This can be one of those topics that we might want to side step for any number of reasons. One of the big questions and debates is who is responsible for providing foster children with sex education. Some biological parents do not feel that it is the place of Child Welfare or the foster parents to provide this information to the children. Some Child Welfare caseworkers refuse to help foster children in their care to get birth control.

"A DCF worker finally agreed to take a girl to a clinic after a Leon County judge ''browbeat'' the caseworker into changing course. In a second case, one of the clinic's students finally bought a teenage girl condoms after a caseworker refused to help her get them."

So, the debate continues on while the numbers of pregnancies in foster teens is on the rise. People have their own beliefs about teens and birth control but you cannot impose your beliefs on a foster child. Another post “Pregnant Teenage Foster Children” talks about this issue in the foster care system.

Some states, such as Florida are trying different pilot programs to address this need in foster care. District attorneys in Florida are helping foster teens with birth control and gynecological needs. While another judge had a bowl of condems sitting in his court so that teens could aquire birth control. I have tried to find out more information on this pilot program but have been unsuccessful. I am not sure these are the answers. District attorneys seeking birth control with the foster children that they are somewhat involved with legally makes me wonder. Could this be close to stepping over the line?

"The protocol, still in draft form, calls for caseworkers to take pregnant girls to Planned Parenthood for counseling, to provide prenatal care to those who wish to give birth, to help in placing their babies up for adoption if they choose and to take them to a clinic if they request an abortion."

When the biological parents are not in the position to parent their children it is a hot topic that so many of us want to step back from, what do the teen foster girls do? What if you are put in a position to help a foster teen do something that is against everything you believe?

The problem continues to grow while we decide what to do and who is responsible. Please share your ideas and feelings below.

More reading:

How to Decide if Foster Care is Right For Your Family