This morning, as I was flipping through morning shows, I saw a segment in one of the shows discussing children and parenthood (I wasn’t sure which one, I just stopped surfing – I usually watch Good Morning America though). The specific issue being discussed was who could take custody of children at what certain point in their lives. In some countries family politics works in a simple way: you cannot take away a child from his or her parents unless there is an incidence of direct abuse of the child or unless the parents give the child up for legal adoption for acceptable reasons. So even if you’re a recovering alcoholic who hasn’t quite recovered yet, you get to keep your children. In the more developed countries, though, there’s more to it than just that.
The good thing about American law is that it makes sure a parent (or the parents) is fit to take care of a child in order to let the parent keep the child, and those who are incapable are going to be helped by the government to the best of their abilities up to a certain extent. For instance, those who are financially challenged could be given an allowance or a loan by the government, and some training, so that they could go out and find another job at a given time frame. As long as that family has a decent home, is eating, and is sending the children to school, that family is safe. If this is not the case, child services takes the children, and the parents can only appeal to the court for their parental rights back when they can prove that they are able to support their family.
As for those with addiction problems, the children are left with the sober members of the family (usually the grandparents) who qualify as guardians to the children, and the state sends the parent to a rehabilitation facility to get better. When they deem it safe and healthy for a child to be returned to his or her parents, then that’s the only time they regain their parental rights. If the parent/parents involved fail to finish their rehab stint, then they lose their parental rights and the children are, sadly, placed in foster homes, where their fate is uncertain.
It’s a good thing that the justice system takes every step possible to keep a child with their parents. Some countries take the children away without considering the future of the children, and some don’t take the children away without considering their safety in their current situation. If only the social services in the countries around the world could be improved, and if only everyone was made socially aware of these issues regarding children and their parents, then hopefully every child can be placed in a good, loving, secure home.