Caring for a Foster Child Who Has an Eating Disorder

Contributor: Crystal Karges, MS, RDN, IBCLC, Special Projects Coordinator at Eating Disorder Hope/Addiction Hope

For many individuals, family means more than just biological ties. Those who might always be there for you, regardless of distance, time or circumstances, often create a sense of family. For many children who may be displaced from their birthparents, foster care can provide a sense of family, particularly during a turbulent time of life when family seems relatively unstable.

The foster care system has provided temporary homes for countless of children and adolescents when birthparents are unable to care for their loved ones, whatever the reason may be.

If you have taken in foster children within your own home, you have likely understood both the joys and challenges that come with this territory. Many families establish wonderful relationships with the children they foster, some going on to fost-adopt, or adopt a child that has been fostered within their home. Foster care can be life-saving for a child who has been temporarily displaced, having the opportunity to create a sense of family within a home setting.

Fostering a Child With an Eating Disorder

Children who are fostered come from various backgrounds, homes, lifestyles, socioeconomic influences and range in age. It is not entirely possible to know everything about a child who you might be fostering, including any physical or emotional challenges they may have had prior to entering your home.

A child entering your home may struggle with some form of mental illness, depending on their past experiences, and it is important to be aware of possible signs and symptoms. This may be especially true for a child who has endured trauma or abuse prior to entering the fostering care system.

If you suspect your foster child may be suffering with some form of disordered eating or an eating disorder, be sure to connect them to the help and resources they need for recovery. Even if your role in your foster child’s life is temporary, you still have the ability to make a difference. Simply being aware of something they are struggling with, listening to their needs and concerns, and connecting them with professional treatment can make all the difference in their life.

Community Discussion – Share your thoughts here!

What are ways in which foster parents can help a child struggling with an eating disorder?

About the Author: Crystal is a Masters-level Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) with a specialty focus in eating disorders, maternal/child health and wellness, and intuitive eating. Combining clinical experience with a love of social media and writing, Crystal serves as the Special Projects Coordinator for Eating Disorder Hope/Addiction Hope, where her passion to help others find recovery and healing is integrated into each part of her work.

As a Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor, Crystal has dedicated her career to helping others establish a healthy relationship with food and body through her work with EDH/AH and nutrition private practice.

The opinions and views of our guest contributors are shared to provide a broad perspective of eating disorders. These are not necessarily the views of Eating Disorder Hope, but an effort to offer discussion of various issues by different concerned individuals.

We at Eating Disorder Hope understand that eating disorders result from a combination of environmental and genetic factors. If you or a loved one are suffering from an eating disorder, please know that there is hope for you, and seek immediate professional help.

Last Updated & Reviewed By: Jacquelyn Ekern, MS, LPC on June 28, 2016
Published on EatingDisorderHope.com