Navigating the Complexities of Special Needs Foster Care Children

Every child in the foster care system has experienced some form of trauma and needs specialized care and support. This is because every child entering the system has experienced some form of trauma as they’ve been separated, rejected, abandoned, and harmed by their caregivers before entering the system. 

However, a significant majority— 50% to 70% —also grapple with disabilities and mental health conditions on top of this trauma. Texas has not always been the best at supporting and protecting children with disabilities in the foster care system. The governor and relevant agencies have been called out in recent years for their inaction and lack of support for children with disabilities and families in the system, and some changes need to happen. These numbers and issues highlight the importance and the need for foster parents to be equipped and knowledgeable about disabilities and relevant supports.

This article provides essential insight and knowledge for special needs foster care, offering guidance and insights to empower caregivers in their journey. 

Understanding Special Needs in Foster Care

The term special needs* is used to distinguish people with disabilities from able-bodied people. It is a debated term, and many self-advocates share how we all have special needs that depend on our bodies, minds, preferences, and needs. Learning our children’s needs is a top priority when loving and caring for them adequately. 

Using the term special needs foster care indicates that the children not only have special needs because of their trauma but also require additional care and support because of their mental and/or physical disabilities.

There are many examples of mental and physical disabilities in and outside the foster care system. Some common disabilities found in the foster care system include:

• Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD): a neurodevelopmental disorder that often includes challenges with communication and social interactions, repetitive behaviors, and co-existing conditions such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), anxiety, and depression. People with ASD have varying strengths and difficulties across a wide spectrum of functioning. A great organization with lived experience and insight is the Autistic Self-Advocacy Network.
  
• Learning Disabilities: these include a range of conditions that affect a person’s ability to acquire, process, or retain information. These conditions can impact skills like reading, writing, math, and problem-solving. While these conditions are not often connected with lower intelligence, these conditions frequently coincide with emotional-behavioral challenges. The Learning Disabilities Association of America has been supporting people with learning disabilities since 1963 and has many resources available.
  
• Cerebral Palsy (CP): a group of lifelong movement disorders that result from damage to the developing brain, usually before or during birth. It can affect muscle control, coordination, posture, speech, and balance. The severity and symptoms of CP vary widely among individuals.

Each of these disabilities has unique challenges. Some have greater support needs for physical activities, while others have additional behavioral and emotional needs. It’s crucial that special needs foster children receive tailored support to address their individual disability-related needs effectively. This personalized approach ensures that each child’s unique challenges are properly addressed and supported.

Resources, Support, and Self-Care

It’s important to note that although taking care of a child with disabilities might be very daunting, foster parents are not alone in this journey. In Texas, there are several resources available to help foster parents of special needs children in the system. Below are some websites and organizations you can get in contact with to receive additional resources and support. 

• The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, the official government agency, provides excellent information and foundations on the different types of disabilities children may have.

• Disability Rights Texas (DRTx) has many resources available for people with disabilities and their families. Since 2010, they have been providing legal representation for children with disabilities throughout the state. Their website has information on the rights of disabled individuals and showcases stories where their advocacy yielded successful results.

• Every Child Texas is an organization that is focused on making sure disabled children have a loving and safe place to be, instead of ending up in facilities. They provide training to families and communities, recruit support families to care for the children who can’t live at home, and work with state policymakers to build better support systems for families in need.
• Navigate Life Texas (NLT), a project of Texas Health and Human Services, was created to inform and empower children with disabilities and their families. Their website provides information from infancy to school, insurance, financial help, and stepping into adulthood.

Receiving guidance from a diverse pool of specialists and medical professionals is essential in providing comprehensive care for children with disabilities. These experts offer valuable insights and expertise to assist caregivers in navigating unique complexities. Listening to experts can give caregivers the information they need to support their foster kids with disabilities best. Additional training is often required to ensure that foster parents are equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary to meet the unique needs of these children. 

When taking care of others, caregivers often leave their needs unattended, but they forget that you can’t do one thing without the other. Caring for others requires knowing and tending to our own needs. This is particularly true for foster parents. Becoming one can sometimes feel like navigating a plane through turbulent skies. Just as airline safety instructions remind us to secure our own oxygen masks before assisting others, foster parents must prioritize self-care to effectively care for their special needs foster care children. 

Self-care looks different for everyone, and all caretakers need to identify and prioritize activities that replenish their physical, emotional, and mental well-being. Some examples of self-care include: 

• Time to Recharge: It is okay to need time and space to recharge. Supports like respite exist for parents struggling to meet their needs. You can learn more about this in our article “What Is Respite Care For Child? 8 Reasons Why It’s Important“.
  
• Engaging in Hobbies or Exercise: Pursuing hobbies and physical activities that bring joy and fulfillment can be a powerful form of self-care. Whether it’s painting, gardening, playing an instrument, or practicing yoga, carving out time for activities that nourish the soul can promote relaxation and reduce stress.
  
• Social Support: Connecting with others who understand and empathize with your experiences can provide invaluable support and validation. Joining support groups, going to therapy, or participating in online communities can offer a sense of belonging and comfort.

Advocating for Special Needs Foster Care Children

Advocating for the needs and rights of our children is paramount in the work we do as foster parents and caretakers. This advocacy can take various forms. Advocating occurs when we actively participate in the day-to-day care of our kids and it can happen through policy-change efforts at the state or federal level to improve the lives of people with disabilities. 

Individuals with disabilities continue to face significant disparities in access to resources, opportunities, and rights in the United States. Despite progress in disability rights legislation, systemic barriers persist, and advocacy efforts remain crucial to ensure that all individuals, regardless of ability, have equal opportunities for education, employment, and community inclusion.

Countless foster parents have provided compassionate care and advocacy to special needs kids in the system. For example, The Alvarez and The Raymond families opened their hearts and homes to dozens of children with disabilities. They have provided love, stability, and support. Their stories are examples of the transformative impact that dedicated foster parents can have on the lives of children.

By sharing these stories and amplifying the voices of lived experiences, we can raise awareness, inspire action, and advocate for a more inclusive and supportive future for all.

Conclusion

The journey of fostering children with disabilities can be filled with obstacles, but there are many resources and support available to guide foster parents to success.

As we reflect on the stories of courage and compassion, I urge prospective foster parents to continue exploring the world of disabilities and the disability community. By educating yourself, seeking support, and learning more, you can embark on a journey of profound impact and fulfillment, changing the lives of children in need. 

*Note on terminology “special needs.” This term is highly debated between people with disabilities and people without disabilities. Please refer to this resource for more information regarding words like this in the disability community. The author of this article supports the voices of those with lived experiences.