One explanation is the fact that mental health services are generally allocated based on the presence of a psychiatric diagnosis, and older children are more likely to meet criteria for specific disorders. Although younger children may exhibit certain symptoms, they are less likely to meet the full criteria for a classified disorder (Fisher 2005). Moreover, the behavior of older foster children may appear to pose more of an immediate threat, either to themselves or to others (Fisher 2005). Even in the general population, risks for violence, juvenile delinquency and other behavioral problems, increase with age, thus in high-risk populations (as defined by factors such as poverty and violence), the risk gradient associated with age increases, therefore the need for services may be the greatest in the short-term among older foster children (Fisher 2005). In a study published in the January 2005 issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Edward L. Spitznagel reported that 61% of the surveyed youths qualified as having at least one psychiatric disorder during their lifetime. Of this 61%, some 62% reported onset of their earliest disorder before entering the foster care system, and 37% of the youths met criteria for a psychiatric disorder during the previous year (Spitznagel 2005). The study revealed that the number of types of maltreatment experienced was the most "robust predictor" of psychiatric disorder among several maltreatment variables, while no differences were found in prevalence rates for youths in kinship care and those in non-kin foster families (Spitznagel 2005). Spitznagel concluded that older youths in the foster care system have "disproportionately high rates of lifetime and past year psychiatric disorders (Spitznagel 2005).

There are approximately 100,000 older youths in the U.S. foster care system, yet little is known about the extent of psychiatric disorders despite the fact that they use mental health services at exceptionally high rates (Spitznagel 2005). Many leave the system without having achieved a permanent home, and remain at high risk of residential, economic, and employment instability and incarceration during their early adult years (Spitznagel 2005). While it is unknown to what...

It is increasingly viewed as a viable alternative to residential and hospital care, since it offers intensive therapeutic services for children with emotional and behavioral disturbances, chronic delinquency, and developmental disabilities (Pfeiffer 1997).
The concept of foster care has existed for centuries. Today, there are numerous safeguards to protect children from abuse and neglect by their parents, as well as from foster families.

The exact psychological toll on foster children is unknown, yet it does exist. Older children may suffer more than do younger foster children because they have had a longer relationship with the birth family.

Works Cited

Fisher, Philip A. (2005 April 01). Developmental, cognitive, and neuropsychological functioning in preschool-aged foster children: associations with prior maltreatment and placement history. Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics. Retrieved June 30, 2006 from HighBeam Research Library.

Fostering and Foster Care. The Adoption History Project. Retrieved June 30, 2006 at http://darkwing.uoregon.edu/~adoption/topics/fostering.htm

History of Foster Care. Retrieved June 30, 2006 at http://www.sacbee.com/static/archive/news/projects/foster/timeline.html

Pfeiffer, Steven I. (1997 May 01). Effectiveness of treatment foster care with children and adolescents: a review of outcome studies. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Retrieved June 30, 2006 from HighBeam Research Library.

Spitznagel, Edward L. (2005 January 01). Prevalence of psychiatric disorders among older youths in the foster care system. Journal of the American Academy of Child…