Foster Care Youth and Education

Abstract

In my research paper I will focus on education for youth in the foster care system. First, I will discuss the history of the foster care system and outline the protocol of the child welfare system and how a child moves through the child welfare system. Second, I will review the makeup of the population of children in the child welfare system as well as the number of placements youth receive during their experience in foster care. Third, I will chart the developmental outcomes these youth experience and show the stratification of the best and worse placements of these children. Fourth, I will discuss the problems of the system paying particular attention to those that involve education and their effects on children's wellbeing. I will also assess the legislation already enacted that promotes better educational outcomes for foster care youth and show ways that these laws can be improved. Finally, I will make some policy suggestions to improve children's educational attainment in the child welfare system as well as the overall development of a child.