Foster Care Bill of

Rights

Annika Sunleaf, Sarah Mockler, Jocelyn Holtrop, Sierra Whisenand

Overview
★ Introductions
★ Objectives
★ History of Foster Care
★ Explanation of Bill
★ Court Simulation
★ Selection of Jury
★ Social Worker & Foster Child Simulation
★ Resume Trial
★ Audience Takeaway
★ Questions
★ Closing statements
Objectives
1. Give a background of changes that have been made to foster care
since it first began.
2. Educate the jury about the foster care policies that are currently in
place.
3. Sway the jury to rule in favor of seeking justice for the children in
foster care.
4. Encourage the jury to stay educated on and advocate for foster care
children.
5. Persuade the jury that a bill needs to be passed including the right
and entitlements of foster care children.
History of Foster Care
★ The foster care system was put in place in order to improve the lives of children in need.
○ Developed as a safe haven for children.

★ More than 500,000 children are in foster care in the United States.
○ The foster system have high rates of physical, developmental, and mental health problems.
■ 74.1% of foster care children are neglected
■ 18.3% are physically abused
■ 8.6% are sexually abused
■ 7.1% are psychologically maltreated

★ The first trace of foster care is dated back to 1562.

○ English Poor Law
○ Charles Loring Brace began the free foster home movement.
■ He founded the Children’s Aid Society

★ Foster care is an important system within the United States and sadly, it loses funding every year.
House File 134
★ House File 134 outlines the rights and entitlements of foster care children. In place for the foster
children and the parents.
○ Result of the death of two central Iowa teens who died due to neglect and abuse after being
adopted from foster care

★ Housefile 134 had potential to be influential has it describes the rights & entitlements of foster
children since it is often overlooked.
○ This bill wasn’t seen as a priority and was never lobbied or passed.
Courtroom Simulation
*Based on a real case*
Warning
Evidence: 1
Evidence: 2
Courtroom Simulation
*Based on a real case*
Case Worker Simulation
Questions?
Court Dismissed
References
Arly Nguyen: What Social Workers Need To Know About The Foster Care System. (2012, October 23). Retrieved from
https://socialworklicensemap.com/what-social-workers-need-to-know-about-the-foster-care-system/
Child Abuse Statistics. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://americanspcc.org/child-abuse-statistics/
Committee on Early Childhood, A. A. (2000, November 01). Developmental Issues for Young Children in Foster Care. Retrieved 2000,
from http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/106/5/1145
Ultius. (n.d.). The History of the Foster Care System in the United States. Retrieved from
https://www.ultius.com/ultius-blog/entry/the-history-of-the-foster-care-system-in-the-united-states.html
Simeon, D., DR. (n.d.). Child Abuse Statistics. Retrieved from https://americanspcc.org/child-abuse-statistics/