Running head: FOSTERCIDE

Fostercide Lucynthia Tisdale Rhetoric & Introduction Research Writing Professor Acheson Tiffin University

FOSTERCIDE Fostercide

While fostercide, or youths committing suicide in foster care remains the third leading cause of preventable deaths among youths, America has neglected to provide educational resources, statutes that impose harsh sentences for abusers, and national awareness. Federal statutes severely punish offenders with an automatic sentence of 15 years for sexually exploiting children (Cornell Law, 2013), a national awareness month in February dedicated to Teen Dating Violence (NCJRS, 2012), and support groups for cyber-bullying. However, fostercide remains one of Americas pressing societal issue that remains unaddressed.

Youths placed in foster care usually come from homes of substance abuse, trauma, mental illness, and/or exposure to friends or family members suicidal behavior. Due to the neglect, and psychological abuse suffered prior to foster care, youths often have low self-esteem, anti-case skills, or difficulty dealing with life issues, will attempt, or carry out fostercide. Youths will attempt suicide by slitting their wrists, overdosing on drugs, or by using a gun found within the home. According to the American Association of Suicidology (AAS),risk factors do not establish a cause of suicidal behavior, but only describe an association (2010). Often the signs of fostercide are ignored and have a negative outcome.

Researchers have provided the nation with alarming statistics on fostercide, but it also lacked the attention needed to garner any statutes. For instance, in 2000, Almeda County, California, researchers conducted a study of 232 children previously in foster care homes. The researchers reported, 125 were murdered, raped, beaten, and/or starved to death. Researchers also discovered five children committed fostercide (NCYL, 2005). The National Center for the Prevention of Youth Suicide reports in 2009 that 4,630 youths (ages 10-24) committed suicide

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(AAS, 2010). Further studies by AAS revealed male youths committed fostercide four times more frequent than females. Moreover, the rate of suicide for youth aged 15-24 was 10.45 per 100,000, and 44.5% of youths used firearms (AAS, 2010). No further studies have been completed as of 2013; however, the rate alone is staggering.

America had not always turned a blind eye on pertinent societal issues. For instance, we have heard the Nigerian Proverb, It takes a whole village to raise a child, meaning raising children extends outside of the home, and is a communal effort (Afriprov, 1998). Forty years ago, communities were stronger, and better. We had the nosy neighbor, and the elderly inadvertently watching our children while we were working. There was a trust between the neighbors and the parents. Today, we identify our neighbors through the news. In other words, Americas neighbors stopped helping each other. Youths are wandering the streets, and the parents are forced to turn to local law enforcement for assistance. The assistance usually is a short reprimand to the child, and it becomes a cycle for the parents reaching out for help to no avail. As a community, we need to employ the nosy system again. It was not a perfect system, but at least we helped shape the children of tomorrow. Fostercide is not a familial or governmental issue it is a national issue. Todays youths are tomorrows generation. In other words, ignoring the fostercide does not combat the problem. These youths are our future doctors, lawyers, and teachers of tomorrow, but if we leave them in an unhealthy state of mind, we would have failed them. Fostercide has gained little to not attention, and only a few websites contribute to the issue, for example, Centers for Disease Control, and the AAS. The sites offer very few options for youths to seek assistance. Additionally, it lacks educational resources. Nonetheless, the AAS suggests educators, and foster

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care parents should immediately employ trust with the youths. The youths will need an entrusted adult, frequent, vigorous physical activities, socializing skills, and family connectedness to assure a healthy psychological or emotional well-being (AAS, 2010).

While implementing statutes, an awareness month, and educational resources are just as important to Fostercide as with cyber-bullying, teen dating violence, and child sex trafficking, it is not 100% fool proof. Even if President Obama named March National Fostercide Awareness Month, who will acknowledge it? As a nation, we need reach beyond the realm of saying what needs to be change, and put our words into action. For instance, the neglectful foster care parent, and any caseworker involved with the case should receive 15 years in prison like child sex traffickers to deter further neglect of youths (Cornell Law, 2013). In addition, every state should be congruent in how it trains its caseworkers, and potential foster care parents. Rigorous psychological, emotional, and sensitive training to special needs foster children will be employed. Caseworkers, foster care parents, and you will be monitored frequently, and red flags will be acted upon immediately, and properly.

Educators and communities can be an active part of the foster care system. We need to participate in public held meetings to voice our insights. For instance, if an educator or citizen believes there should be free training programs for interested participants, rather than a fee, the state should allocate the funds to such programs. Additionally, writing letters from the mayor, commissioners, and legislative bodies will broaden awareness of fostercide, but also implement programs to eliminate some, if not all, cases of fostercide. Employing all the proposed solutions is not a guarantee of elimination of fostercide; however, it will enhance the knowledge needed to deter future cases. I believe studies, and reports should be done more frequently to address

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problems, or close any loopholes within the system. Not every caseworker or foster care parent is of sound mind, and not every youth can be rehabilitated.

In conclusion, fostercide has neglected to gain the attention as child sex-trafficking, teen dating violence, and cyber-bullying. All are pertinent issues that deserve severe punishment by offenders. However, we must employ more than one avenue for more than one issue. We cannot simply address one or two issues, and neglect one of the third atrocities afflicting youths in America. Fostercide is a societal issue that if not addressed, will curtail the nation we should be, and we will reap the consequences of our neglect. We should be able to address issues simultaneously, because after all, these are our nations children.

FOSTERCIDE References

AAS. (2010). American Association of Suicidology. Retrieved January 27, 2013, from http://www.suicidology.org/c/document_library/get_file?folderId=262&name=DLFE627.pdf Afriprov. (1998, November). African Proverb of the Month. Retrieved from Afriprov: http://www.afriprov.org/index.php/african-proverb-of-the-month/23-1998proverbs/137november-1998-proverb.html Cornell Law. (2013). Sex Trafficking of Children by Force. Retrieved January 13, 2013, from Cornell Law: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/1591 NCJRS. (2012, February 01). NCJRS. Retrieved from Teen Dating Violence: https://www.ncjrs.gov/teendatingviolence/ NCPYC. (2012). National Center for the Prevention of Youth Suicde. Retrieved January 27, 2013, from Prventing suicidal behavior: https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:c8lRu4v7Bf0J:www.suicidology.org/c/do cument_library/get_file%3FfolderId%3D261%26name%3DDLFE557.pdf+&hl=en&gl=us&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEESiOtXQ0ozIPfpgunOwUEWfpOBnwH s_06fwj4dHG0gYDFIUIV0bQwctBK3YIwyJVVPzjfU8TRxXLwPe6E4 NCYL. (2005, September). Foster Parents: Who are They and What are Their Motivations? Retrieved from NCYL: http://www.youthlaw.org/publications/yln/2005/july_september_2005/foster_parents_wh o_are_they_and_what_are_their_motivations/