Children in foster care face a tumultuous life trying to learn and get along in school and in the community~

The foster parent and the child safety officer accompanied Misty to school for her enrolment. She had been in care for a year or so and this was her second placement with foster carers. Misty initially presented as a shy and withdrawn preferring her own company. The principal, teacher and guidance officer met with the foster carers and the child safety officer the week before to discuss how best to manage Misty's learning and behaviour at the school. The aim was to make Misty's placement in the school long term and successful.

This was a hard ask for the school as Misty's behaviours and learning difficulties would be working against them. You see Misty had been assigned a reactive attachment disorder by the psychiatrist, a diagnosis that is not unusual for kids in care to receive. Misty had suffered abuse and neglect over her short lifetime. She was suspicious of adults, was not good at making friends, did not follow directions well and had poor concentration in class. Misty's behaviour escalated quickly and often, she did not trust.

The first three years are pivotal in establishing a sound emotional attachment between a child and his/his parents. When John Bowlby, a British psychiatrist and psychoanalyst first introduced his attachment theory in 1969 the importance of a maternal love and care was highlighted as the key to a child's healthy emotional, mental and physical well-being. Maternal deprivation stunted a child's overall development, there is always that high probability that they will have problems living a productive life as adults. Existing on the fringe of society is a very realistic picture.

Parents who do not give the consistent loving to crying and hungry babies or who randomly respond with touch and food produce confusion, insecure, highly anxious and upset little ones. Some little ones have a very hard start to life.

I recall a little boy in grade one whose 18 months were filled with inconsistent love, touch and food. At 18 months he was removed when child safety officers found him hungry and crying in a stinking dirty nappy trying to find food off the floor and no mother in the house. His supportive and loving foster carers adopted him and were doing a great job promoting and supporting his overall well-being. He unfortunately was still presenting with emotional, social and learning problems.

Very good therapists, psychologists and psychiatrists do a fantastic job alongside dedicated foster carers, adopted parents and teachers helping children overcome the terrible effects of abuse and neglect perpetrated by their biological parents.



Cheers and blessings