http://www.youthtoday.org/doc/The%20Adolescent%20Brain%20-%20Final%20Paper.pdf
Richard Wexler says-
Remember when it was all the rage to claim that, essentially, it's all over for kids by age 3? Their brain development was all done so, it was claimed, anything that goes wrong then can't be fixed.
Of course this was quickly seized upon by "child savers" as another reason to tear apart families early and rush to TPR. Hey, it's not that we want this, they would say, the "neuroscience" demands it, and you can't very well argue with neuroscience.
But now, the brain scientists are having second thoughts.
Now they tell us young people's brains continue to develop until age 25, and it has profound implications for how we treat adolescents in foster care.
This link http://www.youthtoday.org/doc/The%20Adolescent%20Brain%20-%20Final%20Paper.pdf goes to a new report from Jim Casey Youth Opportunities about this science and its implications.
Of course, Jim Casey Youth is using this to push for extending foster care to age 21. But there is much more to the report.
Among other things, it turns out young people's brains require as many opportunities for normalcy as possible. That is, living in a family and being free to do what families to without a lot of bureaucratic red tape. In fact, it's "a neurological imperative." They also need to be free to take risks and make mistakes. And congregate care, even the best possible congregate care is, literally, bad for the development of young people's brains.
Oh, and one other thing: Trauma for young people, the kind that can do a lot of harm to their brains at any age, includes not only abuse and neglect but also being taken away from their parents and being moved from placement to placement.
I've noted some highlights from the recommendations below.
Richard Wexler
Executive Director
National Coalition for Child Protection Reform
53 Skyhill Road (Suite 202)
Alexandria VA 22314
Office: (703) 212-2006
Cell: (703) 380-4252
www.nccpr.org
1. TAKE A POSITIVE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT APPROACH TO ALL OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE IN FOSTER CARE
Positive youth development is not merely a good practice but instead is a neurological imperative. .
Continually provide young people with opportunities to connect with their families and communities.
Intentionally create opportunities for involvement in extracurricular and community groups. Such activities ensure that young people spend time with multiple caring adults.
2. PROVIDE "INTERDEPENDENT" LIVING SERVICES THAT CONNECT YOUNG PEOPLE WITH FAMILY AND CARING ADULTS
Science has shown that diverse social relationships and networks-the essence of social capital-are crucial to healthy development and functioning. They act as protective factors that build young people's knowledge, skills, and confidence and aid in the successful transition to adulthood, resiliency, and recovery from trauma. It is imperative that all systems interacting with older youth in foster care help them to create social capital through relationships with family (including siblings), other caring adults, the neighborhood and community, and peers. .
Implementing this Recommendation
Connect young people in foster care with family members-parents, siblings, members of the extended family-and other caring adults. Such efforts should be ongoing and should begin as early as possible. Provide support to help these relationships become lifelong and perhaps legal.
Make all possible efforts to keep young people in one community where they can establish connections. A wide range of adults, such as mentors or teachers, can provide young people with a sense of rootedness. These individuals also act as role models, providing opportunities to develop adult skills and relationships.
Minimize barriers to normal relationships. Efforts might involve providing transportation to events or making it easier in other ways for young people to have a part-time job, spend time with friends, date, and participate in a range of social and faith-based events.
Place young people in family-based settings where social, educational, and employment activities are supported as normal adolescent behaviors. Do not use congregate care settings. By their nature, these are not conducive to supporting youth in engaging activities that help them "practice" for adulthood, or to helping young people build social capital.
3. ENGAGE YOUNG PEOPLE IN THEIR OWN PLANNING AND DECISIONMAKING
Recognize the importance of healthy risk-taking by giving young people the chance to make their own decisions, even when it is not what adults agree upon.
Understand that the adolescent brain is wired for risk and that child welfare practices designed to eliminate all risk are not developmentally appropriate for emerging adults. Re-assess policies and practices based on this understanding.
l Place young people in family-based settings- as opposed to group care-to provide environments for healthy risk taking and learning.
4. BE TRAUMA-INFORMED TO PROMOTE HEALING AND EMOTIONAL SECURITY
Recognize that youth can be re-traumatized by the systems and services designed to help them
Promote positive and permanent family relationships that meet the young person's needs for support and guidance. Support family members so that they are trauma-informed, understanding young people's needs and behaviors.
No comments:
Post a Comment