Foster care

After spending all of her 15 years bouncing from one foster family to another, Lux has decided it’s time to take control of her life and files to become an emancipated minor. Her journey through the legal maze of emancipation leads Lux to her biological father, Nate ‘Baze’ Bazile, who is astonished to learn that he has a teenage daughter. Baze owns a bar and lives like an aging fraternity boy with his two slacker roommates.

Lux learns that her mother is Cate Cassidy, a star on the local radio morning show. Lux has been listening to Cate’s voice on the radio as long as she can remember, so she feels an instant connection with the mom she’s never met. Cate is guilt-ridden and saddened to learn that Lux has grown up in foster care, but happy to finally meet her beautiful daughter. When a judge decides that Lux isn’t ready for emancipation and unexpectedly grants temporary joint custody to Baze and Cate, they agree to make a belated attempt to give Lux the family she deserves.

Posted in Exclude, Media watch, TV Tagged Foster care, TV, USA Leave a Comment

2010-09-14: UK child border procedures defended

By Noel on September 14, 2010

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/newsnight/8998198.stm

The UK immigration authority has defended its procedures following claims it could do more to protect children brought to the UK from abroad.

In a Newsnight probe, welfare groups criticised the failure of the UK Border Agency to tell all adults accompanying children about private fostering law.

They said this left many children unregistered and vulnerable to abuse.

But the UK Border Agency (UKBA) said it was better to look for signs of risk and then make direct intervention.

Research shows there are at least 10,000 children in Britain, many from West Africa, growing up in informal fostering arrangements unknown to local authorities.

The law requires guardians to notify their local council of the arrangement, but few do.

‘Absolutely shocking’ Continue reading »

Posted in Exclude, Media watch, The law Tagged Foster care, Nigeria, Trafficking, UK Leave a Comment

Gay Dads: a celebration of fatherhood

By Noel on August 1, 2010

Gay Dads, David Strah with Susanna Margolis, Penguin Group (USA) inc, 2004
Relevance to Ireland
Another book from and about the USA, but because it is testimonial based, it has some universal relevance. But a lot is so dated that it does not take into account that people are more accepting of gay couples in Ireland, but that legally we are still backward, and that it is very unlikely that the adoptees profile will be anyting liek what these stories depict. Also the legal differences make the choices more restricted.

Relevance to 'pink adoptions'
You'd think that it could not be more relevant! (For men), but an Irish gay man can feel miles away from this America, or they can feel very close!

Readability
Easy reading, quick and diverse. The persistent racist terminology is unavoidable in such books, but still annoying.

Rigor in the research/documentation
Not sure if it is really supported by a view on pink adoptions, or just a set of testimonials rearranged a bit artificially. Such books always have a theory behind them, and it is not clear which theory it is. Some of the motivations presented by some of the stories are borderline disturbing. (E.g., choosing the gender of the child)

Overall
A good read to feel better about the prospect of being a pink household.

Posted in Books, Reviews Tagged All sessions (pink), Books, Foster care, Gay men, Kinship, LGBT, Pink, Reviewed, Testimonials, USA 1 Comment

Gay men choosing parenthood

By Irish Pink Adoptions on February 25, 2010

Gay men choosing parenthood, Gerald P. Mallon, Colombia University Press, 2004, ISBN 0-231-11797-3
Relevance to Ireland
As most books in this area, it is either about the USA or the UK. This book is about the USA, and more specifically New York City and Los Angeles.

Relevance to 'pink adoptions'
It is a 'grounded' study, interviewing real gay men who have chosen to become parent via adoption. it has hugely inspired the structure of the 'testimonials page' here

Readability
Not the most pleasant of reads. A bit messy, a bit clinical, a bit repetitive too.

Rigor in the research/documentation
Very well documented and researched. But it is relying a bit too much on very old data and some outdated theories. I am not sure that Kinsey's 1948 conclusions can still stand unexamined.