katie hockema divorce and its effect on children

Katie Hockema Divorce and its Effect on Children

Statistics Half of all American children will witness the breakup of a parents marriage. Of these, close to half will also see the breakup of a parents second marriage. (Furstenberg, Peterson, Nord, and Zill, Life Course) Compared to children from homes disrupted by death, children from divorced homes have more psychological problems. (Robert E. Emery, Marriage, Divorce and Childrens Adjustment Sage Publications, 1988) Following divorce, children are fifty percent more likely to develop health problems than two parent families. (Angel, Worobey, Single Motherhood and Childrens Health) A study of children six years after a parental marriage breakup revealed that even after all that time, these children tended to be lonely, unhappy, anxious and insecure. (Wallerstein The Long-Term Effects of Divorce on Children Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry 1991) People who come from broken homes are almost twice as likely to attempt suicide than those who do not come from broken homes. (Velez-Cohen, Suicidal Behavior and Ideation in a Community Sample of Children Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry 1988) Children of divorced parents are roughly two times more likely to drop out of high school than their peers who benefit from living with parents who did not divorce. (McLanahan, Sandefur, Growing Up With a Single Parent: What Hurts, What Helps Harvard University Press 1994)

Factors that may influence how a child reacts to a divorce. Age Infants Pre-school Elementary Teens Gender Female Male

Infants Infants obviously do not know know what is going on and dont understand conflict, however they can sense a parents mood and energy level, which can cause them to get upset stomachs and or lose their appetite.

Pre-schoolers (3-5) Often feel like they are the reason why their parents have decided to get a divorce, and tend to blame it on themselves. Security is a huge thing to them and they might look to their baby blanket or something like that as a source of comfort. They might also experience more anger, depression, and they might even start wetting the bed

Elementary Are believed to have the hardest time adjusting to a parents divorce compared to all other ages. They are old enough to realize the change and feel the pain of the divorce, yet they are still too young to control and understand the pain they are feeling. Often times these children may feel a sense of rejection from the parent who left. They may also experience divided loyalty, as well as intense ager, embarrassment, and resentment. They also tend to hope that their parents will eventually get back together

Teenagers Often feel that since they are so close to adulthood that they should take initiative and start helping with, or take over the family. Since teens are old enough to understand the causes that led to their parents divorce they often feel pressured to choose a side, where they believe one parent was the cause of the divorce. Teens will start to doubt their ability to get married and hold a healthy relationship in the future. They also experience fear, loneliness, depression, and anger.

Gender It is proven that boys who grow up with and are raised by a male, and girls who grow up with and are raised by a woman are more likely to do better than those children who are raised by the opposite sex. Boys raised by a male are more likely to be less aggressive, and have fewer emotional problems than a boy raised by a female. Girls who are raised by a woman tend to be more mature and responsible rather than if they were being raised by a male.

Helping children adjust to divorce. TALK TO THEM! Talk to children about your concerns related to the divorce. This will help them understand what is happening. Day-to-day involvement of both parents in their childrens lives is the clearest way of letting children know they are loved and valued. Be clear with the children about the finality of the divorce, and discourage their attempts to get you back together. Children need to exercise, eat nutritious food, spend time with friends or take up a hobby. Counseling with social workers, psychologists, marriage and family therapists, or psychiatrists can help some children. Many schools and religious organizations also provide support group sessions. In these situations children can explore their feelings and learn how other children from divorced families cope.

It often takes 2 or more years for a child to get through a divorce All children will handle a divorce differently Some may have long term effects, while others only experience short term effects.

Short term effects Depression Anger Sadness Loneliness Acting out Stress Lower academic achievement

Long-term effects Fear of betrayal Trust issues Fear of commitment and intimacy Fear of rejection A HUGE fear of repeating his or her parents failure to maintain their marriage

Since the amount of people getting a divorce is so high, as future teachers it is important that we know how to deal with a divorce in order to help guide the children whos parents may be going through a divorce.

Adoption Lexy Silva Adoption By Lexy Silva

Adoption Definition Taking a child and making the child ones own

History of Adoption The number of adoptions has increased from 1957 peaking at 175,000 in 1970 and then decreasing to around 125,000 a year today. 2% of children living in the U.S. are adopted and 4% of families in the U.S. have an officially recognized adopted child.

Process of Adoption Essentially, adoption sets up a legal parent relationship between a single or pair of adults that are not their biological parents. They get the full legal rights and responsibilities as biological parents. Potential adoptive parents have to complete a home study, which is an assessment to see if the parents are ready for adoption.

Types of Adoption Foster care adoption(37%)-adopted from foster care under the supervision of child protective services Private domestic adoption(38%)- adopted privately within the U.S. and not in foster care, handled independently or through private adoption agencies International adoption(25%)-adopted outside of the U.S. handled by private U.S. agencies coordinating with the other nations adoption agency

Type of Adoptions Closed or confidential- no information is shared between the birth and adoptive parents after adoptive placement Open adoption -fully disclosed adoption-information shared directly between the adoptive and biological parents through phone calls, letters, or face to face meetings -mediated adoption- information is exchanged between adoptive and birth families through an adoption agency staff member

Positives of Adoption In most cases adoption ends in a win-win-win situation where the whole triad is content(biological parents, adoptive parents, and adoptee). 88% of adopted children 6 and up exhibit positve social behavior More likely to have positive and enriching experiences than the general population 81% of adopted childrens parents report their relationship is warm and close 85% of adopted childrens health is reported to be excellent or very good.

Issues of Adoption Physical Issues -Most adopted children are born to young, unmarried mothers who dont receive enough prenatal care -Low birth weight=emotional & behavioral issues -Young mothers may drink, smoke, and receive inadequate nutrition -Mothers stress of the pregnancy may result in physiological issues. -Physical health issues more prominent in international adoptees who lived in unhealthy conditions

Psychodynamic issues Most prominent psychodynamic issues in adoptees are issues of loss, separation, abandonment, trust, betrayal, rejection, worth and identity, and especially attachment issues.

Attachment Primal wound- bond between mother and infant in utero is immediately severed only bond the child knows Infant may face challenges forming secure attachment relationships with adoptive parents or may have difficulty separating from their parents later in their childhood Attachment issues depend on how well the child bonds in the first few monthes Completely different story if the child is adopted later in their life

Trust Issues Severe feelings of abandonment when separated from their mother at birth Loss of mother disallows the achievement of basic trust Since basic trust versus basic mistrust is the first step in Eriksons eight stages of psychosocial development, not fulfilling this step will result in trust issues throughout the childs life in all relationships

Other Possible Issues Trouble overcoming the Oedipus complex of the phallic stage of Sigmund Freuds psychosexual development model because the parent-child relationship isnt biological so the boundaries arent as clear -trouble distinguishing maternal vs. romantic relationship Identity Issues in Adolescence - genealogical bewilderment- secrecy and deception with adoption -since they dont know where they came from they have trouble answering the common Who am I? question

Issues All of these psychodynamic issues of adoptees tend to interfere with later adult interpersonal relationships and especially intimacy Very mixed research of psychodynamic issues because every situation is different

Raising an Adopted Child Form healthy and strong attachment relationship If you recognize psychodynamic issues seek professional help Open communication and truth No exact age to discuss their adoption, just not to late and not too soon. Many discussions should be held of time. Finding biological parents-be supportive and let it be their decision, but make sure expectations are realistic

Claire Kirkpatrick Orphanages

What is an ORPHANAGE? Childrens Rights (contemporary) Definition: An orphanage is a residential childcare facility that is intended to care for children from the time of their admission until their maturity or emancipation, and which holds itself out as an acceptable or superior substitute for the childrens families. It does not function as a family resource center to reunify families or work to help children live in alternate families; nor does it provide comprehensive professional treatment services for children to address their emotional, behavioral, or other problems. Orphanages serve as an alternative to adoption and foster care. Of the 542,000 children in foster care in September 2001, 10 percent (56,509 children and youth) were living in institutional settings.

Why? There are several different reasons a child might end up in an orphanage. Poor economic situation, poverty Parental illness, mental and or physical Drug or alcohol abuse by the parents Mental retardation Incarceration Termination of parental rights because of neglect or abuse Political and economic policies of different countries (one child policy) Complicated medical conditions that the family can not care for.

History The first recorded orphanage dates back to the 1 st Century. Orphanotrophia. 18 th and 19 th Century, orphanages prevail through the funding and support of religious organizations. Over time orphanages begin to dissolve due to concern about poor conditions and low standard of care. Compared to todays definition, historically orphanages were referred to as asylums and mental health institutions. (Think Oliver Twist or Annie) Over the past few decades, these large orphanages have been replaced by smaller institutions that resemble boarding schools. Most are regulated by either the government or other religious institutions therefore allaying concern about low standards of living.

Leading Examples of Orphanages SOS (2 Villages in Illinois and one in Florida) SOS Children's Villages is the world's largest charity dedicated to orphaned and abandoned children. SOS provides a home for 78,000 children in 132 countries. Large celebrity following Award winning (Nobel Peace Prize Nominations and many others) Milton Hershey School (Hershey, Pennsylvania) Residential school, where children are referred by their parents, the state, or a social service agency. Jonah House (Idaho) Family who is caring for a dozen foster children who are awaiting adoption. They have no experience commissioning an orphanage other than raising their own children.

Advantages 1. Orphanages can provide a stable and consistent environment for children. 2. Proper nutrition and health care is provided. 3. Children are able to escape possible harm or neglect from a parent or guardian.

Disadvantages 1. When children are placed in institutional settings, potential adoptive family resources are not available. (60% of children in foster care are adopted by their foster parents.) 2. Lack of experiences can cause delay in cognitive and emotional development. Unfortunately, because there is no replacement for the one-on-one care of a mother, this problem is even seen in the most contemporary orphanages. 3. Emotional neglect is experienced by many of the children due to the group settings in which they are always submerged. 4. Unusual self-stimulating behavior, such as head banging and rocking back and forth. This type of behavior is displayed in order to complete sensory development that is crucial to brain function. 5. Poor psychological and social growth, which usually causes personality disorders.

It comes as no surprise to most, that there is nothing significantly advantageous about growing up in an orphanage. Although many childrens lives have been positively impacted by the care given in these homes, nothing replaces the experience of growing up with a mother and father. Do your part to help!

Foster Care By: Brittany Rupp

What is Foster Care? When children have to be placed outside their home, and there is not an appropriate non-custodial parent or relative willing and able to care for them and there are not any close family friends that the court can give temporary legal possession, the court will ask Child Protective Services (CPS) to place the child temporarily in a foster care setting: Foster home Group home Residential group care facility A facility under the authority of another state agency

Foster Care Is meant to be a temporary situation until a permanent living arrangement can be obtained. The foster care placement may become the permanent placement for the child. Children in foster care come from varied backgrounds and different family situations, but all are in foster care because, for some reason, their parents are unable to care for them

Requirements to be a foster parent At least 21 years of age All adults in household are subject to a criminal background check and a clearance by the State Central Registry for Abuse and Neglect. Must have a your own source of income The house must be large enough, free from health and safety hazards, and comfortably accommodating to child Must attend training sessions to learn about issues of abused and neglected children Must be willing to provide care and guidance on a daily basis to a child in need

Startling Facts EVERYDAY IN AMERICA: 8,200 children are reported abused, neglected or abandoned 500 children are placed in foster care or institutions 5 children die from physical abuse

Startling Facts On average, children stay in the system for about three years (38 months) before either being reunited with their families or adopted. Almost 20 percent wait five years or more. Children have on average three different foster care placements. Frequent moves in and out of the homes of strangers can be profoundly unsettling for children, and it is not uncommon to hear of children who have been in 20 or 30 different homes. Many have been separated not only from their parents, but from their siblings.

Statistics On September 30, 2004, 518,000 children were in the U.S. foster care system. Most children are placed in foster care temporarily due to parental abuse or neglect. A record 304,000 children entered the system in 2004, according to one study. Much of the rise was due to methamphetamine use. Experts estimate that 80 to 90 percent of foster care placements can be traced to substance abuse. About 40,000 infants are placed in foster care every year. 123,000 children are currently available for adoption. More than 20,000 children each year never leave the system -- they remain in foster care until they "age out." Thirty percent of the homeless in America and about 25 percent of those in prison were once in foster care. 44 percent (or about 241,000 children) have reunification with their birth families as their case goal. 48 percent were in foster family homes (non-relative), 24 percent were in relative foster homes, 18 percent were in group homes or institutions, 4 percent were in pre-adoptive homes, and 6 percent were in other placement types.

Statistics from 2008 Number of children In foster care on Sep. 30, 2008 = 463,000 Who entered foster care during FY 2008 =273,000 In foster care that had their parental rights terminated = 75,000 Race/ethnicity of the children in foster care 31% Black 20% Hispanic 40% White

Children often struggle with blaming themselves and feeling guilty about removal from their birth parents wishing to return to birth parents even if they were abused by them feeling unwanted if awaiting adoption for a long time feeling helpless about multiple changes in foster parents over time having mixed emotions about attaching to foster parents feeling insecure and uncertain about their future reluctantly acknowledging positive feelings for foster parents

Affects on the Child Early brain and child development Attachment Response to stress Emotional distress (Neglect) Fine and gross motor skills, cognition, speech and language function, self-help abilities, coping skills, relationships, and behavior.

How we can help EVERYONE Can contribute to make a difference for a child or teen in foster care! EVERYONE Can contribute to make a difference for a child or teen in foster care! Be a foster parent or an adoptive parent Volunteer Become an advocate in court Be a mentor Contribute financially Donate supplies

By: Robert Deck Childcare

Who Is Involved With Childcare? Care givers Nanny Au pair Friends and family Childcare centers Age(0-16) Infants Pre-school Elementary Teens Gender(both) Female Male

What is Childcare? Childcare(baby care)- is the act of caring for and supervising children from 0-16 years of age. In the U.S. child care is increasingly referred to as early childhood education, this is because of the better understanding of the impact of early experiences of the developing child. Child care is a large topic that covers a wide varity of contexts, activities, social and cultural conventions, and institutions.

Childcare Continued Many American families are two-job households, and this means that childcare is often delegated to child care providers or day cares on a full-time or part-time basis. The three main types of child care options for most American working families include in-home care, family child care, and child care centers.

In-home Care Center In-home care center typically is provided by nannies, au- pairs, or friends and family. The child is watched inside their own house or the child care providers home. (This reduces exposure to outside children and illnesses.) Depending on the number of children in the home, the children utilizing in-home care enjoy the greatest amount of interaction with their caregiver, forming a close bond. Nanny and au-pair services provide certified caregivers and the cost of in-home care is the highest of childcare options per child, though a household with many children may find this the most convenient and affordable option.

In-home Care Downfalls Sometimes a nanny or au-pairs is just not the right fit or best method of childcare. The child my be confined into his or her own little world. (It keeps them from interacting with other children.) There are no required licensing or background checks for in- home care. So there is no way of telling if a person is really qualified or has a criminal background. All these things make parents very accountable and full of worries and stress.

Family Child Care Centers Family child care centers are provided from a care giver's personal home. This gives the child an atmosphere very similar to their own home. State licensing laws vary, so the parent should conduct careful interviews, home inspections and background checks. (Any complaints against the caregiver will be documented and available for public record. ) Family care is generally the most affordable childcare option, and has the most flexibility in hours. The best part of family care is the small number of kids in care. (allows for more interaction between child and provider)

Commercial Care Centers Commercial care centers are open for set hours of business, and provide an organized and regulated system of care for the children. Parents have the ability to choose centers that are close to home or work. Also some businesses offer care at their facilities.

Commercial Care Downfalls Active children may thrive in the educational activities provided by a quality commercial care center, but according to the National Center for Early Development and Learning, children from low quality centers may be significantly less advanced in terms of vocabulary and reading skills. Commercial care usually has the highest child to caregiver relationship but this may vary according to state licensing requirements.

2008 Child Care Capacity

Advantages Children are separated from there parents at a very early age. Many parents like daycare centers because they offer a formal, structured environment. Most daycare centers are inspected for licensing purposes, caregivers are supervised (many classrooms have more than one teacher), and a director oversees the entire operation. Centers have clear cut rules for parents to follow so you know exactly what is expected of you. A daycare center is more affordable than a nanny. Parents have the opportunity to meet other parents who may be able to lend support and babysitting time.

Advantages If you have a good child care provider they are usually trained in early childhood education so they know what to expect from your child developmentally. Children get a nice mix of activities during the day to teach different skills.(singing, dancing, and storytelling) Ongoing research by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development suggests that children centers may even have an intellectual edge over those in other kinds of care. Lastly kids can benefit from the chance to socialize with other children on a day to day basis.

Disadvantages You are for the most part at the center's or care givers mercy. You may have to pay a costly fee.(late pickups never go well). You may have to scramble for backup care when your care givers are not available. Children are more likely to catch diseases such as colds and pinkeye, since they are exposed to more germs. Children are also less likely to get the one-on-one care that you take for granted with a stay-at-home mom.

Childcare Rap Up!! Although many childrens lives have been positively impacted by the childcare systems, nothing replaces the experience of growing up with a mother and father.

katie hockema divorce and its effect on children

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