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According to the U.S. Census Bureau, a child is borne every 4.2 seconds.   Out of the nearly four million births in the United States each year, 1.25 million children are abused.  Of those, four children die daily from abuse and neglect.  Sixty one percent of those children are victims of educational, physical and emotional neglect.   Forty four percent are victims of physical, sexual and emotional abuse.  The numbers alone are alarming.  And further still, those who do physically survive their abuse and neglect suffer emotionally and mentally from childhood, through adolescence and even into adulthood.

Anxiety, depression, behavioral disorders; these diagnoses are only a few of the words used to try to explain the effects of cruelty exhibited in mistreated children.  And although there are many mental illnesses that are treated and kept under control with medicine and/or therapy, some illnesses are more severe than others.  Attachment Disorder and Reactive Attachment Disorder require some of the most aggressive treatments, and although with years of hard work from doctors, parents, and of course, children, there is no cure.  Thus, when a child with these diagnoses are thrown into the system, there can be both great healing and success or, in an unfortunate reality, they are only further damaged by the instability of multiple foster homes and care givers.  One would think that those responsible for the well –being of abused and neglected children would take every precaution to not aggravate their already unstable mental conditions.

What reason, then, could the court system have for allowing a child diagnosed with Attachment Disorder and Reactive Attachment Disorder to continually move from home to home?  Considering these two disorders are both incurable, the idea of bouncing unstable children from foster home to foster home is absurd.  According to research from a myriad of therapists including the Mayo clinic, children suffering from attachment disorder view the world very differently than others; usually, these children view those around them as unpredictable and unavailable.  Because their original parent was unavailable, abusive, and rejecting, they feel that all care providers are.  Further, according to The Family Attachment and Counseling Center, one of the best therapies available to these children is a long and nurturing relationship with a trusting care provider.  It then, goes without saying that moving children with Attachment and Reactive Attachment Disorder multiple times only further damages their psyche.

So what would happen to a child who is continuously moved, and in their mind only further rejected from another parent figure(s)?  According to the Mayo Clinic,

“…there[s] little research on signs and symptoms of reactive attachment disorder beyond early childhood. It may lead to controlling, aggressive or delinquent behaviors, trouble relating to peers, and other problems. While treatment can help children and adults cope with reactive Attachment Disorder, the changes that occur during early childhood are permanent and the disorder is a lifelong challenge.”

And the changes these children suffer are immense.  The complications they experience include delayed learning, poor self-esteem, delinquent or antisocial behavior, relationship problems, temper or anger problems, depression, anxiety, physical growth, severe eating problems and malnutrition, academic problems, drug and alcohol addiction, inappropriate sexual behavior, and unemployment or frequent job changes.

The fact is, those children diagnosed with these issues can live a normal life with the help of one stable environment, a constant parental figure and therapy both parent and child actively attend and practice.  Up to ninety-two percent of families who actively work through therapy show significant improvement.

About the Author

Karen Jean Matsko Hood is not only a well rounded and educated person, but a role model for those around her.  She is not only an adoptive and foster mother of sixteen children, but is also a teacher, writer, researcher, poet, and friend to both humanity and the environment.  Through her book readers from all walks of life will be touched and even inspired by the works Ms. Hood has chosen as her life’s path.  And as Ms. Hood invites you into her life and introduces you into her world, you will see how she is truly a legitimate source in the world of children’s rights, environmental preservation and motherhood.

For more information, you can contact the author at her office below:

Karen Jean Matsko Hood

507 N. Sullivan Rd. Suite LL-7

Spokane Valley, WA 99037 USA

Phone: (509) 924-3550 Fax: (509) 922-9949

karensblog.net

karenjeanmatskohood.com