LeShawn Pettaway

Professor Sipin
March 15, 2015

The Effects on Children Placed in Foster Care

Does it play a role in their success?
Introduction:
Research goes to show that over 400,000 children are placed in the foster care system. Children
placed in foster care tend to exhibit oppositional behavior, have attachment and trust issues, and
some trouble with academic functioning and success. However, those children who are placed in
foster care tend to be better off than those placed in group homes or with relatives. This paper
explores some of the effects experienced by some former foster care children and how it helped
them to be successful.
Source #1: A Rare Success Story by Farai Chideya
In Farai Chideyas A Rare Success Story, she interviews Tony Jones who was adopted by
Jackie Jones when he was four years old. In the interview they talk about some of the effects on
him from being in foster and how it plays a role in his success today. Through this source, I will
be able to give live proof of a successful person who was placed in the system. It also shows
some of the social and emotional effects it has on them as well. Tony was insecure and was
always asking, what if somebody steals me? graduated college and is now a Sportswriter. He is
also a father, who tries to pattern his parenting after his mother.
My response to the article is, its good to see something positive happen to someone who didnt
even believe it could happen themselves.
Article #2: Assessing the Long-Term Effects of Foster Care by Thomas McDonald, Reva
Allen, Alex Westerfelt, and Irving Piliavin

LeShawn Pettaway
Professor Sipin
March 15, 2015

In Assessing the Long-Term Effects of Foster Care by Thomas McDonald, Reva Allen, Alex
Westerfelt, and Irving Piliavin, we learn about some major effects from placement in the foster
care system. With this source, I will be able to explain where the system started and how it began
being viewed as a problem. I can address the outcome of kids who are placed in there for abuse
and neglect rather than those placed there for mental or health issues. Lastly, I will be able to
discuss some long term effects like stability as an adult. Majority of those fostered are selfsupporting adults (between 64%-92%). Only about 25% receive public assistance.
Source#3: The Effects of Foster Care Placement on Young Childrens Mental Health by
Beth Troutman, Susan Ryan and Michelle Cardi
In this article, Troutman, Ryan, and Cardi express some of the factors leading to placement in
foster and the start of attachment problems in the children. With this source, I will be able to
provide examples of problems with attachment and how to reduce and maintain them. I also will
be able to discuss how to help the foster parent be more responsive and helpful to the child.
My response to this article is the sooner the realization of attachment issues in children, the
sooner it can be reduced. Also, I do agree that if the foster parent knows a little more about the
child then that will allow them to be of more use to the child.
Source#4: Derek Clarks TED Talk Power of Determination
In Derek Clarks TED Talk, Power of Determination, he talks about his experience in foster
care and how it helped him be the man he is today. Through this source, I will be able to show
the negative effects of ones life before foster care and how they changed with it. In his speech,
he talks about how he diagnosed mentally retarded I will be able to show much love and

LeShawn Pettaway
Professor Sipin
March 15, 2015

attention effects a child. In his speech, Clark says I gave my parents hell, but they never gave up
on me.
My response to this article is its amazing how beautiful of a person Clark has become. Its a
beautiful thing for one to be said mentally retarted and come out standing on top.
Source#5: Safety and Stability for Foster Children: A Developmental Perspective by
Brenda Jones Harden
In the article, Safety and Stability for Foster Children: A Developmental Perspective, by
Brenda Jones Harden, she addresses some of the more negative effects of foster care on a child.
Through this source, I will be able to point out some negative effects. This will allow great back
up research for my counterargument.
My response to this article is that surprisingly Im not even in shock to some of the negative
effects. In fact, Im pleased to see that there werent really any super bad ones.

LeShawn Pettaway
Professor Sipin
March 15, 2015

Works Cited
Beth Troutman, Susan Ryan, Michelle Cardi. "The Effects of Foster Care on Young
Children's Mental Health." (n.d.): 6.
Chideya, Farai. "A Rare Foster Care Success Story." 4 December 2006.
http://www.npr.org. 15 March 2015.
Clark, Derek. n.d. www.iwillnevergiveup.com. 15 March 2015.
Harden, Brenda Jones. "Journal Issue: Children, Families, and Foster Care." 2004.
http://futureofchildren.org/future of children/. 15 March 2015.
Thomas McDonald, Reva Allen, Alex Westerfelt, Irving Piliavin. "Assessing the LongTerm Effects of Foster Care: A Research Synthesis." IRP Special Report. n.d.