Reasons Why Parents Place Their Children in Foster Care

Parents can request to place their kids in foster care if they feel they can no longer provide or care for them, but in most instances, the state removes children from their parents and places them in foster care until negative issues in the home are addressed and resolved. Children may be in foster care because they were abused or neglected; because their parents abused drugs or alcohol; or because their parents have mental, physical or emotional problems. A child may also be placed in foster care if a parent is incarcerated.

  1. An Unhealthy Home Life

    • When an unhealthy home life is brought to the attention of a state welfare agency or child protective services agency, a social worker, or case worker, is assigned to investigate the allegations. An unhealthy environment is one where there is evidence of abuse, neglect, abandonment or use of illegal substances or illegal activity on the part of the parents. If the social worker determines the home represents an unhealthy environment for the child, he or she is removed from his parent's custody and placed with a foster family.

    It Takes Time for Parents to Resolve Their Problems

    • The ultimate goal of the child protective services system is to help families resolve the issues that resulted in the child being removed from their home. A social worker will develop a plan to assist parents in getting the help they need in order to regain custody of their children. This can include drug and alcohol counseling, mental health assessment and treatment, and learning to be a better parent through taking parenting classes. While the parents are working on resolving their issues, a child is placed with a foster parent or foster family. Foster parents are people who have been approved by the state to care for children undergoing an emotionally fragile time. Children will be cared for by his or her foster parents until such a time that they can be returned to their biological parents, placed with a relative, or adopted.

    All Sides Face Challenges

    • Separating a family and siblings is an emotionally trying time for everyone involved. Children may be concerned about the welfare of their biological parents, while at the same time, trying to adjust to life with strangers. Foster parents must deal with the emotional highs and lows of children in their care. Biological parents must face and overcome their own problems in order to regain custody of their children. Social services agencies work to help everyone find their way through this challenging situation.

    The Roles of Courts and Social Workers

    • The family court system also plays a role in helping make the best decisions for the child and her family. Meanwhile, a foster child's social worker serves as an advocate for the child during his entire time in the foster care system. A social worker will help the foster child adjust to a new environment, gain emotional support, and express concerns about what is happening to him.

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