Shainne Hostalero

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 civi...

Photo from:  mindandi / Freepik "I was feeling a little anxious and worried, scared," said Heather, 13, while sitting inside the courtroom. Her wide-shaped expressive eyes were looking down at the floor at first, turning her eyesight to everybody in the courtroom - she must be observing. The incident happened that night when her father threatened her life. As a teen, this should not be the kind of thing Heather must be experiencing. "I was feeling really shy and it was hard enough for me to make friends on a normal day. " She feels discomfort during her stay in the courtroom. "When I was waiting to be called up, first I was thinking, like I said, how I was really uncomfortable there. As a really awkward 13-year old, I was feeling really shy, and it was hard enough for me to make friends on a normal day. That lonely day, I was feeling really anxious and overwhelmed, and there are all these kids running around doing whatever. I felt like that was my fir...

Before April ends, I would like to thank everyone who took away some moments from their busy day to greet me a happy birthday last Sunday. All the well wishes are so heartwarming, and I felt the love and care that went with it. My late 20s is serious about changing my life. It was really a roller coaster ride because a part of me does not want to add one more year for the same reason I had - I want to be forever 22. I have some bittersweet realizations turning a year older because do you see the thought of this sentence? A year older, it means adding another 12 months to my life. I am also happy to have another dozen of months to live my life, struggle, and lose some sleep yet again. How exciting, huh. Kidding. I am grateful for my life because I am far lucky I know to have given the most precious gift on earth, and yes, it is now time for me to use it for the better. I am happy to reunite with some old friends whom I think I could get older with. I am glad to have a supportive fam...

I grew up in a not-so-rich family. I was raised by my grandparents in modest means. They sent me to school for my so-called brighter future. It was worth it, if I may say. I have experienced both public and private school. When I was in my first and second grade, I was enrolled in a public elementary school. We were more than 50 students in one classroom. There were bullies everywhere and terror teachers, too. I was six years old mumbling through the corridors how life was for my other classmates. Being friendly was not innate to me as I did enjoy the company of myself most of the time. I was raised to bring good grades. I was not expected to be on the honor roll. I was just encouraged to have at least good grades, but more importantly, I was motivated to work hard for all the things I would do even if it means I fail, so as long as I could learn something that will help me through life. It was in the earlier of times I have awakened to how life was and how it will be. There were...