Strengthening The Mental Health Of Foster Families During National Foster Care Month

Foster parents typically provide a stable, healthy, and supportive home for children who cannot live with their birth family. Often, foster parents care for children until they can reunite with their birth family, but in other cases, foster parents may go on to adopt a child legally. Children in the foster care system tend to face mental health concerns at a higher rate than other children. During National Foster Care Month (May) and throughout the year, it can be important to work to strengthen the mental health of foster families. It can be crucial to offer foster children consistency and support at home, to support their confidence and self-esteem, and to ensure they have help at school, assistance with employment, and mental health care. Foster parents may find that attending regular therapy sessions empowers them to improve their mental health as well.

Common mental health challenges and disorders among foster children

Here are some of the mental health challenges and disorders seen most frequently among foster children:

Trauma and PTSD

Many children in the foster care system are survivors of multiple traumatic events. These can include abuse*, which may occur in various forms, and separation from parents and siblings. Adverse childhood experiences like this can strongly impact development and mental health. 

Not everyone who experiences trauma will develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but PTSD is often a prevalent concern among foster children. If a child doesn't meet the criteria for PTSD, trauma can still impact their life and well-being. The way PTSD manifests can vary from person to person.

*If you or someone you know is experiencing abuse, please contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233.

Behavioral concerns

Kids who have been in the foster care system frequently experience behavioral concerns. These can include, but aren't limited to, angry outbursts, stealing, and difficulty with authority. This can affect schooling, family interactions, and other parts of life. Diagnoses of conduct disorder (CD) and oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) tend to be more common among youth in foster care.

Anxiety and depression

Statistics show that children in the foster care system usually have higher symptom profiles when it comes to both anxiety and depression.

Eating disorders

Children who have been in the foster care system may be more likely to exhibit behaviors such as hoarding food, and some research suggests that they may be at a higher risk for eating disorders.

If you or someone you know lives with an eating disorder, please visit the National Eating Disorders Association website for resources and support.

Substance use disorders

Youth in the foster care system can be substantially more likely to live with a substance use disorder. A diagnosis of PTSD or conduct disorder may increase the risk of substance use disorders. 

If you or someone you know lives with a substance use disorder, please contact SAMHSA's National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357) or use the treatment locator on their website.

Long-term impacts

The experience of being in the foster care system can affect a person's life, not just when they are young or in foster care, but for the rest of their life. Legal battles, poverty, and difficulty with employment tend to be extremely common for those who are or have been in the foster system. However, having the correct support in place can help. All children generally need to be cared for to support their overall well-being. It can be important to consider behavior and overall emotional, psychological, social, and physical health.

How foster children may be supported

What can be done to help with the challenges foster children face?

Consistency and support at home

Professional mental health care

Therapy is usually the gold standard for a wide range of mental health concerns. Professionals who offer various therapy modalities may specialize in specific age groups or populations. The course of treatment or methods used in therapy can be tailored to the client's age. A therapist can help with various concerns that might affect a foster child. If applicable, foster parent involvement can be valuable.

Confidence and self-esteem

Healthy confidence and self-esteem typically support better mental health outcomes. This may be especially necessary to highlight for foster children who may experience trouble related to their self-worth.

Help with school

It can be very common for foster children to face challenges in school. You might maintain patience and try different things if you need to. Take pride in the effort that a child gives. The level of hardship a child has in school may vary. Alternative schools, accommodations, tutoring, and other forms of support can all be worthwhile options to consider if a child has a tough time in school.

Assistance with current or future employment

Young people who age out of foster care may face unemployment at a higher-than-average rate. Since unemployment rates and financial challenges can be so prevalent among those in the foster care system or aged out, this may be another area to offer extensive support.

Support for foster parents

Another crucial part of any foster family can be the foster parents. Foster parents may benefit from support groups or therapy. Parents may be able to find support groups in person or online. Support groups are often peer-led and are not the same as group therapy. Therapy is usually undisclosed, and various types of therapy can be advantageous for foster parents, such as individual therapy, couples therapy, and family therapy.

How can therapy help you thrive as a foster parent?

Though it is often a remarkable, gratifying experience, a lot of work usually goes into becoming a foster parent. Foster parents generally display strong dedication and love for the children in their care. There can be a lot of worries surrounding the future of a child, especially if they are currently facing substantial mental health concerns. 

Foster parents frequently fight for kids and work to create a positive space for them, often taking on a caregiver role similar to those recognized during National Family Caregivers Month. Others may not know all that goes into this process, and there can be a high level of stress when working with the foster care system and moving through the potential hurdles that may arise. Grief can come up if you have to part ways with a child, for instance. 

A therapist can help you cope with stress, fear, balancing life as a foster parent, or anything else you're experiencing that may affect your mental health as a foster parent. 

Support through online therapy

Online therapy can be a convenient and cost-effective way to get quality mental health care from the safe space of your own home. It's often great for busy parents, caregivers, professionals, or anyone who wants to work remotely with a therapist, especially because it can be possible to schedule sessions outside of typical office hours.

More research may be needed regarding the efficacy of online therapy specifically for supporting foster parents. However, a large body of evidence generally suggests that online therapy is similarly effective to in-person therapy for addressing and treating a wide range of mental health disorders and concerns.