The Goal of the Social System for a Child - Literature review Example

Preparing the At Risk Child: From Placement to Adulthood For the thousands of children who are at risk, in-care, in foster homes, or in kinship care the path from childhood to adulthood is a difficult and overwhelming challenge. Many of these children enter an alternative care situation after being abused, neglected, or exposed to drug and alcohol misuse. The child is burdened, not only by the past traumas, but also by the anxiety of entering a new living arrangement that may be far less than ideal. Societys goal is to manage the care of these children in a way that they can become functional adults that are ready to live independently when they reach the age of majority. Yet, numerous studies have pointed out the disadvantages that the child that is in-care has in terms of education and a readiness to live on their own. Though the road to adulthood may be difficult for these children, there are significant signals along the way and opportunities to enhance the childs possibility of success. Many of the problems suffered by the child who is at risk present themselves before the child enters the care situation. In many cases the child has suffered some sort of trauma prior to entering the system. Children who are at risk are often from a lower socio-economic class and have been exposed to the risk factors that are associated with that group. There may have been exposure to violence, neglect, abuse, or drug use. Often, there are multiple issues and a long term pattern of negative experiences. Studies by Gleeson and Hairston (1999) and Beeman and Boison (2000) indicate that as many as 80 percent of all kinship placements were the result of drug use by the parents (cited in Kroll, 2007, p.86). It can be inferred from this remarkably high percentage that many children entering foster care or adoption may also carry the burden of parental drug use with them. The negative effects that parental substance abuse has on early childhood should not be underestimated. Parental substance abuse can create a wide range of problems for the child ranging from attachment disorders to emotional and behavioral issues. The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (2003) stated that children exposed to a parent misusing drugs is at greater risk for, "a wide range of emotional, cognitive and other psychological problems; early substance misuse and offending behaviour, poor educational attainment" (cited in Kroll, 2007, p.85). The child carries these problems with them as social services makes a determination about their future living situation. Here, the child enters an assessment phase where law enforcement, family court, and social work professionals decide how best to care for the child in the future. The magnitude of the problems may not be fully understood, even by well intentioned professionals. According to Beckett, McKeigue, and Taylor (2007), "Discounting the past too much and giving too much weight to ‘laboratory’ observations perhaps reflects a tendency on the part of experts and guardians to rely more on what they have seen for themselves than on second-hand information" (p.58). This presents the problem of passing the severe disorders that the child suffers from on to foster parents or kinship care. Clearly, there is a need for the social system to be pro-active and expedient when dealing with children at risk. This calls into question the issues of privacy and parental rights, and whether the system is reactive enough to prevent or minimize the problems for the child. While assumptions should not be made in regards to the intergenerational cycle of abuse that is often cited, the substance abusing parent will, in all likelihood, have difficulty maintaining a healthy personal relationship with the child (Kroll, 2007, p.85). Social workers may be limited in the amount of information gathered or action taken on behalf of the child. The social workers task may be one of conflict. According to Beckett, McKeigue, and Taylor (2007): Child protection social workers are in a difficult position in relation to parents – some would say an untenable one – as they expected to try and work ‘in partnership’, while at the same time ‘they must simultaneously function as limit setters, enforcers and, if the case comes to court, witnesses “for the prosecution” (p.59). In addition, there is the need to act promptly, as delays in the process increase the likelihood of a negative result (Beckett et al., 2007, p.54). Providing greater information about the child in an expeditious manner would help the court and experts make a more rational and beneficial decision. The decision of where to place the child may include foster care, a residential foster home, group home, kinship care, or adoption. There are benefits and risks attached to each situation that is dependent upon the state that the child is in and the care opportunities available. Adoption is often seen as the most ideal outcome for a child as it gives them a greater sense of permanence and belonging. There has been a significant increase in adoptions from foster families in recent years, and especially special needs adoptions (Berry, Propp, & Martens, 2007, p.43). While this is seen as a positive sign, it also carries the risk that the adoptive family will be unable to cope with the child. In many cases, the child carries an imported pathology when, "…a child’s unresolved grief and loss (and all the associated powerful feelings) together with the insecure, disorganized attachment patterns that have developed as defences against this, affect the workings of the family that they join." (Kroll, 2007, p.89). Adoptive parents should be keenly aware of the obstacles and challenges they face when dealing with a placed child. Failure of the family to become functional can result in an additional trauma for a child who already has severe mental, physical, and emotional disorders (Berry et al., 2007, p.44). While adoption may be seen as ideal, other alternatives may function just as effectively. A primary resource that the state utilizes in the placement of children at risk is the foster home. Often, this is an interim step for the child who may be anticipating adoption or a return to the birth family. In situations where a potential adoptive family may not be equipped for an emotionally disturbed child, foster care may be a better alternative. In fact, the motivations for becoming a foster parent can be one of high ideals and great care for the child. In a survey by Wilson, Fyson, and Newstone (2007), the overriding motivation to become a foster father was that they had something of value to contribute to the child and society (p.25). This motivation on the part of the foster father has been responsible for their increased levels of child involvement when compared to the general public. While the foster homes were still somewhat genderized by task, there was a significantly greater level of involvement on the part of the foster father in many chores traditionally seen as female (Wilson et al., 2007, p.25). This is seen as a positive sign in the development of a well rounded and healthy environment for a child that faces an uncertain future. Ribbens-McCarthy et al. (2000) argued that, "moral understanding of parenthood is shaped by social constructions of motherhood and fatherhood (cited in Hojer, 2007, p.80). This is a very important component of the childs make-up as they move from an at-risk child to a functioning adult. While the foster home may be a healthy and caring environment for the child, perceptions of its temporary nature may present additional problems for the child. The at risk child often comes to the foster home without the necessary discipline and experience needed to assimilate into a normal family life. They may have "… had no experience at all of ‘basic’ house rules such as informing parents of your whereabouts when you leave the house, or to be in time for lunch and dinner, on the whole – how to socially interact with family members" (Hojer, 2007, p.76). This is magnified when it is considered that the child is living with foster siblings who may create additional problems due to previous "care deficits and dysfunctional parenting" (Hojer, 2007, p.77). In addition, the foster care situation has the problem that is presented by the birth parents. The natural parents may have visitation rights and the foster parents may fear that the child will be exposed to additional abuse, violence, or drug use (Hojer, 2007, p.80). Hojer (2007), additionally states that foster children often have a mistrust of parental promises and are at risk of being disappointed over missed visits (p.80). In cases where the natural parents may be beyond rehabilitation, foster care could benefit from a move from a perception of interim care to a system of longer term residence with less parental involvement. Whichever situation the child is placed into, whether adoptive, foster, or kinship, the goal is to produce a child that is ready to live independently when they reach adulthood. One area that is problematic for the child is learning to make decisions for themselves. This may be due to an unresponsive social system that discounts the value of what the teenage child has to say (Freundlich, Avery, & Padgett, 2007, p.64). If the child is in kinship care, there may have been a reluctance on the part of the family to discuss the parental problem. The teenager in kinship care is often placed at a social and economic disadvantage, have a continued exposure to substance abuse, and forced to deal with the familys denial as they grow older (Kroll, 2007, pp.86,88). These unresolved issues, and lack of control over their lives, conspire to lower the childs self-esteem and confidence as they pursue the important area of education. Education is widely accepted as one of the most important factors affecting a childs potential for future success. Yet, children who are in an alternative care situation consistently score lower on achievement tests that the general population (Berridge, 2007, p.3). While external factors such as family history, teacher expectations, placement pressures, and learning difficulties have been cited as the cause, this over-simplifies the issue and overlooks the underlying causes (Berridge, 2007, p.3). Berridge (2007) points to the link between the level of income and educational achievement (p.6). Poorer families have less social capital and a disadvantaged social mobility (Berridge, 2007, p.6). While foster homes may be a well rounded and healthy family unit, they are generally from an income level that is below the national average (Wilson et al., 2007, p.26). Indeed, Berridge (2007) suggests that fostered children fare no worse than other children from a similar economic background (p.8). Berridge (2007) points to unsupportive parents and behavioral problems as central to the issue (p.8). While lack of parental involvement may be true of a residential setting, this has previously been discounted in the case of foster families (Wilson et al., 2007, p.25). The behavioral problems that the child acquired before being placed, and the continued exposure to high risk environments continue to impede the childs ability to succeed at education. In conclusion, the goal of the social system for a child in-care is the successful transition to becoming a functional adult. Education is the most important influence that a child has on their probability of success. It is critical that when children who are at risk enter the system, that immediate and pro-active action takes place. The child requires immediate care and a decision by the social system that most benefits the child. Behavioral problems need to be addressed and not passed on to the adopted family, or foster care givers, without agency support. Parental rights and the right to privacy may need to be suspended while the social workers gather the facts on the childs case. Adults that are considering adopting an in-care child need to be keenly aware of the potential for the behavior and emotional upheaval that the child may bring to the family. Rescinding an adoption can cause enormous and long-term damage to the childs emotional state. Kinship arrangements need to be entered with care, and a realization that it may only prolong the childs problems. While foster care should be revered for its contribution to society, in many cases it needs to be perceived as more permanent with less birth parental involvement. The overall goal of producing a well educated and independent adult could be better served by more active involvement of the social system and a reduction in the sanctity that has traditionally been afforded to the natural parents. References Beckett, C., McKeigue, B., & Taylor, H. (2007). Coming to conclusions: social workers’ perceptions of the decision-making process in care proceedings. Child and Family Social Work, 12, 54-63. Berridge, D. (2007). Theory and explanation in child welfare: education and looked after children. Child and Family Social Work, 12, 1-10. Berry, M., Propp, J., & Martens, P. (2007). The use of intensive family preservation services with adoptive families. Child and Family Social Work, 12, 43-53. Freundlich, M., Avery, R. J., & Padgett, D. (2007). Preparation of youth in congregate care for independent living. Child and Family Social Work, 12, 64-72. Hojer, I. (2007). Sons and daughters of foster carers and the impact of fostering on their everyday life. Child and Family Social Work, 12, 73-83. Kroll, B. (2007). A family affair? Kinship care and parental substance misuse: Some dilemmas explored. Child and Family Social Work, 12, 84-93. Wilson, K., Fyson, R., & Newstone, S. (2007). Foster fathers: their experiences and contributions to fostering. Child and Family Social Work, 12, 22-31. Read More