NCJ Number
43293
Date Published
1977
Length
0 pages
Annotation
THIS FILM, DESIGNED TO OFFER A SURFACE VIEW OF FOSTER CARE AND TO STIMULATE DISCUSSION AND TRAINING OF NEW FOSTER PARENTS, DEPICTS THE PLACEMENT OF THREE FOSTER CHILDREN.
Abstract
THE PLACEMENT OF A 4-YEAR-OLD BLACK CHILD WHO HAS LOST HIS MOTHER IN DEATH IS DEPICTED TO SHOW THE NEED FOR FOSTER CARE DUE TO THE LOSS OF A PARENT. THE NEXT SITUATION EXAMINED IS THAT OF A 10-YEAR-0LD MEXICAN/ AMERICAN BOY WHOSE PARENTS HAVE DESERTED HIM AND WHO HAS BEEN PLACED IN A SINGLE PARENT MEXICAN/AMERICAN HOME. THE BOY DREAMS OF FINDING HIS PARENTS, FANTASIZES ABOUT WHAT THE RULES ARE IN HIS NEW HOME, AND FIGHTS AT SCHOOL. ONE-HALF OF THE FILM TIME IS SPENT ON THE LAST CASE, THAT OF A 15-YEAR-OLD WHITE GIRL WHO HAS VIOLATED THE LAW BY RUNNING AWAY FROM HER NATURAL HOME. ISSUES EXAMINED IN THIS STORY ARE DRUGS, RUNNING AWAY FROM FOSTER CARE, COURT ACTION, ADJUSTMENT OF THE CHILD TO FOSTER CARE, SIBLING RIVALRY, AND RESOLUTION WITH THE NATURAL FAMILY. THE FILM WAS WRITTEN TO DEAL WITH THE FOLLOWING ISSUES: A CHILD'S FEELINGS AT THE TIME OF PLACEMENT, A CHILD'S GRIEF OVER THE LOSS OF PARENTS OR REJECTION BY PARENTS, THE PROBLEMS OF THE FAMILY THAT OPENS ITS HOME TO A FOSTER CHILD, AND THE PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED BY THE FOSTER CHILD IN A FOSTER PLACEMENT.