Blog Post 11- Thoughts on Foster Care

     For Monday's class we had two guest speakers come in. They were both involved in the foster care system and also in the adoption process. Caitlin's experience was fairly positive while Jesse's was more on the negative side. I think it's great that we got a personal and entirely new perspective on foster care and adoption during this class. 

Caitlin's family life was clearly complicated but her willingness to talk to our class about her experiences was admirable. She was involved in kinship care by her aunt and uncle when her mother could no longer care for her. In 'Shattered Bonds' Dorthy Roberts seems to lean towards this option for other children too. "Children can often remain safely with kin while maintaining contact with their parents, leaving open the possibility of reunification if circumstances improve" (162). Keeping children in touch with their biological family members is a good option in most cases because there is probably already a bond to some degree and Roberts is adamantly against severing those ties. As great as kinship care appears I wonder if sometimes, having that parent present in their children's lives could be damaging. For instance if the relationship wasn't a good one and if the parent showed no remorse or caring about why their child was taken from them, it could be an emotional roller coaster for a child that could potentially manifest itself later in life.

     Jesse's experience was much different. He was adopted after one phone call by a woman from Minnesota who allegedly paid the social worker to adopt several children whom she then (from what I gathered from Jesse's story) didn't care for the children or respect their feelings and was an unstable mother. So Jesse's experience with the foster care system was a more positive one because the foster family that he spent the most time with, loved him and wanted to adopt him but were deemed 'too old' by the state. I see this as very unfortunate because what was wanted by both parties, especially Jesse who was old enough himself to state what he would have wanted at the time, was completely disregarded. The policy of "concurrent permanency planning" which is a policy that "places foster care children on two tracks at the same time - one track focuses on reuniting them with their parents; the other seeks to find them a permanent home with another family. Caseworker must pursue both goals simultaneously" (111). Was this what Jesse's social worker was trying to abide by? He went in and out of his home and the system for many years until one day the social worker allows a woman from MN to fly Jesse away from everything he's familiar with by this point in his life. My first question is why are the opinions of the children not considered more often than not? It's their lives we're messing with and the effects of the choice that's made is what they have to deal with for the remainder of their lives. I just think it's so unfair that they're not asked or, like in Jesse's case, not even really considered.

     Another question I'd like to pose is one that's straight out of 'Shattered Bonds': "What would happen if we devoted more resources to supporting families instead of foster care?" (129).

Blog Post 10 - Option 2:

There are a multitude of factors contributing to the racial disparities in the welfare system of America. It would be a monumental and nearly impossible task to try and gather every bit of history, and social practices that have led this country to where it is today. However, Dorthy Roberts, the author of "Shattered Bonds; The Color of Child Welfare" provides plenty of evidence to make the strong claims that she does about the issue of racial imbalance in the welfare system. She starts by talking about the very start of what would become the system; where the wealthy people began charitable missions in the late nineteenth century to try to help children that needed it. However, these orphanages more often than not refused to accept black children. "By the time of the 1923 census, thirty-one northern states reported a total of 1,070 child-caring agencies. Of these agencies, 35 were for Black children only, 264 accepted all races, 60 took nonwhite children except Blacks, and 711 were reserved for white children" (7). One of the other historical pieces she cites that stood out to me was, "...whites opposed the War on Poverty precisely because of its link to Black civil rights" (16). Which is evidence of the problem that African Americans will begin to have with the system. 

Factors that I feel might contribute to these racial imbalances are that there is still an attitude toward the African American race that keeps them down more often than not; they might not have all of the opportunities to advance in life that they would be allowed had their skin been a different color. Meaning to say that they have worked just as hard, if not harder than a white person but that their skin color has affected their social status. To continue with that assumption, I'm guessing that the system is run by predominantly white upper-middle class people that potentially do not see their biases. They probably mean well, considering they entered into the field that they did but we live in a nation where prejudices against African Americans are ignored, as shown in the article we read about 'silent racism'. It could be difficult to convince a judge or social worker in the midst of the system who sees Black parents (good and bad) considerably more often than white parents, that there is something wrong, which will just continue to perpetuate the ideas that landed them there to begin with.  These are just a few of the areas that I believe contribute to the discrepancy among Blacks and whites within the American welfare and foster care system.

-Judy

Blog Post #9: Foster Care with No Care

Hello blog readers,

Today's topic is foster care and the perspective Dorothy Roberts portrays in Shattered Bonds: The Color of  Child Welfare. Based on the evidence Roberts gives, there are some factors that might contribute to the racial disparities within the foster care system in the United States. I feel this quote from her book sums up everything she is focused around; "Today, 42 percent of all children in foster care nationwide are Black, even though Black children constitute only 17 percent of the nation's youth./ Black families are the most likely of any group to be disrupted by child protection authorities" (Roberts, p. 8). This shows how many Black children are 'saved' (harsh emphasis) by the child protection agency and what race the agency is particularly trying to help. I'm not saying that the CPA isn't saving children but I am saying not all of them need to be saved. Take the story about Devon and her family. The DCFS tore her children from her in the middle of a picnic without notice and over revenge for a complaint placed by Devon. She had a suitable house at the time and a positive future for a job based on her education. Her four kids, based on Roberts' description of the story, didn't seem like they should leave their mother.

One of the main factors Roberts talks about early on is the theory of "visibility hypothesis" which I would like to discuss. "The visibility hypothesis suggests 'that there is a higher probability for the minority children to be placed in foster care when living in a geographic area where they are relatively less represented'" (Roberts, p. 9). This is a completely new proposed hypothesis to me yet, strangely, I understand it. I grew up in an extremely white town in Northern Minnesota and I can actually relate to what Roberts talks about in this chapter. She states "that visibility increases the chances of minority placement because agencies are more likely to investigate underrepresented groups or because these groups lack social supports that could ward off investigation" (Roberts, p. 10). I believe this has to deal a lot with racism even with the thought being that during this day and age racism is less prevalent... it still is as it seems. This is most definitely racial disparity because through this hypothesis it basically means, for Black Americans, they will never fit in. I find this despicably shocking and revolting because we are all human beings, even closer we are all Americans.

Thanks for reading this short Post. 'Till next time.
-Michael

Blog Post #10: Unfair System

When looking at the claims that Roberts makes, a lot of them are eye opening and infuriating.  When looking at the foster care system, Roberts states that it is “…a system designed to deal with the problems of minority families – primarily Black families – whereas the problems of white families are handled by separate and less disruptive mechanisms,” (Roberts, p. 10).  She supports this by looking at the statistics, such as “Black children are ten times more likely to be placed in foster care in New York City than white children,” (Roberts, p. 9).  She then goes on to share how unfair the system is with Devon’s story.  Devon was trying to take care of many children from extended family.  The caseworker order that she look for a bigger apartment, etc. is she wanted to keep the children.  However, Devon was being treated unprofessionally by the caseworker, and when she reported it, she believes the caseworker decided to retaliate.  The caseworker came during the middle of a picnic, picked the children up right in front of Devon and put them in car.  Devon was only handed a notice that she no longer had custody of the children (Roberts, p. 12).   From there Devon tried to send loving messages, gifts, etc., but all were sent back to her because the caseworker said it would, “confuse them,” (Roberts, p. 13).

Another point that supports Robert’s claim that the system is “designed to deal with the problems off minority families” when she talks about abuse on page 17.  She states, “White children who are abused or neglected are twice as likely as Black children to receive services in their own homes, avoiding the emotional damage and physical risks of foster care placement.  Put another way, most white children who enter the system are permitted to stay with their families, whereas most Black children are taken away from theirs,” (Roberts, p. 17).   This goes to show how unfair and unequal the treatment is from black children to white children involved in neglect or abuse.   

-Mickey N.

Blog Post #8

The ethical issue I am going to write about relates to gay and lesbian adoption.  I picked this because I am an openly gay man who hopes to adopt one day, but some feel like adoption should be left to the straight families or families with a mother and a father.  I want to show that it is possible for a child to have two mothers or two fathers.

One ethical concept that is related to my topic is "the right to equal treatment under the law."  Shouldn't gay and lesbian couples have the right to adopt like everyone else?  Another ethical concept that relates to this is topic is oppression, and to relate to that I can look at the Five Faces of Oppression such as cultural imperialism.  Some people do not agree with the some of the things that gays and lesbians do and brings the whole group down as a whole when people generalize, etc.  Just because these two gay men or these two lesbian women did drugs does not mean that all of us homosexuals are druggies.  That is just something minor that people say about homosexuality.

For my research, I will be using books, especially ones that Jean Keller suggested for me, and I will be using academic journals to find research on studies that have been done to support my paper.  I know there is some research on gay and lesbian parenting in the library databases.  I will also use "The Five Faces of Oppression" in my paper as well.

On a scale from 1-10, I am at a 10.  This something I am very interested in.

I really don't have any questions right now, but if people think that there is stronger ethical concepts to address, please let me know.

-Mickey N.

Blog Post #7/8:

Welcome back to the adoptive mind of Michael!

Today, I would like to discuss what ethical issue that ensues adoption I would like to write about in my final paper. I wanted to pick something I could relate to and learn from for future reference.

The ethical issue I would like to analyze is the feeling of powerlessness in adoption. The main subjects in the adoption triad I will address are the adoptees and birthfathers and the evident powerlessness prior to birth and as we grow older. What makes this topic so interesting/important to me is the fact that I will be able to learn more about my subconscious thoughts and feelings. It's also important because it might answer questions I might have about my own life experiences and my birthfathers' experiences. I hope to address the disagreement between which group of the adoption triad possesses the least amount of power and why.

The ethical concepts that go along with the powerlessness issue in adoption can be found in the 5 Faces of Oppression by Iris Young, Adoption Nation by Adam Pertman, and the handouts given in class. The concept I would like to address most would be the oppression birthfathers are associated and faced with by almost everyone else in the adoption triad. Another concept would be the group in the triad with the least amount of power, the adoptees themselves.

The sources I intend to use in my paper would be the pieces mentioned above (5 Faces, Adoption Nation, and handouts) along with blogs relayed to us in class. I feel some of the information and articles on the blogs will help me convey the wanted theme on birthfathers. I will also use the book I read for review (Sherrie Eldridge's book Twenty Life-Transforming Choices Adoptees Need to Make) because the interviews and points discussed by Eldridge will perfectly portray what I need as information regarding powerlessness with adoptees.

On a scale of 1-10, I think I will for sure be writing about this same ethical topic at the end of the semester... so a 10.

I think I have a fairly great base for my paper, but suggestions are always welcome. Are there any more sources relevant to this topic that I should consider when writing? Should I analyze other groups in the adoption triad on powerlessness in order to compare the level of power?

Thank you for reading!

-Michael

Book Review: Black Baby, White Hands - Jaiya John

The author of Black Baby, White Hands is Jaiya John. He is known as being the first black baby to be adopted by two white parents in the United States of America just after the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.

Being the first African American baby adopted by two white parents, Jaiya John had a unique experience growing up in the United States during the 1960s. Race was the most pervasive theme in this story. Adoption is also a primary theme in Jaiya's story. However, it is secondary to his issues with race because he was part of a white family and thus felt even more different from them rather than just by his being adopted. The third theme that weaves itself through John's story is that of family, his connection to his adoptive family and his eventual connection to his birth mothers' and birth fathers' families. Through reading the narrative it becomes clear that for some transracially adopted children love may not always be enough. Without blatantly stating his opinions and the telling of his feelings growing up, he makes a strong case against transracial adoption. That, or a guide for parents considering it, as John clearly explains what he wishes his parents would have done and said to him throughout his life.

In regards to his new family's way of life he says, "It was I, most of all, who was adopting" (p31). John provides an experiential account of what life was like for him growing up with white parents and a white sister in the predominantly white community of Los Alamos, New Mexico. He was a blessed child and loved by the people in his life but they were all white except for his even darker little brother Greg, who his parents had also adopted. He and Greg struggled growing up with few black role models in their lives."Black entertainers, athletes, and comics, and starving children in Africa: the images of Black folk that were available to us" (96). He and his little brother began to decide their normality in terms of how the media portrayed Black people. As we covered in class, the media is the most negative and stereotyping source of information on race so clearly this wasn't a positive comparison for him at such a young age. 

At this time in the nation's history, many people did not hide how they felt about racial issues and he always felt like the sore thumb that made his family stick out. When he was discriminated against his family would feed him the overused lines, such as: don't listen to them', and 'color doesn't mean anything'. Unfortunately in his world, it meant everything. "I was dealing with a host of race-related issues, and my parents' simplistic messages didn't cut it" (169). His parents wished that he could ignore others' ignorance and overcome it but he claims he was just not that strong as a young person. His mother also had trouble working with their hair which he says was incredibly painful. He was always sad that his hair was such an unnatural thing for even the local barber to try to manage. This differentiating aspect is another element of transracial adoption that was discussed in our class. Many of us came to the consensus that parents need to make an effort to understand how to treat these differences. Fortunately today, I think that information is more available than it was in the 1970s. Although his story will make the reader think twice about how easily White parents can deal with the issues presented by racial differences.

Being one of the only Black children in his school made him feel very insecure about everything, he claims he never felt as intelligent as the other white children in his classes. "As early as preschool I was conscious of physical aspect of my race...The children looked different from me but similar to each other"(36). By the age of five he was withdrawing because he felt so different; the force of the discomfort he felt wasn't enough to allow him to receive any acceptance from the other kids. He believes that if he and his brother had been taught by a black teacher at any point in their lives then that teacher would have seen that the boys' insecurities came from being black in such a predominantly white community. He claims, "I acted the 'good boy' so that the stereotypes I knew some of them had of Black people could not be confirmed through me" (104). This left him feeling alienated to other Black people as well. He felt that they would never accept him into their community completely either. He explicitly say, "I wished my parents could have known more Black people, anywhere, so that we could have had more naturally interacted with them " (272).

According to Jaiya John, White communities and Black communities are different in ways that really do matter. "Anybody who argued that there weren't distinct cultural differences between White Americans and African Americans wasn't living in the society I knew" (243). He finds this out when he moves far away to Oregon. Here, he goes to college and begins to interact with other people of various races whom he says acknowledged each other one way or another because they always felt their minority status. "Culture-more than just holidays and food-is a deeply subtle substance that is with us from birth" (35). As talked about in our class, many adoptees feel a need to find their birth parents or wish to look in the face of someone they have like features with. This is obviously important to John as well.

When he first leaves for college, he drifts from his family and identifies more with the Black community. He has conversations with his parents that he hopes will reveal what their reasoning was for adopting him. He wonders if it's for the 'ethnic spice' that we discussed from one of our class' readings. He finds out that his parents really just wanted to give him a better life. When his mother finally gets frustrated with him she asks if he would've rather them left him in foster care. He understands why she says this but says, "The expectation of indebtedness is the bane of the adopted child" (294). Later in his adult life John realizes that all of this soul searching may be hurting his adoptive family but tells them it's something he needs in his life. He feels that they simply will not ever understand the way he feels different from them but says he appreciates their efforts and loves them for the ways that they did try while he was growing up.

This book has infinite value when understanding race in adoption and getting an alternative point of view. Jaiya John repeats many of his points over and over again and can be a bit wordy at times, but this aspect of his writing definitely made his objectives clear to the reader. I was thankful that they hear his story, for it gives a variety of perspectives on the world that may not have otherwise been presented to me, as he drove his point home; there truly are fundamental differences between cultures. This should not keep us from loving, but it is important to keep in mind in terms of adoption ethics.