Source+1

Harden, B. J. (2004). Safety and Stability for Foster Children: A Developmental Perspective. //Children, Families, and Foster Care//, //14//(1), Retrieved from http://futureofchildren.org/publications/journals/article/index.xml?journalid=40&articleid=133§ionid=874


 * 1) Children in foster care have more compromised developmental outcomes than children who do not experience placement in foster care.
 * 2) Children experienced trauma prior to foster care entry, which has been documented to have a major impact on children's outcomes across developmental domains.
 * 3) Regarding academic achievement, some studies have found that foster children perform more poorly on academic achievement tests, have poorer grades, and have higher rates of grade retention and special education placement.
 * 4) The poorer academic functioning of foster children may not be attributable to their foster care experiences per se but to their //pre//–foster care experiences such as poverty and maltreatment.
 * 5) Lower school attendance of foster children due to placement instability may be a contributor to their poor school functioning.
 * 6) Unquestionably, children who are reared in safe and stable environments have better short- and long-term adjustment than children who are exposed to harmful experiences.
 * 7) Children exposed to violence within their homes experience the most deleterious outcomes. For example, children exposed to physical maltreatment often experience impairments in their physical health, cognitive development, academic achievement, interpersonal relationships, and mental health.
 * 8) Foster children may be witnesses to and victims of family violence, or may not have been supervised or provided for in an appropriate manner.
 * 9) May have been subjected to the inadequate and impaired care giving that results from a variety of parental difficulties, such as substance abuse, mental illness, and developmental disabilities.
 * 10) Children who experience family stability have caregivers who remain constant, consistent, and connected to them over time; caregivers who are mentally healthy and engage in appropriate parenting practices; a cohesive, supportive, and flexible family system; and a nurturing and stimulating home environment.
 * 11) Children are more likely to have trusting relationships with caregivers who are consistent and nurturing, which leads to a number of positive developmental outcomes.
 * 12) Research has also documented that stability in the family unit promotes positive outcomes for children within particular developmental periods.
 * 13) Due to the uncertainty they feel in their relationships with their caregivers, insecurely attached children may not be adequately consoled by their caregivers or able to explore their environments.
 * 14) Children with insecure, “disordered” or “disorganized” attachments may also have many other adverse outcomes that persist throughout childhood, such as poor peer relationships, behavioral problems, or other mental health difficulties.
 * 15) Maltreated children are often exposed to inconsistent and inadequate parenting and, as a result, may experience difficulty in forming healthy attachments.