Tag: makeadifference

Media And The Social Welfare: Access To The Juvenile Dependency Courts

Photo from: jcomp/Freepik

The common point of complaint regarding the communication between public agencies serving children and the media has always been the fear, mistrust, and subsequent misinformation.

On one side, you have a child welfare system burdened with the nearly impossible task of mitigating the worst effects of societal dysfunction: child abuse, neglect, and child death. On the other side, you have a cast of overwhelmingly well-intentioned journalists, working under a strict deadline, who are met with a foster care system practically and – in more than half of the states – legally cloaked in obscurity.

The system’s culture of confidentiality invariably erodes the news media’s confidence in it, resulting in a more sensationalist coverage that the foster care professionals are scared about. It is a case, which has showcased us the current warped public perception of a broken foster care system. The logical result is that myriad opportunities to engender civil and political will are missed, and children suffer as a result.

In those jurisdictions, where media has been granted to sensitive juvenile dependency hearings, positive change has resulted.

The Responsibility Of The Media

 In this era, media has a huge role in communication – delivering news, telling opinions, and revealing more profound ideas and information for the public’s knowledge, by which, in a nutshell, has a higher responsibility with proceedings and social issues no matter how sensitive those might be.

In the articles of Karen de Sa in Mercury News about broken families and courts, different situations have been cited:


Marquita Jackson, 20, a young mother, who reportedly had her baby allegedly shaken by the father that caused brain hemorrhage to the infant had lead to some stir in court. The case was considered public and was handled by Juvenile Defenders’ Attorneys, it had not looked upon thoroughly or deliberately out of focus. In most cases, when inadequate time and resources were given to the victims and case filers, representations in the court system tend to be poor. 
In the discussion of Jackson’s case, a reporter was warned in one interview to not overestimate the importance of due process. Thus, the instance applies to the parents the Juvenile Defenders’ represent; hence, things might sometimes be out of control during the initial hearings: difficulties in getting a social worker to report early and track down some transient clients. 
In sensitive cases like Jackson’s, where events weren’t entirely recorded, and evidence wasn’t sufficiently blown presented – due to the complexity of data; including the parents’ emotional standing, personal relationship with the suspect, and the current status of the child – getting more concrete information has been challenging. 


“If we deny youth the opportunity to participate, we really have set up a system that perpetuates injustice.” – Jennifer Rodriguez, a foster youth. 

Traditionally, having children in court to attend hearings and proceedings are not usual and inappropriate. The jury believes that having them to participate in susceptible situations are more likely to add to their traumatic insight; hence, don’t contribute to their speedy recovery and emotional healing.

In the case of Zairon Frazier, 14, who got whacked with a belt by his mother: it seems that the case was going towards defending that he is abused. In the mind of Frazier, this could be more than just child abuse. Getting beaten by his own mother could affect not only his physical state but as well as his emotional being – the feeling of belongingness and appreciation by his own biological parent could be considered stained in his mind.

In the circumstance of the prohibition of children to attend court proceedings can make any case more inaccessible and too sensitive. In fact, a reporter who won the court’s approval to observe confidential proceedings in Santa Clara Court in California for more than two weeks has reportedly observed children in only a fraction of hearings.

In The Name Of Responsible Reporting

Media must observe all situations and conditions given: the due process, the consideration of behavior, sensitivity, and perception most specifically of the answering party especially in case of children.

No matter how fearful and nearing the deadlines are, it is essential to observe the proper ways of getting and handling statements or appropriate stories, and more exclusively the unbiased and objective reporting to not affect and feud-up the issue.

It is the journalists’ duty and responsibility to connect personally with the victims and to the witnesses to get a piece of their head without a form of abuse in the name of reporting. In fact, it is part of their sworn obligation to perform their jobs in the most socially responsible way. Understanding the pedagogy of cases shall be dealt with grace by the journalist.

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 Hostalero, A.L. (2015). A Social Welfare Activity Report for J4SC101 – Journalism for Social Change, the University of California Berkeley via edX. 

References:

De Sa, K. (2016, August 14). Part II: A timid advocate for parents’ rights. Retrieved from https://www.mercurynews.com/2008/02/10/part-ii-a-timid-advocate-for-parents-rights/

De Sa, K. (2016, August 14). Part III: ‘If it was about me, why didn’t they ask me?’ Retrieved from https://www.mercurynews.com/2008/02/11/part-iii-if-it-was-about-me-why-didnt-they-ask-me/

A Fostering Media Connections. (2012). Watched System Forum [PDF]. California: BerkeleyLaw University of California

#HelpOurBabies | Virlanie Foundation

PRESS RELEASE

How Busy People Are Finding Time to Care

The trick is to make it a part of your busy-ness.

By night, DJs Sunny Bonner and PJ Paradise of the Las Vegas-based duo WeRWolvz are making clubs come alive with their powerful music. But once in a while, they find themselves in Manila not just to energize the local club scene but also to help children by volunteering their time and talents. The current editor-in-chief of Good Vibes PH, Kai Magsanoc, established her own start-up to spread positive news amidst today’s sea of dismal messages. Brian Bantungan, an educator, artist, and nature builder, is in the best position to spread progressive ideas and concepts among his numerous students in St. Paul University, EJ Miranda, Red Bull marketing executive, shared his time and musical abilities to teach children how to play piano. While independent music and visual artist Amiya Velayo, who sings for and about children, expressed the importance of sharing her own time and that for her future child to help these underprivileged children.

They are some of the people who spent an entire morning with Virlanie Foundation’s young beneficiaries on June 20, 2015 in Makati City, Philippines. They are busy, highly-creative, jet-setting individuals who are finding time to care for others by making helping not just a one-time activity, but a part of their hectic lifestyle. They have realized that a strong culture of caring is worth more than fame or money.

Virlanie Foundation, Inc., wishes to thank friends who supported the event: Paris Delice, Wasabi Warriors, Good Vibes PH, Glaiza of www.moomymusings.com, Shalene of www.purplepieces.com, Lani of www.kamikazeegirl.com and Red Bull Philippines.

Supporting Virlanie’s #HelpOurBabies campaign

Last June 1, Virlanie launched a fundraising drive to raise support for its Babies and Toddlers Home, the residence for its child beneficiaries aged 0-5 years old. As part of the Foundation’s strategy, Virlanie organized an open-house activity for bloggers, members of the media, and artists. The 3-hour event was made memorable with musical performances from the artists and Virlanie’s very own French volunteers. The guests also picked books to read to the young listeners. And right before meal time, they spent some time outdoors playing with children.

Virlanie Foundation continues its call to support for #HelpOurBabies. This campaign will run until June 30, 2015 as it aims to gather more financial donations to help the Foundation continue its work with the babies and toddlers. All donations will go towards providing the children with three square meals a day, milk and snacks, healthcare, clothing, shelter and other basic needs. For details on how you can help, please visit www.virlanie.org/HelpOurBabies

Virlanie invites everyone to strengthen our culture of caring, not only raise money for its own programs, but to influence more people to make helping a part of their lifestyle.

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For more information, please get in touch with:
Ime Morales, Head of Communication
info@virlanie.org / 895 3460

VIRLANIE FOUNDATION, INC.
4055 Yague Street, Barangay Singkamas, Makati City, Philippines, 1204
Phone: +632 895 3460 | Fax: +632 895 5232
Email: info@virlanie.org
www.facebook.com/virlaniefoundation Twitter: @virlanie

Frame Your Problem: The Frequencer

Every day, we learn something new; and every day we have the chance to make a difference, inspire other people, assess ourselves and solve our problems in the most creative ways.

Today, let me share to you a very inspiring story about Louis Plante.

Louis Plante
Screenshot Photo of User Innovation: Entrepreneurship class video
Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Last night, I attended my User Innovation: Entrepreneurship class. It was about “Frame Your Problem.” The topic featured Louis Plante. He is an Electrical Engineer and a Musician who has Cystic Fibrosis – a disease that causes thick mucus to build in the lungs and damage the respiratory system.

The only cure for Cystic Fibrosis is through clapping or tapping the chest to create vibrations to the lungs. This type of treatment is kind of painful.

Because Louis Plante wants help to cure his illness, he thought of all possible ways on how he can actually help himself; and he was able to come up with an idea of the Frequencer. 

The Frequencer generates sound waves that can travel through the chest and gently vibrates the lungs. This is a very successful invention (or innovation) that he started to share with people who are also suffering with this kind of illness.

Its effect finally helped Louis Plante as the frequency navigate through his chest and caused him to cough. In this way, it created vibrations that loosen up thick mucus developed in his lungs.

To innovate:
According to Eric Von Hippel, our professor: “people frame problems in different ways.” With this, he also suggests that rather than sitting around and thinking about it hard, start messing around and when you get a combination that works, that’s the one that becomes successful. 

Same goes with Louis Plante. He has skills to do such invention that helped him with his problem. Moreover, his ideas and eagerness to solve has been rewarding and indeed inspiring.

Surprisingly, the next frame answered questions I have in mind; and it wasn’t just that… it moved me.

Q: What if you didn’t have those skills?
Louis Plante: The world would still be the same, and the problem would still be there. And for me, as the person that I am, I would have to find the solution to that problem.
From whatever point of view you are, your problem is still there. But if you look at it in a certain angle, it’s going to give you another solution. And not to be discouraged by, “oh, maybe the angle is not good.” NO. Go ahead and try it because you never know what, that ‘try’ might solve the whole thing. 

Currently, Louis Plante is waiting for his lung transplant. I hope (and I know) that his operation will go well as planned so he could inspire more people with his story, to innovate and to live life to its fullest.

Final words from last night’s class, courtesy of Eric Von Hippel:

“Both the problem’s shape and the skill set will morph as you proceed. So don’t overthink it, just get started.”

After this, we might not be afraid to try new things to the extent that we can even solve those that we are not totally sure of. Let’s just get started.