9781422282595

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Chapter One WHAT IS FOSTER CARE?

Words to Understand disproportionate: when something is too large or too small in comparison to something else. neglect: not taking care of something or someone. reunification: putting something back together. stereotype: a simplified idea about a type of person that is not connected to actual individuals. There are lots of shows about families on TV. Sometimes the dad is a goofball and the mom is a grouch. Sometimes the mom is fun but irresponsible, while the dad is calm but uptight. Either way, these shows have a lot in common with one another. Something goes wrong—maybe one of the kids gets in trouble, or maybe the parents disagree about something. But whatever the issue is, by the end of the show it all works out. In the world of these shows, there is no problem that can’t be fixed in 30 minutes. Of course, real life doesn’t work like that. Sometimes parents just can’t get along, no matter how hard they try. Sometimes there isn’t enough money to