I have had the privilege of serving as a foster parent for the past two and a half years. During that period, I have provided care for a total of twelve children. Some of these children were cared for on a weekend basis, while others were in my care for a few months. Two children were in my care for well over a year. At the present time, I am the legal guardian of a group of exemplary teenage boys, as depicted in the photograph above. In accordance with the regulations set forth by the Department of Children and Families (DCF), I have obscured their faces. My life is replete with a multitude of experiences and activities, and thus, it is not characterized by a lack of stimulation or monotony.
Unfortunately, the heated emotions surrounding the abortion debate often lead pro-choice advocates to include foster children in the discussion. Such a comparison is wholly inappropriate. The month of May marks the celebration of National Foster Care Month, an opportune moment to challenge some of the misperceptions surrounding foster care.
It is a fundamental principle that children in foster care have lives that are worthy of living. It is my hope that this assertion is self-evident. Are there challenges to be overcome? Undeniably. It is a fundamental tenet of foster care that no individual enters this system without a history of trauma. The removal of a child from their biological family is, in itself, a traumatic event, and this is compounded by the underlying circumstances that led to the child being placed in foster care. Nevertheless, the occurrence of trauma does not negate the intrinsic value of the child. Furthermore, it does not negate a child’s capacity for joy. Like any other child, those in foster care enjoy their hobbies, friendships, birthday parties, and connections with their family members (both biological and foster). It is inaccurate to suggest that they are better off dead. Such a suggestion is, in fact, quite revolting.
The assertion that abortion is a solution to the foster care crisis is erroneous. There is a foster care crisis. A significant number of children are unable to live safely with their parents. Child welfare departments are underfunded. There is constant turnover among social workers. There is a pressing need for more quality foster families. However, unplanned pregnancies are not the source of these problems. Not a single one of the children in my care entered the foster system as an infant. It is not uncommon for problems to arise later in childhood. These include the death of a parent, the development of an addiction, or the incarceration of a parent. These circumstances are not predictable before a baby is born. Therefore, unless your proposed solution is to encourage abortion in every pregnancy, the argument is not logical.
One can become a foster parent, and indeed, many do. One need not be married or have children to become licensed. One can work full-time and still become licensed. I know this to be true, having done it myself. It is important to note, however, that a single working mother may not be the ideal fit for every child. The placement staff take many factors into account when considering potential foster parents. Some children require two foster parents, or a stay-at-home foster parent, or a foster parent with medical expertise. If that is you, then you are well-suited to become a foster parent. However, a significant proportion of foster children require only the most basic of care: a secure, stable, and nurturing environment. For those interested in becoming licensed foster parents, further information on the licensing process is available.
Chelsea Garcia is a political writer with a special interest in international relations and social issues. Events surrounding the war in Ukraine and the war in Israel are a major focus for political journalists. But as a former local reporter, she is also interested in national politics.
Chelsea Garcia studied media, communication and political science in Texas, USA, and learned the journalistic trade during an internship at a daily newspaper. In addition to her political writing, she is pursuing a master's degree in multimedia and writing at Texas.
