Foster Care in Childrens Literature

Foster Care Narrative

Jatzmin Estrada

Tarleton State University

Foster Care in Childrens Literature

We as teachers need to be diligent about how we phrase certain questions,

something as simple as mothers day, or fathers day can make a child feel different or

out of place. We need to acknowledge those diverse ways children come into families,

such as adoptions or foster families. Studies show that more than 230,000 children

enter foster care yearly (Leve, 2007), based on this study the chance of having a foster

care child in the classroom is extremely high. If presented with a foster child it is

important to provide them with the appropriate help academically and socially. These

children seem to move around a whole lot so it is not surprising that they may be

academically behind and lack the stability that other children have. It is also proven that

when children enter formal education settings, they are expected to possess

competencies that make it possible for them to respond to the demands of school

environment (Leve, 2007). Causing them to lack in basic social skills and fail to

develop successful peer relations during school entry (Leve, 2007). Thus putting them at

greater risk for conduct problems, peer rejection, and academic failure throughout

childhood and adolescence (Leve, 2007). These are characteristics that most of the

characters in the books have.

Foster Care in Childrens Literature

The field of childrens literature seems to lack in this subject. While there are a

few books regarding this subject, there isnt much to pick from, when just focusing on

foster care. It is important to have literature about foster care in your classroom, in order

to provide those students with something in which they can relate to. There are so many
Foster Care in Childrens Literature

books about adoption, but how about those students who still do not have a permanent

home. This is a subject that should be talked about more and addressed in childrens

literature. It was even stated in one of the articles that, relatively few studies have asked

youth about their foster care experience (Diehl, 2011), which could explain the lack of

literature on the subject. On the other hand, it could also be that foster care groups are

looked upon as a negative option for children in the foster care system so thats why they

arent talked about much. While this may be true, the few childrens books that address

this subject seem to discuss it as a positive thing in their lives. Many of the books written

are from a person who actually went through the foster care system, which is important

because they are credible to write about the subject since they went through it

themselves.

Foster care relevant to EC-6

Most of the books I found were for middle school or high school reading levels

because most the content consisted of brutal encounters from the perspective of a child

who grew up in that environment. These books can be highly emotional when reading as

well as inspiring to hear a positive take on the situation and how that child overcame it.

The only book that touched on foster care and would be appropriate for EC-6 would be

Almost Home by Craig Morgan. Something important that was stated in my research was

that the majority of the youth did not have the pride in their foster care status, but rather

in their survival of it and their childhoods (Hanna, 2011). This doesnt speak very highly

of the foster care system in place. Sadly most of these children are children that are

placed in foster homes at a later age making it harder for them to get adopted. Studies
Foster Care in Childrens Literature

shown that children at that age are at high risks of a variety of negative outcomes, such as

lower graduation rates, lower college attendance, lower wages, more frequent

economical distress, higher rates of out of wedlock parenting, and greater involvement

with the criminal justice system (Diehl, 2011). This may be the reason why many of the

books were aimed more towards middle school or high school aged children. Very few of

these children have a good outcome like Dave from The Lost Boy or Sugar from Almost

Home had. If those children are presented with the people who believe in them and are

willing to help them just like the teacher that helped Sugars character and also the foster

families that helped Dave, than children can overcome what they have experienced.

However, something that does need to be acknowledged is the role of long-term foster

care as an option for children and young people in need of a permanent family

placement (Schofield, 2009). Children need stability in their lives and it is hard for them

to accomplish that if they are moved around so often.

Implications as a teacher

As a future educator I hope to provide the right environment and support that

those foster children need as well as the material such as literature for them to relate to.

While also giving them hope about what is waiting for them in the future. The main focus

and priority for many of student who are placed into foster homes is that of survival;

survival from moving from home to home, survival from the abuse and neglect they may

have faced in their lives, survival from living apart from their family members, and

survival from moving from school to school. Many times school is what they consider as

an outlet from all the problems they are faced with. Most importantly I want to be well
Foster Care in Childrens Literature

informed about the topic whether its foster care, exceptionalities, adoption, homelessness

etc. This information is often necessary for a teacher in order to fully understand the

students needs and abilities. The more information a teacher may have on the child, the

better equipped the teacher becomes when trying to aid the childs in his behavior and

academic performance. Positive relationships with those students give foster care

students a sense of belonging and connectedness to a school, especially for those students

who are moving from school to school due to placements into new foster homes. Praise

for an accomplishment is extremely important to those children, no matter how small, a

teacher can be most effective in aiding in the development and event the healing of the

student. Finally, with some planning, understanding, and guidance, teachers can make the

difference between failure and success for a child in foster care, which I plan on doing.

This topic has really opened my eyes to the flaws in the foster care system. I hope

that those flaws are addressed and changed for the best of the children as soon as possible

by taking into account the statistics. This has encouraged me to look into being a foster

parent in the future. As well as help me see what a difference I can make concerning that

topic as a teacher. Without a doubt, teachers can make a tremendous impact in the life of

a child in foster care. They are often times in a position to be a positive role model and

influence for these students in foster care.

Foster Care in Childrens Literature

References

Hanna, M., Tokarski, K., Matera, D., & Fong, R. (2011). Happily Ever

After? The Journey From Foster Care to Adoption. Adoption

Quarterly, 14(2), 107-131. doi:10.1080/10926755.2011.560789

Leve, L. D., Fisher, P. A., & DeGarmo, D. S. (2007). Peer Relations at

School Entry. Merrill-Palmer Quarterly, 53(4), 557-577.

Diehl, D. C., Howse, R. B., & Trivette, C. M. (2011). Youth in foster care:

developmental assets and attitudes towards adoption and

mentoring. Child & Family Social Work, 16(1), 81-92.

doi:10.1111/j.1365-2206.2010.00716.x

Schofield, G., & Beek, M. (2009). Growing up in foster care: providing a

secure base through adolescence. Child & Family Social

Work, 14(3), 255-266. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2206.2008.00592.x