Somebody Else's Children Assignment

Answer the following questions in note-form on this paper.

Reading Assignment 1: Prologue-63
1. What are the benefits and shortcomings of the three policies of dependency courts (Family preservation, Family reunification, Permanency planning) which are meant to help children in difficult family situations?

2. Why was it so difficult for Jenny to get placed in a foster home? How are both teenagers and foster parents victims of the Reagan-Bush administration?

3. Read over the questions at the top of page 63. What are you responses to these questions?

Reading Assignment 2: 64-145
1. What rights do you think parents have over their children? What rights do children have in our society?

2. "There are a lot of 'bad' parents out there, mothers who endlessly scream at their children, fathers who use children to satisfy their own narcissistic needs. When does society in the form of the court say, 'This is more than just a run-of-the-mill bad parent?' When is it decided that this an abusive, neglectful parent and that the court must step in?" (105)
What do you think about this statement? Is there a way to determine the difference between "bad" and dangerous parents?

3. What is your opinion about the decisions rendered in both Jenny and Nicky's cases? Do you think the best decisions were made?

4. What do you think about the case involving Kimberly and the Beyer family? Why do you think this case was included in the book?

Reading Assignment 3: 146-197
1. "However, what is 'in the best interest of the child' is often elusive and subtle. These same laws can be manipulated by vengeful and embittered adults; they can easily backfire on the children they are supposed to help To placate these warring parents, the child is forced into a rigid, stressful schedule of back-and-forth visits that are completely out of sync with the child's own developmental needs, the child's own social schedule, and the child's desires about where he wants to live" (163).
Many of the cases in this book seem far removed from the experiences of Menlo students, but this situation is not. How can divorce put stress and feelings of conflicted loyalty on a child? How should custody battles be decided?

2. Why were residential treatment centers created? What are the benefits and drawbacks of these centers?

Reading Assignment 4: 197-274
1. Why did living in a group home work for Jesse? Is this the best option for any child who is considered a "throwaway?"

2. What kind of coverage does the media present on young people? Why do you think this is the case?

3. Do you think that harsh punishments prevent crimes from occurring?

Reading Assignment 5: 275-309
1. Given that Claudia and Luis grew up under similar circumstances, why is Claudia's outlook on life so different from Luis'?

2. Which story did you find the most heart wrenching and why?

General Questions for Discussion
Should children and adults have the same rights?
Should the government have the right to separate siblings?
Do we have the responsibility to try to save every child in need?
How does our society define "in need?"
When/how does society decide to intervene?
Is family reunification always desirable?
Should a child born with FAS or drug addiction ever be returned to his/her biological parents?
How many chances should parents be given to rehabilitate themselves?
How many chances should a child be given to rehabilitate him/herself?
Should society punish juvenile criminals that same as adults?

Writing Assignment

Choose one situation described in Somebody Else's Children and explain how you would deal with it. At what point (if ever) is a community justified in taking away from biological parents their right to raise their child? How do you balance the rights of a parent and the rights of the parent's child?

This paper should be divided into two parts.
Þ In part one, describe and then explore the key laws and procedures you would create. Use specific cases from the book to help determine the reasons you would want your procedures and laws to be in place. (2-4 pages)
Þ In part two, reflect on your own ethical choices as they are revealed in part one. What moral principles lie behind the laws you would create? What kind of a judge or social worker would you be? Do you tend to favor the rights of parents or those of children? How generous would you be with "extra chances"- how many mistakes would you allow people to make before you revoke their rights (to freedom, to be parents, to choose who to be one's parents). (2-4 pages)