Over the past several weeks, my internship has helped me understand foster care in a completely different way. At first, I thought foster care was mainly about taking children out of unsafe homes and placing them somewhere better. But now I see that it’s way more than that, because what happens after placement matters just as much. Foster care can affect a child’s mental health, identity, and future, and if the system is not consistent, those challenges don’t just go away.

One of the biggest things I learned is how serious mental health is for foster youth. Many youth come into the system after going through trauma, separation, or instability, and because of that, a large percentage struggle with mental health challenges. This matters because without consistent support, those issues can follow them into adulthood. I also learned how placement instability affects youth. When children are moved from home to home, it becomes hard for them to trust people or feel secure. Because of that, it can affect their relationships, school, and overall development.

I learned how much access and environment matter. Social determinants of health, like housing, education, and access to healthcare, play a big role in outcomes. This is important because even if services exist, not every youth can actually access them. Youth in under-resourced communities may not have the same opportunities, and that creates an unfair gap in support. That really stood out to me because it showed that helping foster youth is not just about offering services, but making sure those services are actually reachable. Learning about other countries also helped me see things differently. Countries like Norway focus more on stability, and the United Kingdom focuses on prevention, meaning they try to support families before removal even happens. Because of that, youth experience less trauma and more consistency. In comparison, the United States system often struggles with placement instability and longer time in care for some youth. This showed me that change is possible and that systems can be improved when they focus on long-term support. What made this experience even more important to me is my own lived awareness and passion for helping others. Because of what I’ve seen and experienced, I understand how important it is for people to feel supported, heard, and not overlooked. That’s why sharing this information matters to me. It’s not just about learning facts, but about using that knowledge to help others and give back to the community. There are so many youth who feel like they don’t have a voice, and I want to be someone who helps change that.

As someone focusing on a mental health concentration, this internship helped me see how I can apply what I’ve learned in the future. I want to approach people with understanding and a trauma-informed mindset, because behavior is often connected to deeper experiences. I also want to help connect people to resources and support systems, because access makes a big difference. Being able to understand both the individual and the system is something I know will help me in my future career. I am also eager to be more involved in my community. This experience showed me that real change does not only happen in large systems, but also through everyday support, awareness, and connection. Whether it is through mental health services, community programs, or simply being someone people can rely on, I want to play a role in helping others feel supported and valued.

Overall, this internship helped me grow and see foster care in a new way. It showed me that foster care is not just about safety, but about stability, access, and long-term success. Because of that, it is important to continue learning, speaking on these issues, and giving back. At the end of the day, no child should ever be left behind or forgotten, and everyone deserves the opportunity to feel supported and succeed.

References

  • Casey Family Programs. (2023). Foster care outcomes and placement stability.
  • National Institutes of Health (NIH). (2022). Mental health outcomes among foster youth.
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2023). Social determinants of health and youth mental health.
  • Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). (2022). Trauma-informed care and youth mental health interventions.
  • Child Welfare Information Gateway. (2023). Foster care systems and child welfare practices.
  • UNICEF. (2023). Global child welfare systems and foster care approaches.
  • Annie E. Casey Foundation. (2023). Foster youth aging out and homelessness statistics.
  • National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL). (2022). Foster care and mental health policy information.

Picture: https://upfs.org/foster-care/

Ebony Okonkwa is a Human Services student at California State University, Fullerton, with a concentration in Mental Health. She is passionate about foster youth advocacy, mental health awareness, and community engagement. Through her internship, she has focused on understanding the long-term effects of foster care and the importance of stable support systems for youth.