The Media Perspective

“Understanding Media Trends in Child Welfare” states that the media industry is full of competition. In order to gain the attention of readers, the media creates stories based on the problems that the foster care system and the solutions that the system has had. As a way to capture the attention of the public, many media companies have created very dramatic headlines, such as "Eleven Kids Found Living in Cages in Ohio" or "Kids Found Living in Squalor." These headlines and stories do nothing more than sell magazines and newspapers. The real truth of a difficult situation is often buried in the bottom of the new stories. For more information this link will direct you to the PDF file of the article “Understating Media Trends in Child Welfare” . (*Requires Adobe Reader)

White Oleander by Janet Fitch

Media Examples: Foster children are brought into foster homes which are are supposed to be safe,but in reality they aren't such great places. Many of these children are forced to move around from foster homes several times until they are able to find people to adopt them. Many of these experiences are illustrated in media sources like the movie "White Oleander" (2002), which was directed by Peter Kosminsky, portrays the life of a teen age girl who is forced into the foster care system after her mother is put in prison. This movie shows how this young girl struggles to maintain a secure home because she is forced to go through several foster homes.Therefore, demonstrating that media doesn't always portray the foster care system as being a good place.

Before having foster homes the United States of America had orphanages, but were they weren't very good places for children to grow up in, so they came up with the foster care system because it's more like a family home even though there are still people out there that want orphanages. By the foster care system being brought up, shows that foster homes aren't as bad as people believe they are, they are actually better than orphanages which was what we had before, because they create an atmosphere closer to a home which is what these children need. Although the foster care system was brought with good intensions it still continues to have problems which they cannot help, due to the insufficient support that they receive. Media might portray the foster care system in a bad way because it is, but if the system could receive more support and aid, it could definitely be a better place.

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Works cited:
“ The Future for Teens in Foster Care.” <2004>  <http://youthadvocacycenter.org/pubs
/reports.html#future>.

“ The impact of foster care on teens and a new philosophy for preparing teens for participating citizenship." < 2001> <http://youthadvocacycenter.org/pdf/FutureforTeens.pdf>

“ Orphanage”. Microsoft Encarta.2001.15 November 2005.

"Basic Rights of Foster Parents". < 2005>
<http://www.nfpainc.org/aboutFP/rights_FP.cfm?page=2>

“Understanding Media Trends in Child Welfare” <2002> <http://www.aecf.org/initiatives/familytofamily/tools/
16951.pdf#search='foster%20care%20system%20throughout%20media'>

Image:Annie_2006_Tour_Logo.jpg.<2005-2006> <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Annie_2006_Tour_Logo.jpg>

Image:Whiteoleandercover.jpg<2006><wikipedia.org>