Love, Mom

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of emotional abuse, physical abuse, mental illness, and addiction.

The American foster care system is designed to provide temporary living arrangements for children and adolescents who cannot remain safely with their biological families due to abuse, neglect, or other family crises. As of 2020, there are over 400,000 American youth living in the foster care system (“Foster Care.” The Policy Circle). While the system aims to protect vulnerable youth, it faces significant challenges, particularly in supporting teens as they transition to adulthood. The novel’s depiction of the American foster care system through the journeys of Elizabeth and Tonya reflects these challenges.

The majority of American youth in the foster care system live in non-resident foster homes with licensed adults. Like Elizabeth and Tonya, 9% of American foster care youth are raised in a group home, a residential facility that houses multiple children or teens under the care of paid staff (“Child Welfare and Foster Care Statistics.” The Annie E. Casey Foundation, 27 July 2024). These homes are often used when traditional foster family placements are unavailable or when a youth’s behavioral or emotional needs require daily support.