Foster Care Art

An artistic expression of foster care. Taken from San Diego Youth Services.

The Reality of Foster Care

What does it mean for D Foster to be in the foster care system?

"I been in the system long enough to see how jacked up it is. Kids living in the streets because they couldn't get along with their foster mamas. Kids all caught out there and whatnot. I am so not trying to go down like that."

The system is meant to provide a temporary family for children whose parents are unable or incapable of taking care of them; a kinder alternative to an orphanage. The goal is to eventually return children to their parents. So, why does D see it as being so "jacked up?" Perhaps because, despite the goals of the system, children actually end up moving from one home to another. They are in a state of constant flux during a time when they need stability most. Without a consistent parental figure, they feel alienated and unwanted.

D, however, sees the big picture for herself. She knows that she will be with her mother once again. Recognizing that her situation is only temporary, she stands firm in her belief that she will not get lost in the system and "go down like that".