Face of Foster Care - Meet Austin
Austin found himself forced to enter foster care after the termination of his mother’s parental rights. Once he started kindergarten, his teacher noticed several developmental issues common for children in foster care. His court-appointed volunteer advocate, Judy, worked hard to get Austin assessed and found a mental health center specializing in play therapy.
Creating Normalcy Through Play Therapy
Achieving some semblance of normalcy for foster children and youth represents one of the foster care system’s primary goals.
Normalcy
One can define normalcy as the ability to engage in activities that develop the skills necessary for independence. To emphasize responsibility as the price of certain freedoms, a social service agency may allow foster children to attend a sleepover, join a sports league, or play in a band. The ensuing interactions help foster kids learn important lessons that will aid them as adults.
Play Therapy
Children who have suffered abuse and neglect have a challenging time expressing their emotions. Play therapy allows foster children to express ideas that they can’t convey with words. They can grapple with previous trauma, deal with current issues, or act out what the future might look like to them. It prepares foster kids for independent living as an adult.
Funding Play Therapy
Speak Up for Kids helps fund play therapy for children in foster care by supporting the efforts of guardians ad litem in Palm Beach, FL. Out of concern for child welfare, foster parents set aside a certain amount of time for play therapy with a licensed professional. However, a foster family often requires financial support for the service, as well as transportation.
