By Derenda Schubert, Renee Moseley, Lindsay Magnuson & Sarah Feldman, Stanford Social Innovation Review, May 3, 2021
On any given day in the United States, about 400,000 children are in foster care, living with and cared for by people who aren’t their biological parents. Many have suffered abuse, neglect, and other serious traumas, which frequent moves and separation from siblings can compound.
While most of these children eventually return to their nuclear families, about 70,000 won’t. When a child’s biological parents have died, been incarcerated, or proved unhealthy or unsafe, grandmothers, aunts, or other relatives are often called on short notice to step in as adoptive parents or guardians. But many lack adequate housing and the emotional support they need to care for traumatized foster children, and if they’re single adoptive parents, the challenges can be overwhelming.
Meanwhile, as other essays in this series have noted, growing numbers of older Americans face financial and housing issues, as well as social isolation and a lack of purpose. Many are widowed or single, with no nearby relatives, and don’t have the physical and emotional assistance they need to thrive.
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