I have read a lot of horror stories about child abuse by biological parents, and one common thread in many of these cases is that SS/CPS was involved but, for some reason, declined to remove the child from the home. I always thought this was because we had some liberal notions about parenthood and how everybody deserves a chance with their children and you can't break the family bond and parents need several opportunities to change, etc...

But I'm realizing now that we aren't removing kids from abusive homes because we don't have any place to put them--group homes are full up, adoptive parents avoid older children, and there aren't enough foster parents...and many of these alternatives are too often undesirable anyway.

I think we need to fix this problem. We need more good homes for kids.

What do y'all think? Do you think we have a problem? What do you think we can do to fix it? What makes a good home? How can non-biological parents create a good home?

(I got a paper to write so I'm counting on you to help me procrastinate.)

[Edited on July 31, 2010 at 4:21 PM. Reason : I haven't read anything about this topic so please to bring some info. if you got some.]

7/31/2010 4:16:29 PM

Certainly don't ban abortions.

7/31/2010 4:21:30 PM

^And don't forget, we need a lot of states to continue to make it hard for gay couples to adopt so as to encourage them to adopt from out of country or not at all instead.

7/31/2010 4:38:07 PM

Abortions for some, miniature American flags for others.

7/31/2010 4:39:07 PM

^^^^sounds like a platform, you gonna run for office?!?

[Edited on July 31, 2010 at 4:40 PM. Reason : w]

7/31/2010 4:39:51 PM

How about after-birth abortions? Up to 10 years after the birth?

7/31/2010 4:42:05 PM

Orphanages were a very efficient way of raising wards of the state. With proper oversight, I would be in favor of them.

7/31/2010 5:52:43 PM

i seem to remember a recent npr story about new studies that show that group homes are as effectice or possible even more effective than foster homes (what is currently favored). i wonder if we will see any policy change from this.

7/31/2010 5:54:17 PM