The Lost Boy: A Foster Child's Search For The Love Of Family

Angela Alicea 11/6/2010
Child welfare

After reading a book called The Lost Boy: A Foster Child’s Search for the Love of Family, by Dave Pelzer, I learned even more about the child welfare system. While reading this book I grew very emotional at time, as well as some things bring me back to my childhood. The book discusses the abuse, torture, and life of this young child. This book also allowed me to visualize the affects the abuse had on this child’s mind. Through this essay I will discuss the roles and events that were played out in this book, as well discussing my personal thoughts. Throughout the semester we learned different things about the child welfare system.
One difference was the fact that police were called to remove him from home instead of Protective Services. Normally the Protective Services Agency will do all the work that the officer did. Another event that occurred was the fact that his mother was allowed to go to his foster parent’s home. I would have thought that they would have kept her away being that she has such violent behavior toward Dave. When we discussed this in class it was said that parents were not to have contact with the kids when placed in care. Then another event was when Dave’s probation officer was trying so hard to find him a home and pleaded with Turnboug’s to allow him to stay. Then he said” he would just backlog the paper work. I know we discussed this and paper work is supposed to be done because it is very important. These are the differences between what the child welfare did in Dave Pelzer’s life and what was discussed in
The reason is because as I read I would feel the pain he was going through and feel myself walking in his shoes. Every time I read something about his mother I would feel like hitting her and I would get these visions of how she looked although the book doesn’t give a description about her like that. I had such a deep reaction from beginning to end my mind felt as if I was the one living through this moment with Dave. When I read this book it brought me back to when I was in foster care and how at certain points I can relate to him. So I understand his emotions and the reason why he wanted to fit in so badly. This book helped me see what foster care is and has done to other children. When I was in care I didn’t understand the process or what was going on but now after this I understand even more about foster care. I at first thought that they would just adopted you but after reading this book I now understand even more that some kids go through more than one home and how divesting that can be on a child. As I read the book I also learned the mistakes the child welfare system did as far as just throwing with any family not evaluating if that family best suits Dave. I think they should think before they place a child just anywhere and always get them counseling right away because the child always needs someone to talk to. Though overall I have a deeper understanding of foster