A History of Foster Care in the United States
Foster care has come a long way since its beginning nearly 200 years ago. What began in one city now exists as a federal service active in every state. Ordinary people saw a need and stepped up to help. Their passion and hard work created the framework to help care for America’s vulnerable children. Today, we look back at the history of foster care in the United States and how it evolved.
The New York Children’s Aid Society
The beginnings of foster care in the United States came in the mid-1800s with the New York Children’s Aid Society. Charles Loring Brace alarming numbers of orphans sleeping on the city streets and felt compelled to act. In response, he developed a solution: the “placing out system.” Children were shipped west on railroads, or “orphan trains”, and picked up by what were essentially foster families. However, these foster families underwent no scrutiny and did not need to meet any qualifications.
While some of the children in the placing out system did end up in loving homes, others were no more than indentured servants. The well-intended “placing out system” focused too much on finding homes for children but not enough on ensuring their lasting welfare.
Jane Addams: Hull House and Child Welfare
In the late 1800s, many female leaders of the Progressive era brought the concept of child welfare to the forefront. Jane Addams, a particularly prolific and influential author and speaker, worked with Ellen Gates Starr to found the famous Chicago settlement house, Hull House. Hull House “provided kindergarten and daycare facilities for the children of working mothers; an employment bureau; an art gallery; libraries; English and citizenship classes; and theater, music and art classes.”
The example set by Hull House propelled social growth and helped draw attention to the importance of child welfare. Their efforts were instrumental in creating protective legislation like child labor laws, as well as the formation of the Federal Children’s Bureau.
Children’s Bureau History
The United States government established the Children’s Bureau in 1912, with Julia Lathrop appointed as chief. The first female bureau chief in the federal government, she worked to focus policy and action on home life and stability for children. Grace Abbott, her successor, became another instrumental leader of child welfare reform. Through their work, the Children’s Bureau centered foster care on the health and well-being of the children. This paved the way for modern foster care and highlighted the importance of permanency.
We look back at the history of foster care in the United States to understand the full context of today’s child welfare system. Foster care has come a long way from the “orphan trains” of old. However, the system still has its problems. That’s why we at For Others work to address the crisis plaguing our nation’s most vulnerable. Join us in the fight to solve the child welfare crisis. Give today to help restore lives!
