At the end of my first year of pursuing a Master’s Degree in Social Work, I chose Inner Circle Foster Care and Adoptions as my second year internship placement due to my interest in the field of adoption. Like many in the general public, I held a negative image of the Foster Care system and Child Welfare system in general. Many pieces of scholarly research identify placement in more than one foster home as a major risk factor for poor mental and physical health later in life.
Once I started at Inner Circle, I realized that both the social workers and other employees are working hard to change this perception and reality.
Many people not acquainted with the Foster Care System think that the entire system works the same way, but do not realize that taking in children in the Child Welfare system through a private foster family agency means more personalized attention from social workers who guide individuals through the process of taking in a child, provide support to the family once a child is placed, and guide families through the adoption process if the family wishes to make the placement permanent.
Another widely held belief is that children who are a part of the system are extremely troubled and “difficult.” While there are always children in any population that fit this description, it is a myth that every child taken in by a foster family will be “difficult.” The children that I have worked with are unique in that they have more trying life experiences, and have experienced more heartbreak than their peers; this only means that they may need extra patience and love. Interning at Inner Circle has been a very educational and valuable experience and helped me to deconstruct the myths about foster care.
Pam Jordan, MSW, LCSW, MSLM is Executive Director for Inner Circle Foster and Adoption Services. For more information, please call 818-988-6300, Ext. 203.