The story of Jason poignantly conveys the devastating impact of multiple losses, attachments and separations on the emotional development of a child whose complex mental health needs cannot be met by the foster care system. Certainly the many placements replicated the original trauma of the loss of his mother. Jason repeatedly tells people that he wants a stable home and a reliable caregiver. Unfortunately Jason’s problems are compounded by the trauma he experienced within the foster care system, affecting his ability to sustain lasting relationships, his behavior and his self-esteem. These problems make it difficult for foster parents to provide adequate care, so the cycle of rejection is perpetuated.
The article does not address Jason’s critical need for a long-term psychotherapeutic relationship that can help him develop a capacity for lasting relationships in the absence of a stable home and family and to deal with the profound damage to his sense of self as well as to advocate for Jason’s needs within the educational and child welfare systems. In conjunction with a proper home, this intervention can help ensure Jason’s future.
