Foster Care In the United States: A Timeline

Fostered or Forgotten is a Teen Vogue series about the foster care system in the United States, produced in partnership with Juvenile Law Center and published throughout National Foster Care Month. In this feature, Jennifer Rodriguez, the executive director of Youth Law Center, and Jenny Pokempner, the child welfare policy director at Juvenile Law Center, provide a summary of the evolution of the child welfare system.

Those involved in working with children and youth know more today than we ever have about child and youth development. We know what children need to grow up healthy, and how, for example, hardships like trauma can impact their development and future. We have a staggering amount of knowledge about the damage that childhood trauma can wreak on developing bodies and minds, as well as what can help youth overcome adversity and build resilience and strength. Research confirms that children need relationships with adults who love them unconditionally, strong connections within the community, and exposure to enriching experiences. For children who have experienced abuse or neglect, nurturing relationships and enriching experiences are actually critical prerequisites for healing brains, bodies, and spirits.

Across the United States, child welfare systems are charged with responding to help young people who experience abuse or neglect. Until recently, these systems have frequently structured their practice around keeping children safe from physical harm and avoiding risk. They have not taken up a charge to support nurturing families or healthy childhoods.