Category Archives: Politics

Political issues and news affecting foster or former fosters.

What about these kids? Didn’t they NEED foster care?

Aging out, CPS & DFACS, Foster Statistics, General Discussion, In The News, Money, Politics, Stupid Things

One thing I’ve heard before – “What about the kids who NEED foster care?”

Well, what about them?  Please, show me some kids who NEED foster care.  I’ve never seen a kid who NEEDS foster care. I’ve seen kids who need family, a home, food, clothing. But I’ve never met anyone who NEEDS foster care.

The question, like so many illogical statements about foster care are simply begging the question – using a premise to support the question. The premise is that foster care is the solution to maltreatment, neglect and abuse. Ergo, kids in those situations NEED foster care because foster care is the solution.

Continue reading What about these kids? Didn’t they NEED foster care? →

Separation and lifelong stress

Foster Statistics, General Discussion, In The News, Politics

I’ll make this brief.

How do you know you have a bias against a group of people?

For your consideration:

One: This comic from Katie Wheeler and Ryan Deveraux about the life long effects and trauma of being separated from their parents when immigrating to the US.

vs.

Two: The (apx.) 20 million current and former foster children across the US (6% of the population) who no one seems to think suffer the same life long effects and trauma.

Because? 

When you are of the belief that the same action hurts one group of people in one way but not another, you have to ask why you think that.  When you think that you have an obligation to fight for one of those groups, but not the other, you have to ask yourself why.

And the only answer anyone ever comes up with is “but their parents…”  Yeah. I know. I know their parents did something you didn’t like.  How does that justify the trauma we are inflicting on kids taken into the foster system?

The scene portrayed in the comic is EXACTLY the scene that plays out everyday in this country with parents and children taken into foster care.

 

Build The Wall Foster The Kids

CPS & DFACS, General Discussion, In The News, Politics, ,

So apparently, we want to build a wall to keep people out, but take the kids from those who do make it in and place those kids in foster care. That will certainly help the situation won’t it? Build the wall – foster the kids!

KCRC-child-id

Baby’s first photo ID! So cute!

It’s hard to overstate just how intentional these policies are at overloading the institutions that we rely on for basic care and peace. Attacks on the courts, attacks on immigrants, people or color, political opponents.  It’s just one long attack on the system designed to keep people on their heels.

Continue reading Build The Wall Foster The Kids →

Why end foster care?

CPS & DFACS, General Discussion, Politics, Religion, Sex, ,

Let’s play a game.

It’s a game you’ve played before.

It’s called “pretend.”

It’s a fun game where you can make all kinds of assumptions, wild arguments and create fantastical outcomes.

Let’s pretend the following…

You’re 13.  You’re in middle school,  seventh grade.  Your best friend is clearly having a bad day.  After lots and lots of annoying nagging from you she finally opens up – and breaks down.

Turns out, your best friend has been molested by her father for the last three years.  Her mother doesn’t know.  Her priest, priestess or minister or doesn’t know.  Nobody knows – except you and her.

What do you do?
Continue reading Why end foster care? →

Killing kids

General Discussion, In The News, Politics, Religion, Stupid Things, , ,

So there is this wonderful story about a couple in Philadelphia who starved their 3 year old to death.  Their daughter weighed 11 pounds at the time of her death.  What do you say when you read things like this?

Honestly, there isn’t much to say.

But, there is more to the story.  While the general population has a hard time fathoming the idea of starving one’s child – TO DEATH – you might note within the story that the couple had 4 other children, including a twin of the 3 year old.
Continue reading Killing kids →