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If we consider local statistics, the picture becomes even more startling. While State funding has been cut by 18% since 2002, locally the cuts are closer to 45%. This means that there is a 2-3 month waiting period for either residential or outpatient treatment for low income, uninsured women. Some may never get treatment.
At the same time, the number of Lane County children in foster care has doubled since 2002. Currently, there are about 1,100 children in foster care in our community. Over 50% of them are under 6; many were placed in foster care right after birth. Over 30% of them are between 6-11.
The approximate cost of foster care each month for Lane County children is $550,000. That doesn't count related costs such as health care (many have special health needs), mental health services, or special education. It doesn't include the cost of alcohol and addiction treatment needed by their parents so that the children can return to them, safely. Nor does the half-million dollar monthly foster care budget include Court and other legal costs. These figures inflate the "true cost" seven-fold or more, depending on the circumstance.
At Willamette Family, approximately 90-95% of the women in our residential programs also have children involved with Child Welfare services. Many of these children are in foster care, and less than 50% of them will ever go home. Those who don't go home are placed with relatives, foster families, or may be adopted. The average time that a Lane County child waits to be adopted is 36 months. Sadly, the number of foster home placements that child may have experienced "waiting" may be 4 or more.
It's important to consider the effect multiple moves have on childhood development. A growing body of evidence shows that such instability and lack of attachment actually affects physical brain development and may have lifelong "handicapping" consequences. It affects the child's sense of being safe, and therefore makes it difficult to "trust" others enough to form healthy attachments. It "hurts" to bond with a caregiver and then have to move to another family, again.... sometimes not understanding "why."
The child who doesn't feel "safe" often becomes "hyper vigilant", or always "on guard" This affects h/her ability to play with others, trust adults, and succeed in school. H/she needs to constantly be aware of h/her surroundings and "adjust" to what is expected in h/her new home to simply "survive." It creates a sense of insecurity and lack of permanency.
Consider what a child loses:
The child who experiences multiple placements also loses a sense of "self". Imagine what it is like... needing to learn new rules and traditions in each new family. Foster families are wonderful, caring people but-like every family-they have their own lifestyles. The foster child needs to learn how to become part of each new lifestyle. How does s/he develop h/her own values? It's tough.
Children truly are the "silent victims of addiction." In so many cases, the lack of treatment becomes an insurmountable barrier. For safety reasons, the child is removed and the foster care cycle begins. Along the way, hope seems to fade.
It doesn't have to stay this way. We can change it.
To begin the process of recovery, there must be immediate access to appropriate treatment for parents...and to maintain that essential, healthy attachment between mother and child, the best possible alternative is that the child lives with h/her mother while she is receiving treatment. Learning how to care for the newborn, redirect the toddler, play with the pre-schooler are all skills that Willamette Family helps the woman learn on a daily basis, 24 hours a day in a safe, supervised residential environment. It works.
If you would like more information or have any questions, please call Susie Dey, Development Director at Willamette Family: 684-4150.