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Children and youth may need foster care for a
variety of reasons:
- They have been harmed, or may have been at
risk of harm;
- Many have witnessed abuse of siblings or domestic
violence;
- Their natural parents or guardians may not
be able to care for them temporarily; or
- They may need permanent placement apart from
their biological family.
The kind of harm a child may have experienced
may include sexual, physical or emotional abuse;
abandonment or chronic neglect.
Occasionally we also need homes for children
with special needs whose natural parents are unable
to care for them.
Each child is unique. Foster children range in
age from infancy to age 18, and come from a variety
of racial and ethnic backgrounds. Some youth between
the ages of 18 and 21 also live with foster parents.
Many have siblings also in need of care.
The children and youth are going through troubled
times with their natural family, and need the
care, protection and support offered by Durham
CAS and the foster family.
Many of these children will experience problems
with adjusting to family life, coping in school
and dealing with others in society. Many have
had few role models and little encouragement to
succeed.
In most cases, these young people have been betrayed
by adults. They are sometimes unwilling or unable
to trust adults, for fear of more rejection.
Some children and youth in care have taken on
parenting responsibilities for their brothers
and sisters. They have been forced to grow up
before their time. Many have experienced an unhappy
childhood. Some have had no childhood at all.
They need someone to care about them. |
