Informative Speech on Foster Care and Adoption

To foster is to take care of a child, usually for a limited time, without being the child’s legal parent (Cambridge Dictionary). There are different types of fostering, namely long term, short term, family and friendskinship, emergency, respite, remand, fostering for adoption, and specialist therapeutic. Whilst different qualifications may be needed for each type, the application process is the same.

Easily accessed

In 2020 there were 71,150 foster carers in England, with 9,510 fostering households were successfully approved from 2019-2020, looking after around 56,500 children. (Ofsted) The number of children being looked after in foster care is not completely accurate however, as due to COVID-19, only 94% of all eligible agencies could submit data. Despite this, this shows a growing interest in foster care, with Ofsted reporting there were 137,200 enquiries from prospective fostering households- a 7% increase from the previous year. However, there was a 10% decrease in applications to become a carer from March 2019, showing whilst more people are interested in fostering, personal circumstances and difficulties in applying such as COVID-19 could be preventing people from applying. This could be due to information about the process being hard to gain access for people who want to know more about fostering, meaning many people who are interested become dissuaded after finding out more information about details of fostering.

Another way to measure the accessibility of fostering as a way of starting a family is through how widespread information about it is. Whilst there are several official sources from local councils and the government about fostering, the sources are all online with any physical copies of information hard to find. Multiple independent fostering agencies also provide information and offer advice, but they may be biased in favour of fostering and may not present the whole picture. Whilst there are extra resources online such as support groups, local authority websites and independent fostering agencies make up the largest proportion of available information to prospective foster parents. This may restrict information as there are few personal experiences or advice shared by current foster carers online, which possibly distorts the process of fostering, as any negative aspects may not be seen on official websites.

Easily understood

The requirements for becoming a foster parent are few, with applicants only having to be:

  • at least 21 years old.
  • a UK resident or have indefinite leave to remain.
  • able to take care of a child or young person, often on a full-time basis.

The process of fostering is more complex as it can take up to 8 months to complete from the time someone applies to become a foster parent to when a decision is made from the fostering service. The firsts step is to apply to become a foster parent; then the council or fostering agency make potential foster parents: go on a preparation course for fostering, get an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) certificate, and be assessed by a social worker about their ability to care for a child. The foster parents applying also state preferences for children they would care for such as age and gender. Finally, the fostering service will review the application before the applying foster parents meet the panel who make a recommendation to the councilagency so they can decide on the application. (Gov.uk)

The assessment by the social worker has two stages, the first is an assessment of the applicant’s circumstances and the second is about personal information regarding the applicant and their family. If the application is approved the foster parents will be sent the profile of any child that might be a good fit for them as well as receiving training and support as they foster, with all foster parents receiving a care allowance of between £134 and £235 a week. (Gov.uk)

Therefore, I would say that whilst there are few laws about people who want to foster, and all foster parents go through a similar process, fostering is still quite complex and less easily understood than natural conception as the application process is long and required applicants to undergo different types of training before they can be approved. This difficulty can be seen with only 38% of all applications that were completed being approved(See Appendix H), as if the process was easy to understand, more people would be likely be accepted.

Easily achieved

Since only 1 in 4 applications leads to approval in 2020 (Ofsted), and applications received and approved have been decreasing yearly since 2016 (See Appendix G), I would say fostering is hard to achieve. Out of all the applications received in 2019-2020 that were completed, 62% ended up withdrawing. Out of those withdrawing 2490 applicants withdrew themselves (72%), and 985 applications were withdrawn by the service (28%), showing even after applying, many people find the process difficult and not what they expect and end up withdrawing, highlighting the relative inaccessibility as even if the person completed the entire application process, over half are not approved.

The time involved in the application takes on average around 8 months, but due to the increasing number of children in the care system, more foster parents are being matched with a child, with 64% of fostering places filled and only 16% vacant. Since 2018 the proportion of filled places has increased gradually, as the number of vacant places has decreased. Whilst the data for 2020 is only an estimate due to not all agencies being able to supply data due to covid-19, it is supported by the Department for Educations figure of 56,160 children in foster placements, a similar number compared to Ofsted’s estimate of 56,500 (Ofsted). Since both sources are reliable and trustworthy due to the DfE being a ministerial department of the government, and Ofsted being a non-ministerial department of the government (gov.uk), I would say these estimates are likely to be correct and can be considered reliable as the majority (94%) of fostering agencies still submitted data for 2020, which the estimate was based off. Since the number of filled fostering places has been increasing since 2016, I would say that after the application stage, fostering does become more accessible.

The number of approved fostering places in England has also been increasing gradually since 2016, as can be seen in Appendix I, showing that more people are finishing the process of applying for fostering and are being accepted, showing it is slightly more accessible.

However, the drawback of fostering is that the foster parents can’t be legally responsible for the child as the birth parents will still have legal responsibility. This can be useful in both long-term and short-term fostering as children can keep in touch with birth parents easier than if the child was adopted and the foster parents became the legal parents. If foster parents do wish to become legal parents, however, they must adopt the child, which includes going through the adoption process which can take a long time. There is also a scheme of Fostering for adoption, where children in care are fostered with the aim of adoption. However, since the foster parents in this scheme must also go through the adoption process, adoption isn’t guaranteed and the foster parents may be rejected. (Foster Care UK)

Therefore, I would say that whilst fostering is becoming more accessible and more people are becoming foster parents, compared to natural conception, fostering is still a more complex process and the application process, in particular, is very inaccessible for those who aren’t familiar with fostering due to the different steps involved.

The Movie ‘The Blind Side’ and the Theme of Adoption

Wandering the barren streets and scouring for a place to shield himself from the evil of this world, the boy longs for something else. He has no one to turn to for assistance throughout the nightmares of his chilling past. Life can be intimidating for every person in society, but the tests relinquished onto homeless, fostered, or adopted children are discouraging. As a result of certain factors, personal or financial, children can endure life without a home or with adoptive parents. This transition into another life can be challenging for the child throughout and beyond their developmental years (Levy-Shiff, 2001). Knowing this is a delicate subject, the movie ‘The Blind Side’ thoroughly shows the authentic and critical struggles of adoption through the story of a wealthy, all-white family, the Tuohys, inviting an African American male high school student, Michael Oher, into their lives (Hancock, 2009).

When talking about adoption, it is crucial to recognize the background of the adoptee and the endeavors one experienced. For example, a child could have been living on the streets in the cold with just a t-shirt and shorts, in the case of Michael Oher (Hancock, 2009). Every story is unique and tear-jerking, but with similar leading factors. One correlation is the alternating schedules of guidance, including going from a foster care program to their biological parents to the judicial courts (Leith, 2018). On the contrary, depending on the situation, some children do not experience a cycle of instability. In the article ‘Foster the People; Children’s Welfare’, 18,000 cases existed in 2014 where a child was adopted immediately after birth or below the age of two. These instances allow an adolescent’s pivotal developmental stage to stabilize with the help of a family. Despite the appeal of the scenario, around 120,000 kids each year anticipate the unprecedented news of being sought-after by a family (2017). Due to the nonexistent healthy homelife in many occasions, a child’s ability to have trust can diminish (Leith, 2018). In fact, ‘The Blind Side’ shows the absence of certainty when Michael Oher was first brought into the home. At first, he was reserved toward the Tuohy’s intention of adopting him and his baggage (Hancock, 2009).

Even though ‘The Blind Side’ mainly displays Michael’s skepticism toward adoption, a number of scenes represent the worries of the Tuohy family (Hancock, 2009). For countless families the intention of adoption can become daunting due to the astonishing cost. The payment ranges from a couple thousand dollars to around $30,000 (Swinarski, 2016). In addition, the cost of raising a child is increasing to absurd amounts. In 2015, around $13,000 was spent by an average income family for one child. Using the number previously stated and the factor of inflation, parents may expect to pay around $284,570 from a child’s birth to the age of 17 (Burnett, 2017). This fact can cause a rift in pursuing the process of adoption for many hopeful parents. However, one case occurs when a couple adopts despite the determining factor of money. Throughout the years, infertility has brought distress to spouses wanting to conceive a child. Whenever a contingency of infertility arises, adoption is a common approach to securing a child. For instance, couples have looked to other countries for adoption, most notably China, due to the one-child rule and Chinese families wanting a son (Children, 2010). Even with the circumstances of infertility, numerous parents can’t provide a balanced lifestyle for a child when seeing debt in the future. As proposed by adoptive parents and social workers, a family will need to assess their financial standing before taking the next step in adopting (Swinarski, 2010). In recognition of the Tuohy family, their monetary stability would be considered superior to thousands of couples looking to adopt. On the other hand, Leigh Anne and Sean Tuohy, Michael’s parents, had two other children to nurture, as well (Hancock, 2009).

With careful consideration the Tuohy family agreed to provide Michael a place to stay. However, this conclusion would instigate numerous cultural discrepancies due to race (Hancock, 2019). Frequently in the United States, the matter of preserving an adoptee’s cultural background is deliberated (Dunham, 2012). A considerable number of social workers wholly disagree with waiting for the perfect family. For the adoptees time is of the essence to be placed into a stable family to absolve the child’s loneliness. On the contrary, the opposition views the circumstance as a decisive factor in order to keep an adolescent in an identical environment. This standpoint is advised to adoptive families because of the impact on a child’s mental and social wellbeing in a contrasting, new community (Muir, 2010). Additionally, numerous adoptees have declared their adversity when trying to relate to the inward and outward characteristics of their new parents (Levy-Shiff, 2001). Despite backlash from others, many white parents still adopt because of the risk of jail or early parenthood, and leaders in adoption agencies have continually spoken in defense, as well (Dunham, 2012). For instance, Martin Narey, the Chief Executive of Barnardo’s, expressed the idea: “The law is clear on the issue of adoption and ethnicity. What it says is that it’s important to place children with an ethnically matched family, but it shouldn’t be a delay to adoption happening” (Muir, 2010, para. 24). Alluding to the movie, the life after high school for Michael Oher could have been life-altering, without the adoption into the Tuohy family. Even though the racial distinctions were noticeable, the family was able to set aside their previous knowledge and began to investigate his world. Both parents and siblings were willing to support Michael with mental and physical support in issues of bullying, football, and the reminders of his past (Hancock, 2009).

The care given by the Tuohy family allowed the final transition, adulthood, to be uncomplicated compared to other adoptees’ stories (Hancock, 2019). As stated in the article ‘Long-Term Issues for the Adopted Child’, an undeniable position is where a now adult has ambitions to find their lost family and reconnect with them. Consequently, a contingency of complicated truths could lead to mental illnesses (2019). This consequence is prevalent in actuality; however, in ‘The Blind Side’, Michael was presented as an Ole Miss football player selected in the NFL draft to the Baltimore Ravens (Hancock, 2009). Any person, whether adopted or not, would be abounding in gratitude. His adulthood would be strikingly distinct with the ability to create a successful life, knowing he had a plan. Nevertheless, this scenario is a rare circumstance for an adoptee. Frequently, researchers discover a lack of attachment and development for a child adopted beyond six to twelve months. With a difficult transition, these children can endure psychological maladjustment and hinder themselves in future relationships and opportunities (Levy-Shiff, 2001).

Mary Jo Kreitzer, Ph.D., R.N., director of the Center for Spirituality & Healing, affirmed the emphasis on a healthy relationship, stating, “They nurture us, and they help us grow. They help us become better people” (How, 2015, para. 2). The bond between the Tuohy family and Michael in ‘The Blind Side’ exhibited the trials of an interracial adoption in a predominately wealthy, white family (Hancock, 2019).

Even though adoptions can be expensive and cause strain, due to previous backgrounds and cultural differences, the act of caring for a child impacts the rest of his or her life. Numerous stories show where the child encounters depression and illnesses because of being alienated in a past relationship (How, 2015). By showing the importance of adoption for a child in the film, one can understand the process to keep a child balanced in the changing society of today.

Works Cited

  1. Burnett, J. (2017, Sep-Oct). The Cost of Raising a Child. Capital Ideas, 60(5), 22-23. Retrieved from http://search.ebsco.host.com.witcc.idm.oclc.org/login.aspx?direct=true&db=crh&AN=125252092&site=ehost-live
  2. Children as a Commodity. (2010, Jan 31). Los Angeles Times. Retrieved from https://explore.proquest.com/sirsissuesresearcher/document/2262378955?accountid=68229
  3. Dunham, K.J. (2012, Sep). White Mama, Black Baby. Essence, 43(5), 160-161. Retrieved from https://explore.proquest.com/sirsissuesresearcher/documents/2266187003?searchid=157661597&accountid=68229
  4. Foster the People; Children’s Welfare. (2017, Jun 24). Economist, 423(9046), 39. Retrieved from https://explore.proquest.com/sirsissuesresearcher/document/226570296?accountid=68229
  5. Hancock, J.L., Kosove, A., Johnson, B., Netter, G., & Bourne, T.M. (Producers) & Hancock, J.L. (Director). (2009). The Blind Side. [Motion Picture]. United States: Aloon Entertainment.
  6. How Relationships Affect Health and Wellbeing. (2015, Feb 13). University of Minnesota. Retrieved from http://www.twin-cities.umn.edu/news-events/how-relationships-affect-heath-and-wellbeing
  7. Leith, P. (2018, May 26). The Adoption Waiting Game. The Speculator (London). Retrieved from https://explore.proquest.com/sirsissuesresearcher/document/2265997852?accountid=68229
  8. Levy-Shiff, R. (2001, Mar 1). Psychological Adjustment of Adoptees in Adulthood: Family Environment and Adoption-Related Correlates. International Journal of Behavioral Development, 25(2), 97-104. Retrieved from doi:10.1080101650250042000131.
  9. Long-term Issues for the Adopted Child. (2019). Mental Help. Retrieved from http://www.mentalhelp.net/parenting/long-term-issues-for-the-adopted-child
  10. Muir, H. & Moorhead, J. (2010, Nov 3). The Truth About Inter-Racial Adoption. The Guardian. Retrieved from https://explore.proquest.com/sirsissuesresearcher/document/2265407766?searchid=1576616692&accountitd=68229
  11. Swinarski, C. (2016, Nov 28). Why Is It So Expensive to Adopt a Child? Washington Post-Blogs. Retrieved from https://explore.proquest.com/sirsissuesresearcher/document/2265915056?searchid=1576616413&accountid=68229

Adopted Child Contact with Birth Parents Should Be Prohibited: Persuasive Essay

According to the Adoption Network, about 60-70% of domestic adoptions are open, meaning that there is some level of openness and acknowledgment of information between the adoptive and birth parents about the adopted child. However, while people believe that adopted children should be able to contact their birth parents, there is compelling evidence that suggests quite the opposite. In open adoptions, some states in the USA allow birth information to be conveniently accessible to the adopted child and adoptive family, but I believe that adopted children under the age of 18 should not be able to contact their birth parents under any circumstances. The key reasons are that it can detrimentally affect the adopted child’s development, can cause confusion and uncertainty in the adoptee, can force face-to-face contact that further stops the child from settling into their new family, undermines an adoptive parent’s sense of entitlement and ability to properly take care of the adopted child, causes racial and social differences that contribute to an unwelcoming environment for the child, puts the birth family in danger, and causes added negative repercussions to not only the adopted child but also for the people involved in contact arrangements if it is pursued.

Firstly, one reason that contact between an adopted child and their birth parents should be prohibited is that a child’s development is incredibly important, and contact can be a negative factor. Therefore, the development of an adopted child specifically is of significant concern to both adoptive parents and practitioners in social work and law. According to one study said in fosteringandadoption.rip.org, half of the children between the ages of 11 and 17 experienced contact that was ‘poor’ and saw birth relatives who were neglectful and undependable. This made it hard for the adopted children to cope with those frustrating experiences and the emotional impact they had on them. According to a scholarly journal ‘Post Adoption Contact and Openness in Adoptive Parent’s Minds: Consequences for Children’s Development’, senior lecturer in social work, Elsbeth Neil, argues that the relationship between contact and child outcomes also requires the consideration of two important factors: pre-adoption risk and post-placement risk. Pre-adoption risk typically includes the child’s genetic heritage, neglect, and pre-birth risk factors like drug and alcohol abuse, while post-placement risk includes family structure/size and educational opportunities. These factors are most likely to affect a child’s developmental pathway and how they respond to different situations in childhood and later in adulthood. Additionally, a published study in 1973 found a direct correlation between search and low self-esteem in 70 adults who were searching for their birth parents. Self-esteem is a very crucial part of a child’s development, powerfully influencing their attitude and their ability to learn and grow up to be creative and positive thinkers. However, low self-esteem in an adoptee not only causes a lack of confidence but makes them more self-critical and harsher on themselves. To further prove her points, Neil refers to developmental psychology professor, Jesus Palacios. Palacios states that “an adopted child’s development is affected by many interrelated biological and environmental factors, and an ecological perspective is warranted” (Palacios, 2006).

Secondly, contact between an adopted child and birth parents can cause confusion and considerable uncertainty in an adoptee. While open adoptions make up around 60-70% of all adoptions, the biggest risk is that openness and closeness because of contact with biological parents invade the relationship between the adoptee and their adoptive parents. Marianne Berry, a distinguished scholar of national and international standing in child welfare and associate professor of social work at UT Arlington, argues in her scholarly journal published by Princeton University, ‘Risks and Benefits of Open Adoption. The Future of Children’, that contact in open adoptions interferes with the bonding process between the adoptive parents and the adopted child. The concept of bonding is very crucial concerning adoption and produces many benefits, such as helping nurture human trust, which eventually carries through future generations to come. However, interfering with that necessary bonding between the adoptee and their adoptive family not only destroys trust and openness but also poses added concerns to the birth family. These concerns include confusion, personal boundary/safety issues, and unrealistic expectations. As an undesirable result, this also further interferes with the adopted child’s healthy development and emotional adjustment. Berry states: “Adoptees in confidential adoptions wrestle with the fantasy of ‘ghost’ parents, but shared information or direct contact with these parents may exacerbate rather than eliminate these fantasies” (Berry, 129). In her scholarly journal, Berry also mentions that in a few court cases discussing visitation between adopted children and their birth parents, courts have usually assumed that visiting and pursuing contact would confuse the child and result in harm rather than good. This proves that contact with the birth parents is more detrimental than beneficial to the adopted child and can cause confusion about loyalties to either the adoptive or birth parents.

In addition, contact between an adopted child and birth parents can force face-to-face contact that can hinder the adopted child from settling into their new family. Comparisons of various types of openness, like structural and communicative openness, do not support a ‘one size fits all’ approach. Therefore, the problematic method of contacting birth parents in person not only stops the adoptee from settling into their new adoptive family but can also affect the people around them. Going back to Elsbeth Neil, she appropriately refers to David Brodzinsky, a clinical and developmental psychologist of over 30 years, who argues that communicative openness is more beneficial than structural openness. Communicative openness relates to the attitude and behavior of the adoptive parents and how they can tackle different adoption-related issues in family life. Brodzinsky suggests that “regardless of whether a child grows up in a traditionally closed or open adoption arrangement, what is primary for healthy psychological adjustment is the creation of an open, honest, and emotionally attuned family dialogue, not only about adoption-related issues but in fact about any issue that impacts on the child’s and family’s life” (Brodzinsky, 2005, p.151). Therefore, just by having a more holistic and non-defensive approach towards adoption-related issues, can foster a more stimulating environment for the adoptee to thrive within their new family. To further prove her points, Neil quotes a psychology professor at Bethel University, Gretchen Wrobel. Wrobel states: “Children’s needs and feelings change as they grow, and this can prompt changes in communication patterns within adoptive families” (Wrobel et al., 2003)

Moreover, contact between an adopted child and birth parents undermines the adoptive parents’ sense of entitlement and ability to properly take care of the child. If contact is made, adoptive parents may feel cheated or taken advantage of if the adoptive child tries reuniting with their birth parents. According to an essay written on lawteacher.net, a well-known and reliable website, the author argues that adoptive parents may have invested heavily to support the child’s welfare, which requires a great deal of dedication and is something to be taken seriously. Taking care of an adopted child can also involve many necessary sacrifices by the adoptive family, such as financial matters, social life, and time devotion. However, if the child wants to eagerly pursue contact with their birth family, it can be unfair to the adoptive family. The author of this essay, an unnamed law student, also states: “Contact between the child and birth family can be harmful to the adoptive parents, since biological parents can benefit from them, especially on financial matters” (lawteacher.net, pr. 8). When talking about finances and adoption, the cost is not a predetermined amount. When comparing costs, financing adoption is like financing home improvement projects, in the sense that it always costs more than your budget. Therefore, cutting out extraneous expenses like vacationing and adding in an adoptee’s essential costs like their necessities and schooling are only a few of the sacrifices that adoptive parents have taken upon themselves and away from the birth family.

As mentioned in earlier paragraphs, contact should not only be prohibited domestically but also in intercountry adoptions. While adopting transnationally specifically is influenced by one’s unique racial and social geography, it can equally contribute to an unwelcoming environment for the adoptee, and pursuing contact can be unsafe for the birth family as well. Indigo Willing, a lecturer and adjunct research fellow, and Patricia Fronek, a doctoral researcher and educator with thirty years of experience in social work, argue in their scholarly journal ‘Constructing Identities and Issues of Race in Transnational Adoption: The Experiences of Adoptive Parents’ that transnational adoptive parenting challenges social norms connected with identity, family, and belonging. This requires the adoptive parents to carefully discuss cultural issues concerning differences and diversity with members of their family. According to the 2005 Commonwealth inquiry, “transnationally adopted children were frequently identified by parents as having no culture prior to their adoptions, and adoptive parents were praised as possessing heroic attributes” (Willing and Fronek, 1132). An example would be an adoptee being perceived as white by their adoptive families due to their adoption by white parents, inadvertently causing an identity crisis within the adopted child. As a result, an adopted child may start feeling forced to live according to their adoptive parents and be unable to completely embrace their roots. Therefore, when a child is taken in by an adoptive family, it is fundamentally important that the adoptee has a strong sense of their cultural identity, so they grow up to be healthy, happy, and functional adults who feel accepted in society. Additionally, the lives and safety of international birth families are also put at risk if contact is pursued, because of the possible reasons that pregnancy in their culture is surrounded by negative stigma or that the idea of ‘adoption’ in their country severs the relationship between the birth parents and the children, which is common in many cultures.

And lastly, contact between an adopted child and birth parents can cause added negative repercussions to not only the adoptee but also the adoptive parents and social workers if contact is pursued, so it should be prohibited. While the needs and feelings of the child should be a priority when making decisions involving contact, it is also equally important to carefully consider the consequences for others if involved in contact arrangements. Published authors Janette Logan and Carole Smith, senior lecturers in the Department of Social Science at the University of Manchester, argue in their research paper ‘Face to Face Contact Post Adoption: Views from the Triangles’ that “outwardly similar contacts are likely to have mixed effects, partly because of their different social and emotional impact on those involved and because of the manner in which they change over time” (Logan and Smith, 10). Also, according to a funded study by the Nuffield Foundation that took place between 1997 and 1999, “adoptive parents or social workers did not want to approach relatives, mainly because the situation was difficult, and they didn’t want to risk ‘risking the boat’” (Logan and Smith, 12). While the adoptive parents and social workers did not want to approach the birth family because the situation was complicated, the adoptive families could also have suppressed resentment towards the birth parents. If the adopted child was previously harmed or mistreated by the birth parents, the adoptive family will not want to be associated with them. More evidence from Grotevant et al. (1999) showed that there were also incongruent feelings and beliefs between the adults in contact, which in turn created tension and problems for the adopted child. Therefore, a serious consequence of contact between the adoptive and birth parents is that it will worsen the adopted child’s feelings of grief and loss, making dealing with attachment more difficult. To further prove these points, Ph.D. social scientist Christine Jones and deputy head of faculty at Durham University Simon Hackett state in their scholarly journal ‘Redefining Family Relationships Following Adoption: Adoptive Parents’ Perspectives on the Changing Nature of Kinship between Adoptees and Birth Relatives’: “Adopters also frequently characterized relationships between adoptees and birth relatives following adoption as fragile” (Jones and Hackett, 289).

Summing up, it may be concluded that personal contact between the adoptive family and birth parents does more harm than good to the adoptive child: developmentally, emotionally, physically, and psychologically. While contact may seem ideal in the short term, like finding out more information about their birth families, it can be proven that pursuing contact can have lasting negative effects on the adoptive child and the people around them, making it exceedingly difficult to deal with in the long term. Therefore, by prohibiting contact altogether, it is ensured that an adopted child under the age of 18 can live comfortably without the possibility of developing negative relationships, safety, and attachment issues with their birth family.

Adoption Argumentative Essay

Raising an abandoned or orphaned child as their own family was easy back then. It took an informal arrangement, once the family and the child are in common ground, both are in good condition. Numerous people are considering adoption as an alternative to growing their family. There are numerous benefits of adopting a child. However, adoption is expensive and takes a long process. Many have pondered that if there are many orphans, why cannot they be adopted by families at zero cost? Imagine a world, abandoned children and orphans could be adopted by a family whether they can afford the cost or not. Unfortunately, that would not be the case because our world is not faultless and abundantly distorted. Moreover, as time changes, so are the rules of adoption. 

The process of adoption varies around the world. Cultural customs and religious decree affected the adoption process and further laws and regulations have been made to warrant the safety of the children. These cause adoption complex involving legal processes, the monetary value of enforcing the law, and the like. Pres. Rodrigo R. Duterte signed into law a bill on February 21 that would simplify the adoption process. The Republic Act (RA) 11222 or Simulated Birth Rectification Act allows someone into putting a right for children given the privilege to be simulated at birth. simulation of birth records refers to changing of civil registry and making it shown in the records of birth that a child was born to a person with no biological attachment. Philippine laws allow the legal adoption of Filipino children. 

Republic Act (RA) No. 8552 or known as the Domestic Adoption Ac of 1998 allows Filipino citizens to adopt Filipino children while foreign nationals are also allowed under RA 8043. However, with the new law, the simulation of birth ensures the child’s entitlement, like with the latter, but the Simulated Birth Rectification Act allows the fixation as early as birth. In that case, the legal process of adoption would be easier and would cost less. According to the Department of Social Welfare (DSWD), 3,793 children have been made legally available for adoption since 2009. In recent findings, 6,500 children have been declared available for adoption and 4000 of them are under the care of state-run facilities. Within that case, the passing of the bill is at a good time. Nevertheless, with the growing number of orphans, the exploitation of children must be hugely considered. In the Philippines, 8 out of 10 children and young people experienced some form of violence. 

Ironically, the numbers are represented by adopted and non-adopted children who at least experienced violence in their lifetime. Parenting in the Philippines should also be reconstructed and parents should be more educated in terms of parenting. Despite the new law, adoptive parents will also go through a systematic screening before they can be eligible to adopt. Instead of numerous court proceedings, persons who seek to adopt may file a petition with the social welfare officer. Under the new law, only Filipino citizens of legal age, with full civil capacity, and rights, and with good moral character, with no declaration of any crime and no psychological and emotional impairment, capable of caring and supporting for rearing a child. These are the requirement made to secure the safety of the child. Moreover, parenthood must be also emphasized in the Philippines. Disciplining a child does not include violence. Violence and discipline are not in good correlation. In another study, there are growing numbers of orphans and it is estimated between 143 million and 210 million around the world. 

The Philippines alone has estimated 1.8 million children are orphans or have lost one parent. As a result, children are engaged in child labor in order to survive. With the advantage of a convenient process of adoption, it would benefit the children and couples or families in need. Adoption also epitomizes a way of providing the biological parents of a child. Instead for an orphan to be left and forced to child labor. The adoptive parents provide the basic necessities for the child. As for the adopting parents, in cases, they are not able to reproduce, their lives can be meaningful in having a child through adoption. The growing number of helpless children can lessen. Regardless of the bill to make adoption easier, it is important to ensure the safety of the children being adopted. In conclusion, the passing of the Simulated Birth Rectification Act benefits the country. The legal process cost less and not as much time. Both people would be in common ground and a double-win situation. The orphan would be taken off by a family. As well as couples or families would be fulfilled by adopting and raising a child as a legitimate family member. Aside from the evident positive effects, through adoption, there will be reduced foster care and cost in the brief. In the long duration, there would be betterment for all, especially for the youth.  

Dark Side of Foster Care: Informative Speech

In today’s society, many children face many challenges from a young age in regard to their living circumstances and conditions. This correlates to how they live at home, the people who are in the household, and how they interact with one another. The expectations for families are that they provide security and stability. I believe that children belong with their parents; taking children away from their parents is very traumatic, and the care they receive in a foster care home may not be in the best interest of children. The Walls children are better off being together with their parents.

Children belong with their parents because a parent’s role is very important to children’s growth as their presence promotes mental, verbal, and emotional development. Children demonstrate positivity and confidence with social skills, and having a healthy parent present in their everyday lives is crucial for their upbringing. As with the Walls family, Rosemary and Rex are constant figures in their children’s lives. The single most important influence in a child’s life is having a family that will be there and provide for them as best as possible, whether it is a lot or a little. Having constant figures in children’s lives is important as it provides them with consistency and emotional security. Children thrive when their parents are actively involved in their lives. For example, Jeannette and Brian thrived in reading as they were at a higher level reading level than other children in their age group. This was due to the fact they started reading at an early age and read a lot of books. “Researchers and writers have noted that parental involvement is associated with academic achievement (“Defining Parental Involvement…..”). It was to their advantage that the parents couldn’t afford toys because the children thrived in reading; it was their source of entertainment, and it kept them busy.

The Walls are involved in their children’s lives as they take them to the library where they borrow a lot of books and teach them to read. The father sits with the children; together they go through the dictionary looking up words. The father takes the children swimming and teaches Jeannette how to swim by letting her sink, rescuing her, and throwing her back in the water. Even though she wants to give up, her father encourages her to keep going, and finally, she is able to swim. As a family, they go out to dinner, and the mother took the children shopping, even though it is at a thrift store.

In the later part of The Glass Castle, the Walls family, were visited by a representative from the Child Welfare Office because someone had reported that there were neglected children in their house. If the Child Welfare office had followed through with an investigation and it turned out that the children had to leave their parents, then they would most likely be split up and sent to different foster care homes. The effects of children being separated from their parents and families can be devastating “…because of the negative outcomes associated with removing children from their homes, it is not uncommon to hear skepticism about the effectiveness of foster care.” (“Changes in Externalizing and Internalizing……”). Any time that children spend in temporary care may be harmful to their growth, development, and their well-being. It causes disruption in the continuity that they are used to.

If the Walls children were separated from their parents and then separated again from each other, it would be very traumatic for them. Parental separation can cause negative effects, such as guilt and blame, as well as feeling sad, which leads to isolation, loneliness, and social difficulties. Children in foster care are moved from one home to another, which causes uncertainty, instability, and unnecessary trauma. These are the negative aspects of foster care, and if children are with their parents they would not have to go through any of these effects. If children are not given a secure and parental environment they will struggle with learning, which could have a lifelong effect on their behavior and the ability to have new relationships in their later life, “Other studies have shown separation leading to increased aggression, withdrawal, and cognitive difficulties” (“washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/…..”).

Foster care fails children as they are moved around a lot and not provided with what is best for them. Foster care provides a temporary home until the children can go back to their parents or get adopted. “The time away spent moving from home to home leaves vulnerable kids in a state of uncertainty for long periods of time” (adoption.org/negatives-foster-care). Just as children make any kind of adjustment, then they go back to their parents or another foster care home. All of this moving around and adjusting to different environments is very difficult for the children. Just as they get used to one place then they have to move somewhere else. This is too much for children to cope with, especially younger children; older children are able to cope a little better.

If the Child Welfare Office had come back to investigate the Walls family and decided that the children would be better off being in the Welfare system, and put in a foster care home, the children’s outcome would be much different. They would most likely be separated and sent to different homes. They would suffer the hardship of being separated from their parents and the separation would have a greater negative effect on Maureen since she was the youngest. The children would have to adjust to being with new sets of guardians, adjust to the home they would be sent to, and adhere to the rules and guidelines of the foster parents and the welfare system. Rosemary and Rex might never be able to get their children back if they were not able to comply with the plans the Child Welfare Office had set for them. The children might have some psychological effects, such as feeling sad, being isolated, feeling lonely, and having social difficulties

The Walls children did not grow up under the best circumstances: having dysfunctional parents, being short on cash a lot of the time, not having enough food, and moving around a lot. However, one thing was for certain they were together as a family. When they moved they moved together as a family, and the children were not forced away from their parents. The Walls did not have much family or many friends, which made their family bond stronger. The siblings were very close, relied on each other, and were always there for one another. Jeannette and Brian, in particular, were very close to each other and would ride their bikes and explore together. Later on in the story, the bond between Lori and Maureen became stronger. The siblings could count on each other and help each other whenever possible, especially when they started saving money for Lori to move to New York. Even with all that the family went through, the children grew up to be strong, educated, caring, and successful individuals.    

Foster Care as a Social Issue: Critical Essay

The purpose of this essay is to discuss my intervention as a co-worker whilst on placement as a student social worker in a Children`s social care team with two unaccompanied asylum-seeking teenage boys from North Africa. Our role was to meet with the boys, get to know them and, assess their needs and help them settle into their new home.

I will reflect on my practice which is underpinned by the components of good practice including skills and knowledge, personal and professional values and ethics, and by considering relevant legislation including the Children Act (1989), Equality Act (2010), and immigration law whilst linking theories including Lifespan theory and Erikson`s life stages with transitions and cultural competence.

Musharraf and Mahmud traveled together for six months from North Africa, through Europe making their way to England for what they saw would be a better life, both had very different reasons for their journey. They are described in s.6 of the European Asylum report (2020) as Unaccompanied asylum-seeking children as they are under eighteen years of age, outside their country of origin, and, have arrived without an adult being responsible for them (European Asylum Support Office, (EASO),2020). They arrived and reported they were brothers in the hope they would stay together. It is stated in s.6.2 of the EASO (2020) report that the number of unaccompanied minors arriving in the United Kingdom in 2019 increased by 19%, and the United Kingdom is seen by many as a primary destination.

On arrival to the UK, Musharraf and Mahmud were registered by Border Force and under s.55 of the Border, Citizenship, and Immigration Act (2009) became the responsibility of the local authority where they presented. It is recognized in the Equality Act (2010) they have protected characteristics including age (teenage), race (Human) ethnicity (North African), and religion (Muslim). Principle 1 of s.2.2 of the British Association of Social Workers (BASW) Code of Ethics emphasizes that these children had a right to not face any disadvantage or discrimination compared to other children in the UK. Given this, they are protected under UK legislation and were provided support under s.17 of the Children Act (1989) and emergency accommodation under s.20 of the Children Act (1989).

I was not involved in the matching process and was informed that the foster placement was with a White British lady in her seventies, living alone from an independent fostering agency in a neighboring local authority. I was told by the Social Worker our local authority had no available foster placements at that time, so this cross-cultural placement was an alternative to a preferred culturally matched placement. She advised shortages in foster care have a national shortage, more so for matching children from BAME groups or unaccompanied asylum-seeking children. This was supported by a BBC News report (2020) that states there is a foster care shortage for children from BAME groups in two-thirds of English councils. I was informed that this was a more expensive placement to the local authority and when a placement was found within our local authority the boys would be moved.

I was conscious from the beginning of our meeting that I had very little knowledge or experience in working with children seeking asylum in the UK and felt it unjust that for the boys that were being placed with what was seen as an alternative as the preferred resources were not available asking if this is challenged which she said it is discussed not only with our local authority but countrywide. This is highlighted in s 2.2 of the Code of Ethics (BASW, 2014).

We had received very little information about the boys and were informed that they spoke Arabic only and did not speak English which we immediately identified as a language barrier. For most appointments, we used the same interpreter to communicate. An alternative method I used, when an interpreter was not present was Google Translate on my mobile phone. The boys were familiar with this and, although it was effective most of the time, it was not perfect and sometimes took several attempts to clarify our joint understanding. In communicating with the boys, I became more aware of my own communication skills as we needed to rely on non-verbal elements including eye contact, facial expressions, behavior, and hand gestures. I found this became more important than words as highlighted by (The Open University, 2020a).

I worked collaboratively with a consistent interpreter which is fundamental to positive outcomes for all involved (Cooperman, 2016). He was male, in his forties and it appeared that the boys built a trusting relationship with him and he was able to share information with the boys about their lives, homes, families, and history. It is important to check the interpreter is appropriate for the service user and I used a checklist (The Open University, 2020c) to ensure this was the case although he was recommended by the team manager who advised he had experience working with other unaccompanied asylum-seeking children. He was also able to share his findings about the different experiences of the boys and could tell by their language that Mahmud had remained in education longer and appeared more academic using more formal language whereas Musharraf had left school earlier, used more slang words, and appeared more streetwise. I reflected that I would not have identified this by watching them communicate and they confirmed this during the assessment.

I met with the boys consistently over several weeks, getting to know more about them. I considered and discussed in supervision the Lifespan theory as discussed by Coleman (2013) who uses it to aid in understanding adolescence. Coleman (2013) describes adolescence as a transition from childhood to adulthood linked with Erikson`s life stage development and at the age of the boys (sixteen), they are in the development stage of identity v`s role confusion searching for autonomy and independence.

I felt the boys had moved more into adulthood at an earlier age as they described their role in their families. Mahmud was the eldest son, he told us his father was dying of cancer and his mother had mental health issues so he had taken on the role of head of the family looking after his four younger siblings and he had begun his journey with a purpose to earn money to send back to provide for his family and pay for his father`s medical treatment.

Musharraf also told us he was the eldest son but his parents had both died, his younger sister and he were orphans and he had left her in the care and service of a local family where he thought she would be safe so he could travel to earn money and create a new life. He described a life of “oppression from the police” in his local town as they were homeless with no income. I explored further with him via the interpreter his sister being in the care and service of another family and he explained that there was no one to look after her and this would be the way she would pay for her food and accommodation. He explained they had no other option, and this was what they did in his country, “Families looking after each other” and hoped they would look after her well.

I considered Mahmud and Musharraf`s lives and roles within their family and how different arriving in the UK must have been. At home, they had made what I felt were adult decisions on behalf of others, difficult choices during their journey to keep themselves safe and, then managing the transition of arriving to be treated as children, placed in foster care to be looked after by a stranger and encouraged to engage with education when their purpose was to get a job to earn money as they saw this as their responsibility. I realized they may have felt our legislation may have been a constraint on their ideals. I felt this must have been very confusing to them and their identity. Brubaker et al (2008) cited in Simpson (2016) states a person`s identity can often be identified by their day-to-day concerns rather than stereotypical viewpoints.

Coleman (2013) discusses the timing of major life events and how this can cause additional stress to an already confusing time in a young person`s life and how it is important to consider another key element of the context of their lives taking into account the historical picture and their culture when considering their development.

In supervision, I explored with my practice educator my own thoughts and values around this as I felt I needed to understand Mahmud and Musharraf to be able to support them and I found it difficult to imagine what life was like for the boys and how they had felt deciding to leave their families, to make a hazardous journey to a different country in the hope that this would be the solution without any guarantees. I reflected on my own life at that age and the safety and security I had without major responsibilities and the opportunities, encouragement, and, support from my parents to transition from education to a training scheme which Mahmud and Musharraf did not have. I recognized what a huge responsibility this would be for them at such a young age however recognized that this may have been the difference in our culture. Coleman (2013) mentions continuity in life stages from childhood to adulthood and how this should be a gradual transition from one stage to another however it felt listening to the boys based on my own values and experiences that my transition was gradual whereas theirs appeared to be more of an unexpected shift to adulthood.

I felt that the boys had been through such a lot, putting themselves at risk to get to our country, and recognized when exploring their short-term goals that basic needs of food, safety, and shelter were most important to them which links to the grounding stage of Maslow`s hierarchy of needs ( The Open University, 2020b) and Mahmud`s long term goals were all focused on his family. Fell (2013) highlights that people seeking asylum may have cultural differences but are still people who seek shelter, well-being, belonging, and happiness like anyone else however social work interventions with this group should be no different than anyone who requires social work support and their strengths and qualities, resilience and determination for a new life and the positive contribution they can bring to society should be recognized (Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE), 2012) cited in (Fell,2013).

Through observing the social worker using models such as Three Houses from Signs of Safety (The Open University, 2020d) we were able to identify Mahmud and Musharraf`s thoughts and feelings, their worries and concerns, and aspirations for the future. This was done with the support of the interpreter but by drawing pictures, we were able to promote participation from the boys in their individual sessions and they appeared to enjoy talking about their lives before leaving their countries. I did not feel using the Framework for the assessment triangle would have been a helpful tool to use as we were not able to assess a key area, the parenting capacity (The Open University, 2020e) however, I used a culturagram model (The Open University, 2020c) for my practice to try and reflect on the information we had gathered.

Throughout our assessment, I was aware it was very important to be culturally competent as I felt I knew little of their culture but felt it important to learn from them, and, in turn, I was able to share my knowledge with their foster carer. Cultural competence is described by Papadopoulos et al (2003) cited in The Open University, 2020c) as “cultural knowledge, awareness, and sensitivity”.

I learned from Mahmud and Musharaff their likes and dislikes of food and was able to support them to visit a supermarket in another town that sold the food they preferred and personal care products like hair oil. I was able to find out about their religion and beliefs and provided information to the foster carer about religious festivals, how they celebrated, and other things that were important to them.

One thing for Mahmud was contact with his family so we provided him with this, and we talked of things they liked to do and looked to introduce them to activities within their local area. I reflected on my own values that I was supported as a child to follow my ideas of interests and activities that I feel helped me grow as I built positive relationships and learned new skills and felt this was important to help the boys to improve their social capital. (Putman, 2000) cited in (Leach, 2015) talked of bridging with other people with similar interests like football, or bonding with people from similar backgrounds which was possible in their area. The boys said they wanted to adapt to living in their new area and we understood that maintaining their culture with others who shared similar values and experiences was important and there was a plan to introduce them to some more boys who were unaccompanied and seeking asylum.

O`Hara et al (2018) go on to discuss self-exploration concerning cultural awareness and I discussed in supervision my fears of offending through lack of knowledge at the start and how before I met the boys I was aware of different prejudices in society about asylum seekers coming to the UK illegally through the media and social media. I discussed how this could have influenced my own attitude towards the boys although my personal view was that role in society was to challenge any negative prejudice and to encourage society to accept them for who they are rather than them adapting to fit the society that was perhaps prejudiced against them as discussed by Thompson (2020) cited in Moss et al ( 2020) pp157-158.

As described by O`Hara et al (2018) I felt in being culturally sensitive, acknowledging that culture was highly important to the boys and having an awareness of society`s prejudices, respecting diversity, promoted equality as recognized in s.3 of (BASW) professional competence framework (2020). I felt I had increased my knowledge some but felt I had only scratched the surface and did not feel fully competent, but I would continue to learn from Mahmud and Musharraf through our intervention. In supervision, we acknowledged that we cannot always know everything about every different culture, but it is important to learn from the person their culture and what it means to them in our particular intervention (Simpson, 2016).

In supervision, I also reflected on the boy`s experience of working with us as their social care practitioners. I realized that the team supporting them were all white British females, aged 30 plus apart from the interpreter, and wondered about the impact on the boys. I previously mentioned the difference and the impact of moving to foster care and wondered how it was for them to be living with, told what was happening in their lives, and, taken to appointments by strangers. An example was a visit to a legal appointment with their solicitor who was also female. I recognized that there were power differentials in all of our interactions and that according to ( Smith 2010) cited in (Maclean, 2015), I had positional power invested in me within my role and I was working to gain relational power when building trust with the boys whilst working together and them trusting in my role. Smith (2010) explains power is fluid and something that flows between groups and I reflected on this at a time when I was asked by my manager to support the boys to an appointment. They declined to go when I arrived. I recognized that the power dynamic had changed, and they had exercised their power to express autonomy in making a choice not to go and listening to their reasons. I recognized my ethical dilemma and felt powerless to complete the task I had been set by my manager who held professional power over me but respected the power that had been used against the situation. I felt happy that the boys had felt able to exert their right to make a choice (Maclean, 2020). I related this to section 1.7 of the professional standards of Social Work England (2019) in being aware of power differentials and not using power inappropriately and making sure my interventions were in the best interest of the service user.

This led me to think of the power within the other relationships and considered the power when using an interpreter and how the service user holds the power of their own information, however in passing their information to the interpreter, they then hold the power and in this interaction, I was powerless, however whilst decisions were made by the care team, the boys may have felt disempowered about what was happening with their future.

In evaluating the intervention with Mahmud and Musharraf in helping them to settle into their foster placement after they arrived in the UK, I feel that my interventions helped as I got to know the boys, I built a positive relationship with them and I felt in showing them honesty, integrity and that I was doing my best to communicate effectively with them they could see we were there to support them.

I reflected on the cross-culture placement and wondered how a matched placement would have been different and how the needs of the boys would have been met differently. I felt it may have been a more natural process however, Raghallaigh & Sirriyeh’s (2015) research into the perspectives of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children in foster care established that young people between the ages of 13-18. placed a great importance on the continuity of their culture and a young person does not need to be matched with a carer from their own nationality. They found the young people identified that if their cross-cultural carer is respectful of their diversity, takes an interest, and makes a concerted effort to promote the young person`s culture and identity it can be a positive experience and the young people added could even be a benefit in helping them to adapt to their new environment.

At the end of our intervention, the boys said they felt settled in their home and they said they felt happier. I created a questionnaire based on our local authority service user questionnaire and translated it into Arabic to aid their understanding. Mahmud declined to complete the questionnaire, but Musharraf’s feedback was positive, he said he felt I was reliable and trustworthy and found me helpful and friendly and he appreciated my help.   

‘Instant Family’: Film Analysis Paper

The movie directed by Sean Anders ‘Instant Family’ is about a married couple – Pete and Ellie. At the beginning of this movie one of Ellie’s sister’s mentions the fact that Pete and Ellie had no children. Pete and Ellie never over thought that, they have never even tried to have kids yet. The same day Ellie went on an adoption website and began to get emotional when she saw the children and how in need they were for a family. She showed her husband until he also got convinced and shortly after that, they headed to an adoption center. They learned a lot about foster children and went to a required training for people who want to adopt children. At last, the training ended and they were on a search for the child they wanted. They decided on a teenage girl they met because they thought she seemed different and it attracted her to them. Getting ready to adopt her, the parents found out she came with two younger siblings they had the reputation of the teenager being rebellious, one of younger siblings being too overly sensitive and the youngest girl being a little brat. Pete and Ellie decided to take up the adoption. Trying to raise these children became hard for the couple but they carried through. Toward the mid-end of the movie the real mother of the children appears in the movie and since the eldest girl has more memories with her mother, she was more attached and wanted her mother to take her back. The children and parents had to go to court and because Pete and Ellie had made some parenting mistakes the judge decided it was okay for the children to live with their biological mother. When it was the day when the children had to move in with their mother, she never came to pick her up and the eldest daughter was devastated. Pete and Ellie wanted to show the eldest daughter how much they cared about her and let her know how much they loved her. It took a while for her to realize how much they actually loved her and she went back into the house and they all stayed together as a happy family of five.

Theoretical Perspectives

Theoretical perspectives are what influences society and the people in society. The three types of theoretical perspectives are symbolic interactionism, functionalism and conflict theory. In the movie ‘Instant Family’, there were many times the movie showed symbolic interactionism. For example, in the first scene of the movie Ellie’s sister was talking to Ellie and Pete on how they didn’t have any kids. In the movie, Ellie’s sister said Ellie gave her husband Pete ‘a look’ as if because of her sister’s comment, Ellie would want to suddenly have kids. This in a way influenced Ellie to look through the website where you can find kids to adopt and throughout most of the movie Ellie’s sister continues to mention the only reason why they adopted kids was to prove a point that they could have kids and they did. Another example in the movie where you see symbolic interactionism is when Pete and Ellie are looking for a child to adopt. At the adoption center Pete and Ellie meet a girl named Lizzy. At first Ellie freaked out because Lizzy was a teenager and people always think teenagers are crazy and do bad or inappropriate things. When Lizzie heard Ellie say this, she confronted the couple to let them know her and all the other teenagers who were hanging out with her were able to hear them. Pete and Ellie were in shock but at the same time they fell in love with the girl and decided to adopt her. When you are a functionalist, you focus mostly on the social structure of society. An example of functionalism in the movie is how they have adoption centers. The government funds adoption centers so the kids could continue to live there while they get adopted, so the parents who adopt children could get money, and so that the employees who are there to take care of the children get paid.

Sociological Imagination

The movie ‘Instant Family’ is a movie that was made in the 21st century so the events that take place in the movie are similar to the events that take place nowadays. Since the time and the place of this movie was near the same time we live in now, you could see similarities of social/cultural context. For example, at the adoption centers you were able to see many same-sex couples that you would not be able to see if this movie would have taken place in a different time. Same-sex marriage has become internalized meaning no one questions it anymore like stated in the Global Impact notes. The times we live in now are a lot about social media and technology and a lot of the times people do most of their things through their phones. Especially in days like today you will notice how people are always talking about how teenagers are always on their phones distracted from everything. A scene in this movie shows the 13-year-old girl talking to a guy on the cellphone her mother gave her and the first time they noticed the girl talking to the guy was when they walked in on her taking nude selfies and sending them to a guy she met at school. Looking at adoption centers today, it is very hard to find a child to be adopted, like in this movie. Adoption centers are so full and there are only so many people are couples who are actually willing to go through all the steps of adoption and welcome a new little human into their home.

Sociological Concepts

The different types of sociological concepts are Marxism, Interactionism, and Functionalism (lecture from Dr. Jovel). Continuing the lecture by Dr. Jovel, each of these sociological concepts have different meanings. Marxism was about communism, Interactionism was the effect your mind and body have on each other, and Functionalism which is “society is a stable whole unit made up of interrelated parts that work together”. The movie talks about suicide, depression and anxiety teens can get as growing up in the foster homes and orphanages. A girl guest speaker went to speak with the parents about how her life when she was in the foster care company and she spoke on how she was using drugs and drinking alcohol and that she was very depressed in foster care which all have to do with social problems. Lately the rates in depression, anxiety and suicide have raised and it all that to do with the social culture and everything going on around you plus events of your daily life. The reason why foster kids are more prone to things like anxiety, depression and suicide is because they have been growing up away from a real family and when put in foster homes, they get put in homes with all kinds of people who could possibly have issues too. Another thing you see in the movie is the way the family changes throughout the movie. At the beginning of the movie, it starts with just Pete and Ellie who are a dyad. As the movie continues the couple adds more people into the family and the family completely changed. Now all the rooms in the house are taken and they are literally raising three children instead of having to take care of themselves. The family now needs more food, needs to buy more groceries, can’t go out like they used to, and they actually have to watch over the children they have decided to take responsibility over.

Research Methods

The research topic I chose for my essay about this movie is adoption. The research method I chose to do for this topic is a questionnaire – an interview. Like all research methods there are pros and cons to this method. Professor Jovel in my Sociology 101A class tells us about the pros and cons to a questionnaire method. The pros would be that it would be “authentic and intimate” and a disadvantage would be that it could be “time consuming”. There are eight steps I need to do to get all the information on adoption centers. The first step is to choose a theme that I have. I chose the topic of adoption. Step number two is to identify the problem. The problem with adoption is that there are not many children being adopted. Step three is to review the literature. I will go to the library and research adoption as much as I can. I will buy books and read reliable sources I can find on the Internet. My hypothesis on adoption is that many children are not being adopted because of how long the process of adoption takes and because people might feel like they are not able to afford adopting a child. The sixth step is to collect data. Now that the research is complete, I can finally go and interview people. The place I would go for this is an adoption center and maybe go into some foster homes and interview the children who are there. I would interview children and teens to see the difference between the ways they think. Other people I would like to interview are the foster parents who are temporarily taking care of the children and the social workers who work with all these people. After interviewing people who do have to do with adoption, I would move on to people who don’t for example random couples I find on the street and ask them if they have ever considered adopting a child and ask them why they would not and I would finally get my results. At last, after getting all my information I would put it together in an essay and share my results on why it is so hard for couples to decide to adopt children. There is one more possible method I would have decided to choose which is a survey. Surveys would be much quicker and I could give them to the same people I chose to interview. One of the downfalls to this is I may not know exactly who took the survey and people may not be completely sincere.

Conclusion

What really put this film together were the emotions the characters feel throughout the movie and how well the movie showed the characters emotions. The couple finally learns to deal with their difficult children and with themselves. One of my favorite scenes from the movie was the ending when Lizzie’s biological mother didn’t go pick her up. This was a sad moment for the girl but when her new parents gave her the letter, they were supposed to read at court she realized how they felt about her. The couple did not adopt children to make themselves look better as Lizzie thought but the couple knew something was missing in their lives and it was the three children they now had and loved with their whole hearts.

This movie and the paper I wrote to go along with it really made me think of sociology and how it truly does focus on all aspects of society. I will now be able to write my autobiography paper because of my understanding of sociology and I will be able to connect sociology in all my aspects of life.

Adopt, Don’t Buy: Why People Need to Start Adopting Pets

Why keep buying while those in shelters are dying? Millions of animals find themselves surrendered to shelters each year. The growing numbers are cause for the overpopulation crisis that shelters face. To relieve the shelters, millions of animals are euthanized every year, and in order to save these animals, the community needs to not only embrace the motto: ‘Adopt, Don’t Shop’, but execute it. People often look to buy that cute little puppy in the pet store window, not realizing that that only leads to more animals relinquished to shelters. People should look to adopt animals from their local shelters rather than buying them from elsewhere to beneficially minimize the overpopulation crisis shelters face.

Deciding on whether or not to get a pet is no easy decision; it takes thorough consideration. They are considered a part of the family and that often means that they require a lot of care. Pets provide a sense of companionship, but may lead to some problems in and out of the house. Having a pet can cause health issues for some; they can cause family members to develop an allergy. Depending on the severity, allergies can cause fatal reactions. Families should make precautionary decisions when getting a pet. While getting an allergy is possible, it is not always the case. In fact, pets have been known to help protect against allergies. If exposed to animals at a young age, pets can actually help children build immunity against bacteria. Often times people are concerned over the safety of their children when considering a pet. Whether it be allergies or behavioral issues, sometimes pets can be aggressive and dangerous. There is always a fear of the unknown, and getting a pet can sometimes be a blind decision. Most often, people do not know how the pet is going to react when it is brought home and introduced to children. While some pets can be aggressive, not all are and many are only aggressive when they feel threatened. Some pets are already trained, and if they have behavioral issues there is always the option to train them. A pet often comes with a handful of responsibilities. Responsibilities mean time and money some people may not have the budget for. It is necessary for pets to get annual care, but they cost a good bit of money. Preventative maintenance treatments alone can cost anywhere from fifty to a couple of hundreds of dollars a month, and people may not have the financial stability to get coverage on them or maintain the veterinary visits regularly. If money is a problem, then getting a pet would not be the best idea; it would be a hassle on the owner and deprive the animal of basic care. Getting a pet and then not being able to provide for it is one of the leading causes of animals ending up on the street and in shelters. It would do the animals more harm than good. There are numerous things to consider when getting a pet, and there may be some downsides, but a pet is certain to bring happiness.

Despite the difficulties that a pet may bring, that care can help teach life lessons. Having a pet can teach people to have responsibility and accountability for something other than his or herself; not only would he or she have to provide for themselves but for another living thing as well. A pet also helps teach time management and budgeting skills. People need to be able to manage their daily lives while also saving time for their pet, and they need to be able to budget their money accordingly so that they can provide for their new furry friend. Pets can help children learn how to be compassionate and gentle, while also supplying a lesson in patience when training them. There are downsides to everything and having a pet is no exception, but the benefits they bring far outweigh the bad. Everyone should do themselves a favor and get a pet. In addition to the amity between pet and owner, pets have been known to have a positive effect on a person’s mental and physical health. Dogs help to promote physical activity, whether it is throwing a ball or simply walking; fifty-four percent of dog owners get more exercise than non-dog owners. Not only does a dog require exercise to maintain a healthy lifestyle, but humans do as well. Furthermore, having a pet and staying active helps improve one’s health. The physical activity provided from having a pet can enhance heart health. Having a strong heart reduces the risks of cardiovascular disease, thus resulting in more health benefits that may also be associated with a lower risk of obesity, lower blood pressure, less stress, and lower cholesterol levels. Having a furry exercise partner is not the only benefit of going outside though. Pets act as motivation to get out and relish in the sunlight. Going out and spending time in the sun can raise vitamin D levels, which can counter depression. Pets pushing people to get outside is not just good for the body, but also the mind. For instance, they help to reduce stress and counter disorders like anxiety and depression. Besides combating disorders, pets also help people become better versions of themselves. Analyst have shown that pet owners are more outgoing and confident; they are also less likely to feel lonely or be anxious about daily life challenges. Pets help bolster people’s confidence and help them to express themselves better; they help people be more open and friendly. Dogs were found to have helped children with autism communicate with others. They provide a sense of emotional support and help people to be more vocalized. Pets help people form better relationships. Pet owners are believed to have initiate in conversation and form friendships. They can help build relationships by acting as an icebreaker for conversation. Like who does not like to talk about animals? In addition to acting as an icebreaker, they also help people to be more empathetic which always people to connect. Furthermore, forming friendships helps people to be more open and confident; being surrounded by both people and pets provides a sense of belonging and helps to reduce stress. In particularly, having a pet can help people to cope with challenges and unexpected traumas. They have the ability to read someone’s body language so they would sense when someone is feeling uneasy, dejected, vexed, etc., and provide a calming presence to get him or her in a better state of mind. Equally beneficial is that pets can provide an extra sense of security in the home and on the street. Home intruders are likely to be scared off by a barking dog, and other animals can alert their owner of dangers like a fire or gas leak. Who would not mind a little extra protection, especially in the form of a furry friend? While pets provide a sense of security, they also provide a sense of comfort. Pets can sense when their owner is feeling bad by reading their facial expressions and picking up on their body language. They are always there to put a smile on someone’s face or lick their tears away. Animals live in the moment and they serve as motivation for people to do the same. Pets live their lives one day at a time, and they do not worry about what is going on this day or the next. They bring joy into the lives of the people they meet. They make people smile when all they want to do is scream or cry, and they provide a sense of comfort that people cannot. In their short lives, pets provide an unconditional love that is unrivaled.

Animals often get the short end of the stick because of humans. Many people think that the majority of animals in shelters are there because of their bad behavior, but contrary to popular belief, most animals are there because of human problems. Moving into a new place might mean giving up a beloved animal because of the new landlord. Sometimes people need to move whether it be because of financial issues, a new job, or a family split (divorce). During these times people may find themselves in need of moving into a cheaper place. Sometimes these new, affordable places do not allow for pets, only allow certain breeds, or require a pet fee. Other times animals end up in shelters because their owner can no longer afford to keep them or take care of them. Sometimes people can no longer take care of their pet(s) due to a loss of income or a lack of access to pet resources. Not only may they not have the financial stability to provide for the pet, but they may also not have insurance to cover the health expenses or have a veterinary care facility close by. When change happens suddenly, be it having to move or losing a job, people often feel overwhelmed. They need to be able to manage all their responsibilities and that includes taking care of their pet. Depending on the situation, people may feel like they can no longer care for their pet and are forced to make the decision of giving them up. For whatever the reason – moving, financial issues, a lack of access to care and facilities, family problems, or a change of heart – shelters are having to increase their intake of animals. This continued intake adds to the overflow of animals into shelters. The fate of many of these animals is out of their control and is distressing.

In order to alleviate overpopulation, shelters have to make the difficult decisions, one of those being whether to euthanize an animal or not. Every year, six to eight million dogs wait to be adopted from animal shelters- so many that millions are euthanized each year due to overcrowding, according to PETA. As people continue to buy animals, others are forced to be put down. Why buy when adopting one saves a little life? Often times people are oblivious to where their purebred is actually coming from. People who purposely buy from pet stores are unaware that they are playing a major part in generating a market for inhumane breeding. Facilities responsible for this callous practice are known as ‘puppy mills’. People are oblivious to the substandard conditions in which these animals are kept in and the inadequate care they receive. Puppy mills are factory-style breeding facilities that put profit above the welfare of dogs. Animals from puppy mills are housed in shockingly poor conditions with improper medical care, and are often very sick and behaviorally troubled as a result. These animals are denied the proper care on a daily basis with no repercussions. Being treated inadequately results in the animals suffering not only physically but mentally. A lack of sufficient care and connection with other animals or humans, while being constantly confined is cause for an unhealthy and dissociated pet. Animals from puppy mills are usually shy or aggressive because of the lack of social interaction they get from being cooped up all the time. They also get little freedom and are deprived of things like toys and treats. This often leads to people abandoning their pet shortly after getting them because they become frustrated with their behavior. This adds to the continuation of overpopulated shelters. Animals continue to suffer at the hands of humans. Dogs from puppy mills suffer greatly and often have health problems. Puppy mill dogs are commonly afflicted with epilepsy, heart conditions, kidney disease, musculoskeletal disorders, endocrine disorders, blood disorders, deafness, eye disorders, and respiratory problems. Puppy mill puppies may be purchased with any number of diseases and medical conditions including parvovirus, distemper, respiratory infections, pneumonia, mange, fleas, ticks, giardia, heartworm, chronic diarrhea, intestinal parasites, and kennel cough. A lot of the time people are unaware of these health problems until after purchasing the dog, and these dogs are in a constant state of suffering. Not only do they have health problems, but breeders often produce animals with hereditary defects. These defects are passed down through the constant breeding process and continuously effects animals. Dogs from puppy mills can be sold through pet stores, online vendors, flea markets, or even newspaper ads. The only way to stop this inhumane practice from continuing to thrive is for people to stop buying their pets from stores and breeders. It starts with research and people need to do their research before purchasing a pet. If people stop buying animals, puppy mills will lose their profits and eventually vanish. As a result, it would put an end to these animals’ agony. Humans caused this problem and it is up to them to fix it. Adopting an animal is the best way to not only put an end to the inhumane practices of puppy mills, but also the best way to find a best friend. There are numerous benefits to adopting a new found companion.

How gratifying would it be to save not one life but two? Adopting a pet helps more than just the animal itself. For instance, when an animal gets adopted, it is being saved from potentially being put down, but it also frees up room, allowing the shelter to help another animal off the streets. In addition to making room for more intakes, it can also help to alleviate shelters of overpopulation. The shelters provide the animals with food and care, giving them the proper nourishment. Most shelters pets have received their annual vaccinations and been wormed, treated for fleas and ticks, microchipped, and spayed or neutered. That can save up to at least $800 in saving. Pets available for adoption have all the health care expenses covered, and that is a good deal for both parties. People who purchase from pet stores or breeders would still need to pay for all those treatments. Buying a pet can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars while adopting can cost as little as $50 and rarely more than $200. Adopting not only saves lives but also money. Why buy a pet that not only cost a fortune, but also contributes to inhumane practices? Why not adopt, what is holding people back? People often do not adopt because they believe animals in shelters are badly behaved. Contrary to this popular belief, most of the dogs in the shelter are actually well behaved and trained. Fewer than 18% of animals are in shelters due to bad behavior. Consequently, many are just there because the family could no longer provide for them. Most of the animals are already house trained and the staff makes sure that they are in good health before they are considered adoptable. In fact, shelter staff trains the animals whenever they can and performs behavioral tests in order to determine whether they are ready to be put up for adoption or not. It helps them learn what causes an animal to act out and set precautions for people coming in to adopt. People avoid shelters because they do not want a mutt. While people are hesitant to adopt because stereotypes, there is an animal for everyone whether it be a mixed-breed or purebred. Around 25% of animals in shelters are purebreds. There is also more than one place to adopt. If someone cannot find the specific animal, they want at their local shelter they can try another one or look for breed-specific rescues. There is simply no excuse as to why someone should not adopt a pet over buying one. While people often search for a purebred, it may be in the potential owner’s interest to get a mixed breed. Mixed breeds have a longer life expectancy compared to a purebred because purebreds are prone to developing health problems ranging from breathing difficulties to hip dysplasia to an enlarged heart. A mixed breed from a shelter would be another contributor to saving money. With little health problems comes far less veterinary bills that can cost a substantial amount. The majority of animals in shelters are already spayed or neutered; this gives the prospective owner a healthier and better-behaved pet. Spaying/neutering an animal helps eliminate health problems like breast cancer, uterine infections, testicular cancer, and prostatic hyperplasia, while also reducing some of the problems connected to mating. Having a pet already ‘fixed’ helps eliminate health problems which then in turn saves the owner money. They save money on not only the operation but also on potential medical bills that could result in the future if the pet is not spayed/neutered. They also get a better companion and avoid frustrations that could result in them surrendering their animal to a shelter or the streets. There is a range of variety in shelters; animals of all ages, breeds, charisma, and sizes are available for adoption. There is an animal for everyone to adopt, it is just a matter of how hard someone is willing to look for the perfect best friend to take home. There is really no excuse as to why someone would avoid animal shelters and adopting. Animals that have been adopted have often been described as showing ceaseless loyalty and love. Adopted pets are forever grateful to their owner who gave them a forever home. Adopting is bound to bring unconditional love, so who really rescued who?

In order to reduce the overpopulation in shelters, people need to start adopting animals rather than purchasing them from breeders and pet stores. Buying an animal results in less opportunities for animals to be adopted. Shelters are in need of their communities’ support and help. If not, animals will continue to be euthanized in order to create space and maximize resources. People need to start executing the motto: ‘Adopt, Don’t Shop’. And if they cannot adopt themselves, they need to make it known to their community and everyone that these animals need to be adopted. Post on social media: Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook, etc. Spread the word, “Hey this dog/cat needs to be adopted soon or it will be killed! RT until we find him/her a home”. People can donate money or more specifically supplies that their local shelters may be in need of: newspaper, food, treats, blankets, towels, toys, etc. Not only donating items or money but also time. Becoming a volunteer or even just visiting with the animals from time to time is more than enough. Shelter staff cannot walk and play with every animal. Taking them outside and interacting with them is not only beneficial to their health but also just makes their day. Adopt, don’t shop.

Essay on Public Healthcare in the US

Introduction

The healthcare system is a popular topic of study throughout the world. Their popularity is due not only to the universal human need for health care but also to the various means of delivery systems and financing around the world. These many differences depend greatly on each country’s political culture, history, and level of wealth (Saunders, 2002). The tight link between the United States and appears to be reflected in most developmental areas in recent years. These two countries appear to be learning from one another as they work to develop long-term healthcare solutions. According to Formosa Post (2014), the United States has copied many of its systems which is due to historical causes. However, it’s worth mentioning that the performance and dependability of each system are determined by major organizational disparities in healthcare system architecture. In comparison to the US healthcare system, ‘s healthcare system, known as the National Health Service, is said to perform substantially better.

The current development and the USA is characterized by a profound and sustained economic crisis and enormous national debt which could be associated with the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic. Against this background, the traditional structures of health systems are being discussed more and more openly and emphatically from the point of view of costs as factors that hinder competition in the industrial location. There are different considerations as to how these can be restricted. With their ‘welfare states’ are increasingly orienting themselves towards the ‘role model’ of the USA. The market, competition, and personal responsibility are still neglected factors in Britain’s health care. In the USA, however, there are very different items on the agenda today, for private healthcare organizations have made healthcare the most expensive in the world, creating an army of Americans who are either uninsured or underinsured for disease. The state is therefore currently called upon in the USA to put the health care that has gotten out of hand with its anti-social effects back in order.

Therefore, the purpose of this essay is to compare and contrast the healthcare systems of the United States of America using some indices which include:

    • Policy context
    • Resourcing and Funding
    • Performance and provision

The policy context will explain how the healthcare system in both countries has come to be the way it is. The difference in the funding system will be analyzed based on the success it has posed for each country and the performance and provision will be evaluated based on functionality such as accessibility and quality.

Background of healthcare system

Many countries’ health systems evolved in a variety of ways, with some giving private insurance, some providing universal health care, and others combining the two (Jones and Kantarjian, 2019). Historical events such as post-World War II, political beliefs, and economic conditions are said to have shaped the development of health care (Dixon et al.,2009; Schutte et al., 2018).

The National Health Service (NHS) was established in 1946 and is in charge of ‘s public healthcare system. Before this, healthcare was primarily reserved for the wealthy, unless one could acquire free treatment through charities or teaching institutions (Chang et. al., 2016). In 1911, David Lloyd George introduced the National Insurance Act, which required a minimal deduction from an employee’s pay in exchange for free healthcare. However, this program only provided coverage to those who were employed. Following WWII, an effort was made to establish a public healthcare system in which services were offered free at the time of need, services were funded through central taxation, and everyone was entitled to treatment. A basic tripartite structure was established, with hospital services, primary care (GPs), and community services being divided. Concerns about problems caused by the separation of the three core areas of care had grown by 1974, thus a major restructuring effort was undertaken to enable local governments to support all three areas of care. During the Thatcher years, the management system was restructured, and in 1990, the National Health Service and Community Treatment Act was established, having autonomous trusts to oversee hospital care.

The reforms are in place to assist reduce medical expenditures and wait times for patients. Total healthcare spending as a percentage of GDP has risen steadily since the 1980s. In addition, the private sector has assumed a larger role in health insurance, accounting for 16.7% of healthcare spending in 1999, up from 10.6% in 1980. Medical trend rates in 2006, 2009, 2010, and 2011 were 6.0 percent, 9.3 percent, 8.8 percent, and 9.5 percent, respectively, according to a report by Towers Watson. In 1998, the NHS Plan was implemented which aided in the modernization of the healthcare system.

In contrast in American history, there has always been a discussion about which level of government should be in charge of what. Anti-Federalists, for example, pushed for local autonomy in the eighteenth century, boycotted the Constitutional Convention, and claimed that the proposed text would lead to a new (American-style) monarchy. However, with the election of Thomas Jefferson as president, a long-standing era began in which the states possessed an undeniable capacity to act with minimal government interference (Sparer and Beaussier, 2018). However, the combination of state sovereignty and the Industrial Revolution’s packed cities resulted in a surge in infectious diseases and epidemics (Dixon et al, 2009). As a result, the federal government decided to intervene, passing health and welfare legislation like the Vaccine Act of 1813. However, according to Sparer and Beaussier (2018), this program did not last long, as it terminated in 1821 after 10 individuals died as a result of inadvertent vaccine distribution.

There was a substantial hospital bed shortage in the United States by the conclusion of the Great Depression and World War II. Not only did hospital development slow down at this time, but many hospitals also shuttered as a result of the country’s economic crisis. However, Hanoch and Rice (2011) report that after WWII, the federal government channeled billions of dollars to educational medical researchers in the belief that all diseases could be conquered, which, combined with the use of advanced technologies, contributed to the United States’ excessive healthcare spending. The Hill-Burton Act, also known as the Hospital Survey and Construction Act of 1946, indicated the United States’ engagement in regulating hospital bed availability by giving funds through government grants (John, 2016). Essentially, this Act mandated the development and renovation of hospital systems across the United States. The Hill-Burton Act began with 3.2 community hospital beds per 1,000 inhabitants in a geographic region, and although the Hill-Burton program ended in 1974, its target of 4.5 beds per 1,000 people was met by the 1980s (John, 2016). In the United States, private health insurance arose as a result of the Great Depression. Baylor Hospital began offering 21 days of hospitalization per year to patients who paid a 50-cent monthly charge in 1929. The American Hospital Association encouraged the growth of this ‘prepayment’ notion. In Dallas, Texas, the first Blue Cross plan was founded in 1929 to ensure hospital coverage for childbearing-aged schoolteachers. Blue Shield began in the Pacific Northwest in the early 1900s, when mining and timber camps hired doctors to treat their workers. The Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association was formed when the two organizations merged, with Blue Cross representing hospital coverage and Blue Shield representing medical services. A Blue plan, which is part of a network of 43 individually and regionally controlled Blue Cross and Blue Shield organizations, now covers around 25% of insured Americans.

The National Health Planning and Resources Development Act of 1974 established a network of government health planning organizations known as health systems agencies as one of the first initiatives to limit the growth of healthcare spending in the United States. These healthcare agencies were created to keep tabs on the distribution of healthcare resources and the rising expense of medical care in the United States. The Act required states to implement certificate-of-need statutes requiring hospitals to obtain a certificate of need from their host state before purchasing major equipment or starting construction. Even though many states still need some form of a certificate of need, federal financing for healthcare agencies was terminated in 1986. 44 The managed care movement in the early 1990s spawned the current private health insurance sector, which is exceedingly sophisticated and varied.

Policy context

The Department of Health is the government body in charge of the NHS. The Department of Health’s goals are simple: to improve the people’s general well-being. This is accomplished through directing, supporting, and leading NHS and social care organizations to deliver fair, high-quality health care and to provide patients with choices while also providing value to taxpayers (UK Department of Health 2007). The National Health Service (NHS) is the name given to the overarching government national health organization which was established in 1948. However, in the United States, healthcare services are classified as either public or private. Health care that is deemed public or government function is referred to as public health care. The prevention of diseases, the promotion of health, the reporting and control of communicable diseases, the control of environmental factors such as air and water quality, and the study and analysis of data on public health are all areas where public or government agencies provide a level of public health care (Stahl 2004). The US Department of Health and Human Services is the principal federal agency that controls many of the sub-agencies that perform these government healthcare services. These organizations include the Centers for Disease Control, Food and Drug Administration, National Institutes of Health, and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (Stahl 2004).

Primary care trusts (PCTs) are made up of GPs, dentists, pharmacists, and optometrists who are in charge of coordinating the delivery of health care and the patient experience. Acute trusts, often known as NHS trusts, are secondary levels of care that are made up of NHS (or government-run) hospitals. The local organizations in charge of responding to and assessing emergencies are known as ambulance trusts. Care trusts are essentially social service companies that coordinate multiple services to suit the requirements of patients who may require more complex treatment. Patients with more serious mental health issues are served by mental health trusts (NHS 2007). However, in the United States, when seeking medical help for an episodic or non-chronic ailment, most people go to their primary care physician first. Primary care is described as the initial interaction with medical services to provide diagnosis and treatment. GPs, pediatricians, internists, obstetricians, nurse practitioners, physician’s assistants, and midwives are examples of primary care providers (PCPs). Patients of all ages, genders, and ethnicities who are suffering from a variety of medical ailments are seen by primary care professionals. As a result, PCPs must be well-versed in a wide range of ailments and frequently collaborate with secondary and tertiary care experts to provide comprehensive treatment to patients (Stahl 2004).

Furthermore, even though the levels of government engagement and social responsibility in the US and health systems vary greatly, both systems similarly administer healthcare. Both tend to start with primary care and are organized into regional, functional, and specialized subsystems. Although these subsystems are owned and operated by the government and by private businesses in the United States, the evident deviation is in the payment responsibilities.

Funding and resourcing

Even though health care funding is largely handled by the government and health care funding in the United States is largely controlled by the private sector, both are fundamentally made possible by public contributions. The extent of government engagement and forced taxation vs voluntary contributions are the most significant differences. The provides health care to all citizens through a healthcare delivery system that is similar to that of the United States, whereas the United States is burdened by the uninsured.

The NHS is primarily funded through general taxation, with National Insurance contributions supplementing it. While the NHS is often described as ‘free at the point of use,’ individuals have been expected to pay for some services (such as medications and dental treatment) since 1951. Many patients are covered by exemptions, including those under the age of 16 and those over the age of 60, as well as those receiving specified state subsidies. Over time, the relative contribution of each of these sources of funding general revenue, national insurance, and user fees has fluctuated. For example, between 2007 and 2011, the proportion of income from user fees remained at 1.2 percent, down from a peak of 5% in 1960. (Hawe and Cockcroft 2013). However, in the United States, healthcare systems are financed using the following:

    • Insurance that is purchased privately
    • Insurance plans run by the government
    • Individuals themselves (personal, out-of-pocket funds)

Private insurance is available from both for-profit and non-profit insurance providers. Although the United States has a large number of health insurance firms, each state tends to have a small number. The majority of private insurance is purchased by businesses as a benefit for their employees. Employers and employees frequently split costs. The money spent by an employer on an employee’s health insurance is not taxable income for the employee. In effect, the government is partially subsidizing this insurance. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA, or Affordable Care Act [ACA]), which took effect in 2014, is a U.S. healthcare reform law aimed at increasing the availability, affordability, and use of health insurance, among other things. Similarly, Emmerson et al. (2002) report that, while the ACA amendment has provided insurance coverage to over 5 million Americans and contributed to a decrease in health expenditure growth in the United States, people on the other hand, prefer private insurance to the NHS, with Oram (2018) reporting that about 7 million people have private insurance today, compared to 2.4 million in 1990. Nonetheless, Dickman et al. (2017) contend that healthcare systems funded by taxes, such as those are more progressive than those in the United States, which rely on private insurance and out-of-pocket expenditures.

Private health insurance coverage is carried by 10.6% of the population. The majority of these are corporate subscriptions that are included in employees’ overall remuneration packages (LaingBuisson 2017). Matusitz (2014), on the other hand, claims that the private health insurance industry in the United States insures people not only for health care but also for an improvement in health status. Nonetheless, Bradbury et al. (2018) point out that, although health care is universal, both the number of persons with private medical insurance and the total amount spent on medical care by private individuals have risen dramatically in recent years.

Furthermore, whilst the NHS, ‘s principal provider of healthcare, spent 6.3 percent of GDP on health in 2017 (Jones and Kantarjian,2019), the United States spent 18 percent of its national GDP on healthcare in 2017, nearly tripling health spending (Mishuk et al, 2019). Similarly, according to Gross and Laugesen (2018), the United States is the only member of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) with the highest total and public health expenditures per person, with an estimated US$10,212 in 2017, more than double the average of $4,246 and also overspends compared to all other countries.

In the United States, government-sponsored health care Although the United States health system is mostly funded by private parties, public spending makes a significant contribution (44.7 percent of health care GDP), as previously stated. Government- or public-sponsored health care includes Medicare, Medicaid, which includes the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), and Veteran Affairs. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is a government organization in charge of administering the Medicare and Medicaid programs in the United States. Both Medicare and Medicaid are the principal types of public health insurance in the United States, and are a merging of formerly smaller systems, thanks to amendments to the Social Security Act in 1965.

Essay on ‘Her Voice Is Full of Money’

 As we know Daisy is the only prize for both Gatsby and Tom because they never care about her opinion and on the other hand Nick is following his American dream and learning about the relationship. He fell in love with Jordan during the process and he observed Gatsby’s life, which led him to return home. In the end, everyone wants only the American dream, but the definition of everyone is different. Once something has been achieved, we end up hungry for another goal.

Almost everything we read from different characters in the story are rumors about Gatsby. Only few knew who he really was and even after his death people were still wondering who he really was. His close friends like Nick knew about the most important lie to cause his happiness. “He might have despised himself, for he had certainly taken her under false pretenses. I don’t mean that he had traded on his phantom millions, but he had deliberately given Daisy a sense of security and he let her believe that he was a person from many different strata, whom he could take care of. He did not have such facilities, he did not have a comfortable family behind him, and he was responsible for the will of an impersonal government to be blown anywhere about the world.” Of all that Gatsby did,all of his lies, one lie had the most influence on him but why a high class girl would love a failure like him. He was at the point where he would do anything for her, which led him to do all he could to make her love him. The author showed how Gatsby could despised himself but motivated himself to work harder and harder everyday. As he gave Daisy ‘ false pretense’ to show his love he also made her to believe in something he was not, a successful man. Once she believed, he was done with lying and tried to change himself.

The best part of the american dream is to love, which seemed to be the main goal of Gatsby. Daisy motivated him to have the dream that led him to chase it and reach his goal. Although he can do everything he can, he still can not reach what motivated him first, Daisy.

“Her voice is full of money, he said suddenly.

That was it. I’d never understood before. It was full of money—that was the inexhaustible charm that rose and fell in it, the jingle of it, the cymbals’ song of it.”

In this quote, it reflects on the characters of the book especially Gatsby. It shows the ability to see the values of every character.

At one point in the book each character was a liar and they caused many illusions and It also built and broke relationships such as Mrs. Wilson’s death breaking a marriage or Gatsby losing Daisy even after Gatsby lied to win her back. In the end, the only one who become more mature from all the chaos was Nick which “acknowledges a new sense of perspective in his moral life.”

The negative or positive characteristics were all motives by only one thing and that’s the american dream. Richness , class and being wealthy were always a big component. Daisy is a perfect example of wealth and class, while Gatsby never leaves his lower class, which is still a problem to reach his american dream goal. Although he invented himself to be a high class and a wealthy man, he never leaves the lower class to gets Daisy, which makes him to fail to get the American Dream.