February 2020 archive
When you think about the foster care system, you think about the kids. While the system is very obviously about the children, it is also very much about those who support the children: the foster parents. The retention of parents and foster families is a massive problem for the system. The turnover rate for foster care parents ranges from 30 to 50% each year, according to Foster Focus. This means almost half of all foster parents make the decision to no longer open their homes to a child in need. This fact combined with the increasing number of children entering the system, leaves a huge shortage of available homes for the children.
A big question is: why? Why are parents not staying in the system? Why are they choosing to drop out? The answers range based on the situation, but there is one constant. According to Foster Focus, 80% of foster parents who took place in a survey claimed they experienced feelings of grief and loss after a child from foster care transitioned out of their home. It is important to examine where these feelings come from and the underlying basis of these feelings of loss. For many foster parents, the sudden departure of a child can leave feelings of shock and may leave the family confused. They may feel angry or disappointed with the system especially if they feel removal of the child from their home or reunification with the birth family is not in the best interest of the child.
According to a study by Lois Urquhart, foster parents who are “’unprepared or unsupported for the separation and loss experience [are] considered foster parents at risk’ of leaving foster care.” Foster parents who feel unsupported by the system upon the departure of a child from their home are the most likely to be frustrated by the feelings of grief and loss. Only 33% of foster parents said they had enough training or support in the area of dealing with feelings of loss. This number is dramatically small especially when considering the emotional task foster care places on parents. It leaves many questions over what can be done to improve the system and keep foster parents going.
A big improvement has been seen in a campaign called CHAMPS. According to the Brookings Institution’s Center on Children and Families, it “helps states deliver better outcomes for children through improved foster parent recruitment and retention.” The CHAMPS campaign was introduced at a 2019 convention that focused on the best practices for dealing with common challenges in foster care and outlined the key drivers for better outcomes. They key drivers were compiled and are as followed: child-centered, data-driven and informed by continuous quality improvement, governed by multi-level agency leadership, collaborative and transparent within the agency and with families, reflective of youth and parent voice and sustainable. The CHAMPS collaborative and comprehensive approach is aimed at achieving and sustaining recruitment and retention of foster parents with the idea that the best way to help the children in the system is to have parents who are enthusiastic and involved. The hope with the CHAMPS campaign is to inform state policy makers and influence change at a large level to improve the well being of both the children and parents in the system.
A big problem with stress is the internalization of feelings that all to often comes with an overwhelming stress response. The stress builds up inside, but most people have no way to release the stress in a productive way. One of the biggest recommendations on how to release stress and other feelings is journaling. Journaling is a difficult process for many as it is often hard to put into words the exact things that may be bothering them. In those times that the actual words may be difficult another option may be turning to more creative channels such as art
Most people have seen those ever popular “adult coloring books,” and chances are you may have rolled your eyes at the very idea of a coloring book for an adult. In fact, you may have rolled your eyes yet again when you heard they were supposed to reduce your stress. These books, however, did not appear out of thin air or without any type of science behind them. It has been scientifically proven over and over that art reduces stress. Girija Kiamal, a researcher at Drexel University, conducted a study looking at the effects making art has on stress hormones in the body. The study found that 45 minutes of creative activity significantly lessens stress in the body.
Now the question is: how can art reduce my stress? First, art can help take the mind off of things. While in the process of creating art, one can become distracted and forget whatever the source of stress is temporarily. It is very difficult for humans to multitask, so by putting energy into things other than stress, the stress can slip away. Even if it is only temporary, it is still a source of relief. For many people, when they become so focused on something, they enter an almost meditative state without even realizing it. This can often happen in the process of creating art and reaching this so called “state of flow” can significantly reduce stress levels.
The thing many people say when they are faced with an art task is, “I cannot do art.” This is simply not true, any person can “do art,” and art, especially that is aimed at reducing stress can take on any form that is most comfortable for a person. To reduce stress, you do not need to go out and purchase a canvas and acrylic paints. You do not need to become the next Picasso or Monet. A simple pencil doodle on a lined sheet of paper can provide the artistic release of stress almost more than a more elaborate form of art. Doodles are often unconscious and unfocused drawings and can often serve as coping mechanism for stress. There is a very self-soothing element to doodling and the meditative state it brings. So, if your excuse was “I cannot do art,” think again. You can, and you should try some artistic avenues to start to relieve some of your internalized stress and feelings.
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/study-says-making-art-reduces-stress_n_576183ece4b09c926cfdccac
https://www.verywellmind.com/art-therapy-relieve-stress-by-being-creative-3144581
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/arts-and-health/201401/doodling-your-way-more-mindful-life
Teens in the foster care system have much lower adoption rates than younger children and wait much longer to be adopted. If a child is not adopted, they face aging out of the system and do not have a place to call home. According to adoption.com more than 23,000 children reach the age of 18 and age out of the foster care system each year, and 20% of these children will become instantly homeless. Therefore, for teens in the system, instead of counting down the days until they become an adult, dread it knowing the harsh reality they will soon face.
Essentially, when a child becomes an adult at the age of 18 there is no more funding for foster families due to what TFI Family Connections calls a “threshold” where the now adults are no longer eligible to receive assistance. For most, when they turn 18, they are in the midst of high school, and not ready to take on full adult responsibilities. Once foster children age out of the system, they are much less likely to obtain a high school diploma and often must drop out to support themselves. A high percentage go right from attending high school to living on the streets.
An NPR study puts into perspective how dire the situation becomes for those who age out and the increased risks they face. By the age of 24, less than half of those that aged out were employed, and only about 6% had two- or four-year degrees. At 24 more than two-thirds of the women had their own children, and 60% of the men had been convicted of a crime. Almost a quarter of those surveyed were homeless at some point since leaving foster care. Additionally, The National Foster Youth Institute reports one out of every two kids who ages out of the system will develop a substance dependence, and about 25% of children who age out will suffer from PTSD. The statistics are staggering and suggest a major crack in the foster care system, yet next to nothing is being done to assist children as they transition out of the system.
Like many of the other problems the foster care system faces, there are different solutions and many of which are incredibly complex, but also very doable. The idea of extending care to the age of 21 is one suggestion that has been incredibly popular. By adding extra years in the system beyond 18, people in the system would have much better chances of completing high school. Completing high school would open many more opportunities and jobs compared to not having a diploma or something comparable like a GED. This “extension period” of 18 to 21 could be a sort of “transition” out of the system were the new adults could be provided the tools to succeed. These could be things like financial literacy and other independence and adult skills. Transitional housing has also been a popular suggestion as it prevents the immediate homelessness that many experience once they turn 18. Another popular suggestion of transitional support is providing those who turn 18 a counselor who discusses with them their future, and their aspirations, and provides assistance in reaching these aspirations.
Most children who are not in the foster care system do not just get cut off from the support of their families at the age of 18, so why should children in foster care be abruptly cut off once they turn 18? By allowing these children a period of transition into adulthood, like most 18-year old’s get, we as a society are better able to prepare them for success.
The last passion post established the relationship between movement, and stress and how simple forms of movement can reduce stress levels. When you keep your body healthy your mind also stays healthy. Much of our health comes from the food we put in our body. It is important, especially in times of high stress to nourish the body with food that will help alleviate stress rather than exacerbate it.
When you are stressed the neurotransmitter serotonin often declines. Carbs play a huge role in helping serotonin build up. This is the reason why many times when people are stressed, they find themselves craving carbs. The key to satisfying those carvings is to go for slow-digesting complex carbs and whole grains to promote a stable blood sugar level. Oats are a frequently recommended source of complex carbs and provide vitamin B6 which keeps your brain focused and awake. The great things about oats is they are easy to make in a college dorm. You do not need to be a chef to put a pack of oatmeal in a bowl and add some water.
Magnesium is a nutrient many Americans do not get enough of but is one of the body’s natural stress relievers. A common symptom of a deficiency in magnesium is the inability to manage stress seen in an increase in blood pressure, fatigue and insomnia. Nuts are a great way to get more magnesium in the diet to fight stress. The two nuts with the most magnesium are almonds and pumpkin seeds. Nuts are also very feasible on a college campus as many of the on-campus convenience stores sell packages of nuts. Peanut butter is also an easy way to add nuts in the diet. A peanut butter and jelly sandwich for lunch or adding peanut butter to a banana are both great ways to get more nuts and magnesium.
Like nuts and peanut butter, yogurt is another food that is available in convenience stores across campus and can also help reduce stress. Yogurt has lysine and arginine which are two amino acids that decrease feelings of anxiety and stress. Many yogurts also have live active cultures which means they have probiotics. Probiotics help to improve gut health, and many studies have shown gut health influences emotions such as anxiety. In addition, a UCLA study found an association between probiotic yogurt and reduced levels of stress hormones.
One of the best additions to the list of “stress reduction foods” is chocolate. Yes, you read that right: chocolate. It has been found dark chocolate increases serotonin and endorphin levels in the brain. A research study found that eating 1.4 ounces of dark chocolate each day for two weeks was associated with lower levels of cortisol which is the predominant stress hormone. Dark chocolate has many antioxidants that can lower blood pressure. This also benefits stressed people who tend to run higher blood pressure levels.
The things we eat can directly affect our mood and our wellbeing. In times of stress it is important to remember to feed your body things that will make you feel energized and that may even reduce your stress as well. By eating foods that can reduce your stress you can better prepare your mind and your body for whatever life throws at you.
https://www.eatthis.com/food-and-stress/
https://healthyeating.sfgate.com/health-benefits-chocolate-stress-reducer-5506.html