face losing custody of their children due to a lack of stable housing, exacerbating their hardship.
The needs of children and families in vulnerable situations must be met with compassion and a commitment to their safety, well-being, and stability. Reform is necessary to create a system where families feel supported and valued and where the voices of both biological and foster families are included in the decisions that shape their lives. Such a transformation is essential to ensure that every child has a safe, supportive, and loving environment.