Child sexual abuse is a heinous crime that continues to go vastly unreported. Although reporting of child sexual abuse has increased in the past two decades, disclosure of sexual abuse is often delayed until the child has become an adult. Research published by the Canadian Centre for Child Protection states that only 30 per cent of abuse victims disclose during their childhood. What’s even worse is when a child has been apprehended by authorities, is placed into the foster care system and is sexually abused by individuals in the foster home setting.
Sex Abuse in the Foster Care System
Children in the foster care system have been put there in order to be safe. More often than not, those in the system have experienced physical or sexual abuse by a parent. Anne Woudstra, a social worker who has spent many years working in the foster care system says, “The upheaval of being taken from home and placed into the care of strangers adds to the psychological damage the child experiences. This is a catalyst for many children to start acting out in negative ways and it is these behaviours that rapidly become a label that these kids are given by the system.”
Woudstra also states that when young children are acting out they are vulnerable and those in positions of trust sometimes use their behaviours to violate trust. “Certainly there are children in care who are sexually violated and are not behavioural, but I have read many cases in which abusers use abuse as a warped way of controlling undesirable behaviours.”
Children in care often are not provided adequate services in order to deal with mental health issues that they are plagued with. Anne Woudstra claims, “Many of these kids tend to grow up into their teen years and become further behavioural meaning that they suffer depression, abuse substances and engage in self-mutilation; some even experience repeated suicide attempts.”
The Daily Press reported in early October that Brian Caza sexually assaulted three female foster children while in his care during the 1980s. Two of his victims, who are now in their 30s state that they suffered numerous suicide attempts, drug abuse and have suffered with depression.
Foster Care System
The foster care system in both Canada and the United States has unaddressed issues that re-appear from time-to-time and there seems to be no resolution.
Earlier this year in the Edmonton Sun, Edmonton lawyer Robert Lee stated he is disappointed to hear provincial authorities once again vowing to deal with chronic issues within the foster care system. Lee spoke out to the media upon hearing the news that sex abuse charges were laid in February against Garry Prokopishin, a foster parent who is accused of violating three male youth in his care.
Lee represents almost 300 people who were abused in the Alberta foster care system and is seeking compensation via a class-action suit against the Alberta government. Lee was quoted in the Edmonton Sun, “There have been numerous reviews of the child-welfare system over the last 30 years and, unfortunately, those recommendations are not implemented.”
According to New York law firm Orlow, Orlow and Orlow, as many as 75 percent of all children in the foster care system, upon leaving the system, will have experienced sexual abuse. A 2009 article written by this law firm, Sexual Abuse: An Epidemic in Foster Care Settings? cites a John Hopkins University study that discovered that the rate of sexual abuse within the foster-care system is more than four times as high as in the general population and in group homes the rate of sexual abuse is more than 28 times that of the general population. These statistics reflect only the sexual abuse that is experienced in the foster care system, not the abuse experienced from where they were apprehended. This study also shows a large problem of child-on-child sexual abuse within the system as well.
There is no easy solution to this problem. Most foster care systems have stringent screening processes in place, but there is always room for improvement.
A sexually abused child in the foster care system has been passed by many people who may have been in a position to help. They are vulnerable and generally have few social services available to them, even in care. Everyone must be vigilant in watching for the signs of abuse.
Recommended Reading:
Sources:
Canadian Centre for Child Protection
The Daily Press, Oct. 7, 2010: Sex Abuse Drives Victims to Suicide Attempts:Ron Grech
Edmonton Sun, Feb, 5, 2010: City Lawyers Sees Sex-Abuse Pattern: Nadia Moharib
Sexual Abuse: An Epidemic in Foster Care Settings? 2009 article written by Orlow, Orlow & Orlow
Karen Stephenson - Karen has written for several newspapers and print media in addition to many online publications. She holds a B.A. in English and an ...
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