Broken Systems-Shattered Lives

The Effects of Trauma on Children in the Welfare System



The children who enter the Los Angeles County Child Welfare System often come from violent and abusive families - only to be placed in another, sometimes worse, predicament. Too many of these children will die, as the system that is supposed to protect them fails to keep them safe. These children are a disenfranchised minority-abused by their parents and by the system, sentencing them to a lifetime of suffering. This book provides a rare insider's view of the child welfare system. It takes an in-depth look at the effects on the children under its care, those who are mandated to help, and the homes in which they are placed. Ours is a broken system that often creates long-lasting, negative consequences for the children, families, and professionals who are a part of it. Author Gary Reece has been involved with hundreds of children over the past ten years as a psychologist and foster care social worker. He has seen and felt their pain and met their abusers. He's gone to court and testified on their behalf. He has also worked closely with their surrogate families and the social workers who manage their cases. By examining the system and how it affects the lives of children who have the misfortune to become embroiled in it, perhaps key problems, issues, and solutions will become evident to the rest of the population.