HUM 7100 UAGC WK 4 History & Systems of Human Services Outline

Week 4 – AssignmentAnnotated Outline For Final Paper
Refer to the materials that you compiled for Weeks 1 and 2
intended for completion of the final paper.
Make any corrections to your cover page and/or annotated
bibliography based on instructor feedback.
Determine which resources you will use for your final paper
(i.e., remove or add sources to your references list, as needed).
Remove summary annotations from your Annotated
Bibliography once it is completed, and create an APA-formatted
references page as demonstrated in your APA Manual (6th ed.).
Create an outline of your paper. You may choose to include
annotations (adding information, explanations, and sentences
that you have composed to start each section).
Submit a revised cover page, an outline of your paper, and a
references list with annotations removed by Day 7 of Week 3.
Read Section 3.4: Understanding the Importance of Precision
and Specificity, Section 5.3: Ensuring the Conclusions Match the
Type of Data Collected, and Section 5.4: Becoming a Savvy
Consumer of Research, and review Section 5.1: Evaluating
Journal Articles: The Big Picture, from Sole’s and Landrum’s
(2015) Academic Research and Writing: A Guide for the Social
Sciences.
Running Head: THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM
The Foster Care System
Anita Reeves Ramaiya
Dr. Maria Urani Liu
History & Systems of Human Services
HUM7100
June 2, 2021
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THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM
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The Foster Care System
Particularly, foster care offers round-the-clock substitute care for children who are
either temporarily or permanently separated from their families. Therefore, it is a form of
social protection for abandoned and maltreated children outside their families which ensures
that such children get placement and care in a foster family. Font and Gershoff (2020) state
that nearly 700,000 U.S. children get separated from their families of origin every year.
Children staying in foster care belong to the vulnerable child population. These children
experience acute psychosocial, mental, and physical health conditions which require
multidisciplinary care services. This, therefore, calls for specific integrated care services as
opposed to the standard services of the general population.
Why the Topic is Important/of Interest
A proper administration of foster care is desirable. Therefore, it is important that
efforts are made to support the reintegration of children into new permanent homes. In an
ideal world, every child would be raised by parents who cared for them. However, there is no
such ideal world, and thousands of parents fail to meet the basic needs for food, clothing,
shelter, consistent love, medicine, and supervision. Other parents also mistreat their children,
through violence, which could scar children physically and emotionally. Therefore, this topic
is important since child maltreatment remains a prevalent problem in the U.S. Even though
media houses characterize foster care as an inherently traumatic experience, it is the least
detrimental alternative (Ferrara et al., 2016). Without the presence of a foster care, it implies
that neglected, abused, or orphaned children would not have anywhere to escape the harmful
situations so as to ensure support for their safety, health, and well-being.
Current Knowledge on the Foster Care System
THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM
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I have always known that foster care is meant to be a safe haven for children who
have faced maltreatment by their parents. However, Font and Gershoff (2020) state that the
public assumes that foster care is inherently harmful, and not justified. These assumptions are
rooted in the real problems faced by children in the foster care systems in the U.S., with
people noting that the systems fail to offer minimum safety standards. Nonetheless, I believe
that these experiences only represent few foster care placements. Therefore, children cannot
be left home with caregivers who have been investigated for maltreatment. They would rather
be placed in foster care to avoid the long-term physical, psychological, and emotional harm
by abusive parents. Foster care is definitely not ideal for a child, nonetheless, it is the best
alternative for children with parents who neglect, abuse, and harm them.
THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM
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References
Ferrara, P., Corsello, G., Sbordone, A., Nigri, L., Ehrich, J., & Pettoello-Mantovani, M.
(2016). Foster care: a fragile reality needing social attention, and economic
investments. The Journal of pediatrics, 173, 270-271.
Font, S. A., & Gershoff, E. T. (2020). Foster Care: How We Can, and Should, Do More for
Maltreated Children. Social Policy Report, 33(3), 1-40.
Font, S. A., & Gershoff, E. T. (2020). Foster care and best interests of the child: Integrating
research, policy, and practice. Cham: Springer.
Running Head: HUM7100
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Compare and Contrast the Historical Progress of Human Services
Anita Reeves Ramaiya
Dr. Maria Urani Liu
7100 History & Systems of Human Services
June 7, 2021
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HUM7100
Compare and contrast the historical progress of human services
This project will consider the foster care system and programs adopted in Virginia and
Ohio in two different states. On the same note, the project will consider the similarities and/or
differences that the states report concerning the program while outlining their respective
histories. Such an analysis will improve insight into the current trends in the program
implementation while understanding the historical developments responsible for the divergence,
convergence or parallel advancements witnessed.
Primary similarities and/or differences
Foster care programs in the country operate similarly, providing the same services
according to the community and children needs. These similarities are based on the current
trends in child welfare and care provision trends within the national and state levels. However,
slight differences may be witnessed considering the number of children requiring foster care
services and the available resources to support such initiatives. Each state operates foster care
services using a common framework in line with the Department of Health and Human Services
requirements and regulations. Such regulations have created the ideal framework for informing
the decisions made concerning child care in foster systems. By exploring some of the common
issues witnessed within the country, it is worth considering the similarities or differences that
foster care systems exhibit in Virginia and Ohio.
Ohio has multiple adoptions and fosters care agencies that provide the ideal services to
needy families and children. The Adoption Circle is one of the agencies that have been licensed
as a non-profit adoption body in Ohio (Adoption Circle, n.d.). This agency provides services
HUM7100
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ranging from finding a family to caring for those who may wish to give up their children for
adoption. On the other hand, Virginia has numerous foster care agencies that provide similar
services according to the community needs.
One of the primary similarities between the foster cares programs operated in the two
states is that they all focus on diversified children affair services. These programs focus more on
providing a reliable environment for raising kids regardless of the challenges they encountered.
On the same note, some of the common services offered include placing kids under foster care
and advocating for adoption. States like Virginia and Ohio advocate more on adoption after
foster fare placement to minimize and possibly eliminate homelessness. Such a trend has helped
Virginia improve its adoption and foster care trends considering the number of children placed
under the former. Primary players like the Family Life Services Adoption Agency play a crucial
role in providing essential resources in foster care.
The second similarity is that both states provide foster parents with financial subsidies
and contributions to support their operations. These financial provisions are based on diverse
attributes such as the number of foster kids and their health requirements. For example, a family
that adopts two foster kids with physical disabilities are likely to receive higher support from the
government than one that accepts a child with no health complications.
However, each state has a requirement framework that foster parents and families should
meet. These the certification process in Virginia takes between 3 and 6 months. Foster parents
must have the energy, skills and time to care for the adopted children. Further, foster parents
must be over 18 years in Virginia. In Ohio, foster parents must be over 21 years and may either
be single or married (Virginia Department of Social Services, n.d.). Parents are supposed to
exhibit the ideal health status considering their mental and emotional stability to benefit the
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adopted kids. The annual general payment to foster parents in Ohio is about $33226, while in
Virginia is $38,313.
State histories
The foster care programs in the two states date to 1636. Since then, numerous
developments have been witnessed concerning regulations, requirements and provisions through
the federal input to assist foster parents and the adoption processes. In Ohio, at least 16000 kids
are taken away from their parents daily. On the same note, at least 9000 kids are placed under
foster care while the remainder resides with their relative or within the community with friends.
Agencies like Adoption Circle were established in 1991 to provide care services to children. In
the 1970s, the state had limited educational support material and services to foster parents
(Strauss & Wasburn-Moses, 2017).
Further, the state had just passed numerous laws improving child welfare. In the 80s,
numerous developments were witnessed with the development of more adoption and foster care
agencies. These agencies focused on Child Welfare Act requirements. In the 2000s, numerous
agencies were further developed to cater for the increasing child welfare demands. Agencies like
the Ohio Foster Care Association have focused on improving child welfare considering the
existing legal frameworks.
In the recent past, Virginia has witnessed diverse developments in child welfare
improvement and concerns. In 2006, Virginia was one of the states placing the highest numbers
of children in foster care leading to the development of the For Keeps Initiative in December
2007. The Practice Model was created to create a conducive children environment focused on
structural reforms. The 1992 Children’s Services Act influenced the operations of these
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programs. Since then, developments in legal frameworks and support have been witnessed
concerning children welfare focusing on funding and health interventions. A majority of these
developments have focused on improving adoption while reducing foster care and homelessness.
Effects of history on the programs
The legal and social developments witnessed in these states have helped improve the
foster care and adoption rates. While increased funding has helped improve the foster care
practices, it is worth noting that Virginia has increased the overall trends in child placement,
considering the total parties adopted annually. Ohio, on the other hand, ranks 33 in child
placement and adoption trends. The majority of the child welfare systems in this state focus on
substance abuse (Jacques, 2018). However, interventions like the START program are focused
on improving children welfare, considering substance abuse minimization and elimination.
While the two states have diversified challenges, their child welfare and foster care systems are
similar since they all provide interventions to a distinct population. Increased financing to foster
and child welfare programs in the two states have boosted their overall placement trends. On the
same note, these interventions and legal changes in recent years have helped the primary
stakeholders to ensure a smooth transition during the foster care and adoption processes.
Through providing essential material and educational resources to create a benchmark for foster
parents, incidents of child neglect and abuse under care have significantly reduced (Doyle Jr &
Aizer, 2018).
Conclusion
The department of health and human services offers various programs that directly relate
to the community demands and trends. Some of the standard programs relate to community
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health needs and child welfare. In children welfare, numerous programs have been developed
and implemented within the country. These programs play a crucial role since they provide the
ideal framework for responding to children’s needs and demands considering health, family and
education. Ultimately considering children welfare, one of the common programs adopted and
implemented in the country in foster care. This system has created resources for improving care
delivery and essential needs provision to children who have no families. This system ensures that
children are reunited with their families or are put under reliable care in foster environments. It is
worth mentioning that each state operates a foster care system where the requirements and
services offered may differ from the other areas. However, regardless of the state implemented,
the primary goal for these systems is to provide foster care to homeless or targeted children.
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HUM7100
References
Adoption Circle. (n.d.). Columbus, Ohio Adoption Agency History. Adoption Circle. Retrieved
from https://www.adoptioncircle.org/about-us/our-story/
Doyle Jr, J. J., & Aizer, A. (2018). Economics of child protection: Maltreatment, foster care, and
intimate partner violence. Annual review of economics, 10, 87-108.
Jacques, J. (2018). States with the most children in foster care. Stacker. Retrieved from
https://stacker.com/stories/2034/states-most-children-foster-care
Strauss, B., & Wasburn-Moses, L. (2017). Improving Preparation for Foster Care: Developing a
Child-Friendly Training Curriculum for Families who Foster. Child Welfare, 95(5).
Virginia Department of Social Services. (n.d.). Foster Care & Adoption. Commonwealth of
Virginia. Retrieved from https://www.dss.virginia.gov/adoption/
Running Head: ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY
1
Running head: ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPGY
Annotated Bibliography
Anita Reeves Ramaiya
HUM7100: History & Systems of Human Services (RBA2122A)
Dr. Maria Urani Liu
JUNE 14, 2021
2
ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY
Annotated Bibliography
Bender, K., Yang, J., Ferguson, K., & Thompson, S. (2015). Experiences and needs of homeless
youth with a history of foster care. Children and Youth Services Review, 55, 222-231.
The article looks at the experiences of homeless youth who have been in the placement
care system. It directly assesses the lives of these people outside the system. According to the
findings of the research, youths that are outside the foster care system or have aged out have high
chances of living in dangerous situations. It recommends that the government should be actively
engaged in providing for these children in terms of education, mental health and substance abuse
treatment. It looks at the relationship between the foster care system and other variables such as
rates of crime and consequently makes recommendations based on these findings.
Brown, L. A. (2020). Suicide in foster care: a high-priority safety concern. Perspectives on
psychological science, 15(3), 665-668.
The article examines the rates of suicide in the foster care system. America has been
ranked the highest when it comes to suicide rates in the placement system. This is associated
with the lack of risk assessments that should be conducted to help children in the placement
system navigate better. The authors of the article present evidence backing the implementation of
universal suicide risk assessments in placement systems. The article is essential for my research
as it presents information on a health factor, in this case, suicide, that is directly associated with
children in the placement system.
ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY
3
Crosland, K., & Dunlap, G. (2015). Running away from foster care: What do we know and what
do we do?. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 24(6), 1697-1706
One constant factor in the foster care system is running away. Running away is
essentially a serious problem and often occurs in the foster care system. Understanding this
phenomenon is essential as it helps in employing active and effective solutions. The purpose of
the article was to analyze information pertaining to youth runaways in the foster care system.
This information would be used to provide recommendations and solutions that can help children
in the placement system. The article is vital for my research as it informs on variables and factors
affecting children in the adopted system.
Font, S. A., & Gershoff, E. T. (2020). Foster Care: How We Can, and Should, Do More for
Maltreated Children. Social Policy Report, 33(3), 1-40.
The article examines how support can be given to maltreated children in the placement
system. According to the article, despite the numerous concerns and policy reforms implemented
over the past decades, concern still remains on the experiences and outcomes of children the
system. It analyzes the Family First Prevention Services Act of 2018 and its effectiveness in
increasing the quality of care provided for children in the system. The authors of the article have
been engaged in multiple research avenues on the adopted system. Furthermore, the article
contributes to my research by providing information on the policy reforms implemented and
what can be done for children in the placement care system.
Lindley, L. C., & Slayter, E. M. (2019). End-of-life trends and patterns among children in the US
foster care system: 2005–2015. Death studies, 43(4), 248-259.
ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY
4
The article draws on national and longitudinal implementation and adoption of the foster
care system. It assesses the relationship between children’s geography, health, and demographic
characteristics in the system. According to the findings, the end of life trends shows that a
significant number of children in the system experience considerable trauma in their short lives
or die as a result of maltreatment. It also looks at risk factors for children who have aged out of
the system. The article is vital to my research as it analyzes the negative effects of the placement
system adopted by most developed countries.
Lockwood, K. K., Friedman, S., & Christian, C. W. (2015). Permanency and the foster care
system. Current Problems in Pediatric and Adolescent Health Care, 45(10), 306-315.
The article analyzes the permanency of the foster care system. According to the report,
approximately 20,000 youth age out of the foster care system without a permanent placement or
family. Children with disabilities are considered to be at the highest risk of aging out of the
system. The authors went ahead to examine how this factor influences their life; statistics show
that children who are out of the foster care system are most likely to be incarcerated, lack food
and income security, and contribute to unemployment levels. This article is vital as it analyzes
the effectiveness of the foster care system. It looks at how the system affects the later lives of
children in the United States.
Nsonwu, M. B., Dennison, S., & Long, J. (2015). Foster care chronicles: Use of the arts for teens
aging out of the foster care system. Journal of Creativity in Mental Health, 10(1), 18-33.
The article follows exploratory research to analyze the effectiveness of therapeutic
interventions that are employed to assist vulnerable children in the placement system. The
specific group of youth selected includes those who are at high risk of advancing out of the foster
ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY
5
care system. The analysis took on two approaches; narrative and drama therapies. The findings
point to the importance of self-image, self-healing, and self-efficacy when it comes to children in
the placement system. The article contributes to my research by providing a new viewpoint as to
the effects and impacts of the foster care placement system.
Riebschleger, J., Day, A., & Damashek, A. (2015). Foster care youth share stories of trauma
before, during, and after placement: Youth voices for building trauma-informed systems
of care. Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment & Trauma, 24(4), 339-360.
The article focuses on the types and patterns of traumatic experiences imposed upon
children during and after the foster care system. The study analyzes the testimonies of
approximately forty-three foster care youth who testified before a listening panel that was
comprised of child welfare professionals and state legislators. According to the information
obtained, most of the youth reported to have experienced trauma before, during and after the
foster care system. Additionally, they described traumatic events and situations that were serious
and chronic. Thirdly, they offered suggestions and opinions on how to better the foster care
system. The article is essential for my research as it analyzes the opinions of foster care youths
about the system.
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ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY
References
Bender, K., Yang, J., Ferguson, K., & Thompson, S. (2015). Experiences and needs of homeless
youth with a history of foster care. Children and Youth Services Review, 55, 222-231.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0190740915001905
Brown, L. A. (2020). Suicide in foster care: a high-priority safety concern. Perspectives on
psychological science, 15(3), 665-668.
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1745691619895076
Crosland, K., & Dunlap, G. (2015). Running away from foster care: What do we know and what
do we do?. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 24(6), 1697-1706.
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs10826-014-9972-x
Font, S. A., & Gershoff, E. T. (2020). Foster Care: How We Can, and Should, Do More for
Maltreated Children. Social Policy Report, 33(3), 1-40.
https://srcd.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/sop2.10
Lindley, L. C., & Slayter, E. M. (2019). End-of-life trends and patterns among children in the US
foster care system: 2005–2015. Death studies, 43(4), 248-259.
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/07481187.2018.1455765
Lockwood, K. K., Friedman, S., & Christian, C. W. (2015). Permanency and the foster care
system. Current Problems in Pediatric and Adolescent Health Care, 45(10), 306-315.
ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY
7
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1538544215001030
Nsonwu, M. B., Dennison, S., & Long, J. (2015). Foster care chronicles: Use of the arts for teens
aging out of the foster care system. Journal of Creativity in Mental Health, 10(1), 18-33.
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/15401383.2014.935546
Riebschleger, J., Day, A., & Damashek, A. (2015). Foster care youth share stories of trauma
before, during, and after placement: Youth voices for building trauma-informed systems
of care. Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment & Trauma, 24(4), 339-360.
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10926771.2015.1009603