Transgressing the Border Between Protection and Empowerment for Domestic Violence Victims and Older Children: Empowerment a Protection in the Foster Care System

Abstract:     
This article was presented at the conference in memory of Mary Jo Frug entitled, "Transgressing Borders: Women's Bodies, Identities and Families." Using the theme of "transgressing borders," the article considers the border into and out of the foster care system for domestic violence victims and older teens. The article uses history, legislation, current operation and representational standards to depict the tensions between protection and empowerment in the foster care system. The protection of children has always been balanced against the empowerment of both caretakers and older children. This article shifts the debate to consider protection and empowerment as complimentary goals, especially when considering caretakers who are victims of domestic violence and older children in foster care.

Accepted Paper Series