Fostering Children by Gay Couples: A Documentary Analysis

The report analyzes the aspect of fostering children by a gay couple, focusing on the welfare of children and the familial environment provided by the couple. It explores the rights of adoption by homosexual couples and the concept of foster care. The report also discusses the laws and regulations related to adoption by the LGBT community in Australia.

Running head: SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE 1
Social Work Practice

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Executive summary
The report is focused in the aspect pertaining to the fostering of children by a gay couple
taking account of a documentary. It implies the aspects pertaining to welfare of children
along with the fact relating to the familial environment provided by the gay couple as far as
the fostering of children is concerned.

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Table of Contents
Introduction................................................................................................................................3
Foster care..................................................................................................................................3
Analysis......................................................................................................................................3
Mode of practice........................................................................................................................4
Situation examination.................................................................................................................5
Rationale for opting the story.....................................................................................................5
Problems.....................................................................................................................................5
Underlying issues.......................................................................................................................5
Professional frameworks............................................................................................................5
Other sources of information.....................................................................................................6
Unfairness..................................................................................................................................6
Motivation and working alliance...............................................................................................6
Resources for further interventions............................................................................................7
Strengths and barriers.................................................................................................................7
Challenges and opportunities.....................................................................................................7
Future scope...............................................................................................................................7
Conclusion..................................................................................................................................8
References..................................................................................................................................9

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Introduction
Social policies play an important role with regard to the governance of lives of people
on a daily basis accordingly. There are various kinds of social issues which affect a particular
group or a population to a certain extent accordingly. As a result, it may lead to campaigning
for the rights and interests of such kinds of groups or population accordingly. It would also
imply the aspects pertaining to the basic human rights and civil liberties of a person
accordingly as far as the entitlements are concerned. It would also imply the theories
pertaining to the social issues concerned. The main aim of the report is to present an
overview of the aspect pertaining to the family of a gay couple as far as the concept of foster
care is concerned. The rights pertaining to adoption by homosexual couples may also be
taken into consideration pertaining to the relevancy as far as the report is concerned. The
aspect of foster care may also be analysed in an effective and efficient manner accordingly
(Mathews, 2017). It would help in the addressing of the issues pertaining to homosexuals in
the desired manner as far as the derivations of the desired outcomes are concerned as far as
the framework related to basic human rights are concerned.
Foster care
The concept of foster care implies the system pertaining to the caring of children in a
proper and appropriate manner by a certified care-giver. It may also include an organization
or a foster parent taking account of the facts and circumstances of the situation concerned. It
is imperative that the aspect pertaining to foster parenting implies the concept of a family
accordingly. It also implies the aspect pertaining to community services as far as the welfare
of children is concerned accordingly (Wright, 2018). The government of the country or the
concerned authority plays an important role in the framing of policies pertaining to foster care
of children. In Australia, the aspect pertaining to the foster care of children is based on the
care and protection order issued by the Department of Child Protection in accordance with
Sub-section 1 of Section 37 of the Children’s Protection Act of 1993. In this aspect, the
Minister concerned must be of the opinion that the child is at risk prior to the issuance of such
kind of care and protection order accordingly (Frederico, Long, McNamara, McPherson &
Rose, 2017). It would help in the delving into the facts and circumstances of the case in a
proper and appropriate manner accordingly.

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Analysis
The case pertains to the gay couple named as Dennis and John as implied form the
facts. For twenty years, they are engaged into the aspect pertaining to foster care as far as
children and dogs are concerned. They are based in Australia. Even though John and Dennis
have different ways of coping things to get their job done, they are united in the caring of
foster children adopted by them. As a result, they have transcended all kinds of stereotypes,
perceptions and barriers imposed by traditional society thereby exemplifying foster parenting
in a proper and appropriate manner as far as the concept of family is concerned accordingly.
The foster children have played an important role in the aspect pertaining to family as far as
the accepting of Dennis and John as foster parents is concerned accordingly. It is imperative
that the parenting of children as a care giver is of utmost important with regard to foster care
as far as the facts and circumstances of the case is concerned accordingly irrespective of the
original background pertaining to sexual orientation of the people accordingly who are
couples. The guardian of the child must provide a written undertaking with regard to the
caring of children in accordance with Sub-section 1 (a) of Section 38 of the Children’s
Protection Act of 1993. The aspect pertaining to the supervision of children is also implied by
Sub-section 1 (a) of Section 38 of the Children’s Protection Act of 1993 accordingly. Sub-
section 2 of Section 38 of the Children’s Protection Act of 1993 that the guardians who intent
to take care of the children must present the court with credible evidence. Such evidence must
imply that there is no one to take care of such children with regard to the concept of family
accordingly (Malvaso, Delfabbro & Day, 2017). The laws pertaining to adoption by people
belonging to the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community vary amongst
the states and territories in Australia accordingly. Taking account of the current scenario, all
states and territories in Australia have legalized the aspect pertaining to adoption as far as the
rights of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community is concerned
accordingly. The best interests of the child pertaining to well-being are to be taken into
account as far as the rights of child in Australia is concerned. It is imperative that the Family
Law Act of 1975 would be taken into consideration with regard to the concept of family as
defined by the homosexual couples as far as the facts and circumstances in the provided
scenario are concerned accordingly. The children have also stated that the gay couple has
played an important role in terms of parenting as far as the upbringing and welfare of the
children are concerned accordingly. As a result, it is imperative that Dennis and John are
playing an extremely important role as parents with reference to the taking care of children in
a proper and appropriate manner as far as the needs of the children are concerned along with

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the necessities accordingly (Hufnagel, 2016). Many children have been fostered and
mentored by Dennis and John in the last twenty years. Some of them have stayed for a very
short period of time while some have stayed for prolonged periods. It is implied that Dennis
and John have nurtured adolescents in the desired manner accordingly. The rights of the
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community are to be taken into account as
a result. The children are free to part away on attaining the age of eighteen as far as the
majority age is concerned.
Mode of practice
The intervention pertaining to this report would imply the aspect pertaining to the
delving into the matters of the couple Dennis and John with regard to the aspect of foster care
as far as care and protection of children is concerned. The intervention is through the
perspective of a community service worker dealing with the research report over the matters
of the couple Dennis and John accordingly (Drew, 2016). It is imperative that Dennis and
John have not acted in contravention of any law as far as being guardians is concerned with
regard to the aspect of a family as far as foster care is concerned accordingly.
Situation examination
Being a homosexual couples, Dennis and John have played and extremely important
role with regard to the fostering of children in a proper and appropriate manner. Both have
played extremely important roles on a joint basis as far as the welfare of the children fostered
by them is concerned accordingly. They are under the ambit of the population comprising of
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) people as far as Australia is concerned. As
a result, the rights of such people are to be focussed upon accordingly as far as the adoption
and parenting is concerned with reference to Australia.
Rationale for opting the story
The primary reason pertaining to the choosing of the story is to highlight the aspects
pertaining to the fostering of children by gay couples in terms of adoption and parenting
accordingly as far as the welfare of children is concerned. It would imply the right of the
people belonging to the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) as far as treatment
of in a non-discriminatory manner is concerned in the interest of equality and fairness taking

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account of the concepts of humanitarianism and egalitarianism as far as the facts of the
scenario are concerned (Perales, Bouma & Campbell, 2018).
Problems
The problems imply the ones which affect children to a huge extent. It may be as a
result of the issues in the family along with various kinds of social issues such as armed
conflict which lead to the displacement of many children to a huge extent (Copolov &
Knowles, 2016). The problems pertaining to child abuse at home are quite likely to be
ignored when they take place within the family. It is the case because many community
service organizations have no access to these kinds of reports as the instances pertaining to
child abuse at home are on a private basis.
Underlying issues
The underlying issues identified as per the facts of the case imply the changing of
foster homes on part of children thereby resulting in the starting of a life all over from the
scratch on being moved into a new foster home as implied by the facts of the scenario in
question (Mathews, Bromfield, Walsh, Cheng & Norman, 2017). In such aspect, the
restriction pertaining to one year as implied by the relevant provisions enshrined and
envisaged in the Children’s Protection Act of 1993 also leads to a detrimental effect over the
care and upbringing of children accordingly thereby depriving of them a proper family life.
Theoretical frameworks
The theoretical frameworks imply the aspect pertaining to the delivery of services by
the community organisations in a proper and appropriate manner as far as the supervision
pertaining to children is concerned with reference to their care and protection accordingly.
These frameworks are being applied in terms of the aspect pertaining to the welfare of
children accordingly as far as their best interests are concerned with regard to the functions of
the organizations related to community services as far as the placing of children under foster
care is concerned (Whitehead, 2018). Such theoretical frameworks imply the aspect related to
the protection of human rights.

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Other sources of information
The other sources of information would imply the reports pertaining to the aspects of
adoption and parenting as far as the people belonging to the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and
Transgender (LGBT) community are concerned. It may be primary or secondary with regard
to the compilation of the final records (Ganjour & Widmer, 2016). The primary sources
would be the outcomes of a survey in the form of a questionnaire amongst homosexual
couples in Australia. The secondary sources would be the online sources in the form of books
and journals along with relevant websites accordingly.
Unfairness
Despite the passage of laws pertaining to rights of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and
Transgender (LGBT) community on part of Australia, there are still stigmas pertaining to the
aspects and lifestyles of such people as far as the traditional restrictions are concerned
accordingly. Such an aspect implies the concept of unfairness thereby resulting in various
kinds of discriminatory aspects as far as the mistreatment of people belonging to Lesbian,
Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community. As a result, various kinds of hindrances
are cased with regard to adoption of children by such people as far as the aspect pertaining to
derogatory treatment is concerned thereby resulting in gross contravention to liberalism. The
gay couple did not contemplate to adopt boys since they apprehended that they would be
unnecessarily accused of molesting children.
Motivation and working alliance
The main characters in the scenario are the children along with the couple Dennis and
John. Children are empathised with by the virtue of the plight they have faced thereby being
under the foster care of Dennis and John accordingly. The couple Dennis and John are
empathised with in terms of playing a vital role as parents with regard to fostering of children
despite working differently. It implies the transcending of the traditional barriers with regard
to fostering children as gay parents (Diaz-Serrano & Meix-Llop, 2016). The working
alliance would involve the aspect pertaining to the counselling of children who are in need of
a foster home as far as their situation is concerned. Proper and appropriate counselling is to
be provided with regard to their welfare as far as their best interests are concerned.
Community services would have an important role to play in this regard as far as the welfare
of children is concerned with reference to parenting in proper and appropriate manner as a

SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE 9
result of adoption. The couple Dennis and John are not to be discriminated and rather aided in
an effective and efficient manner as far as parenting is concerned thereby implying a family
life accordingly.
Resources for further interventions
The resources with regard to interventions in the future include programs pertaining to
community services, formulation of new policies and regulations along with the changes in
the perspectives of people which is projected to be more positive in nature. It also includes
more stringency in offences pertaining to the discriminatory treatment meted out towards the
people belonging to the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community. The
concept pertaining to family as an institution with regard to various discourses would also
serve as resources as far as interventions in the future is concerned.
Strengths and barriers
The strengths pertaining to well being of a person implies the support from the
concerned entities in the form of people and organizations in a proper and appropriate manner
as implied by the story. It also implies the aspects pertaining the laws and policies
facilitating the ease pertaining to the extension of such kind of support in a proper and
appropriate manner. The family setting is quite helpful in the upbringing of a child
accordingly (Chen, 2018). The barriers involved in the well being of a person implies the
lack of support from the concerned authorities and certain restriction imposed by the law
along with various kinds of social stigmas.
Challenges and opportunities
The challenges involved in the addressing of the issues imply the lack of co-operation
of the concerned people along with certain hurdles and obstacles imposed by the bureaucracy
accordingly as far as the complexities involved in the laws and regulations are concerned. It
also implies the lack of support in the form of funds as far as the execution of the aspects
pertaining to the resolution of the issues is concerned (Hilferty & Katz, 2019). The
opportunities involved in the addressing of the issues imply the amicable relationship
amongst the concerned entities as far as the common objectives pertaining to the resolution of
issues is concerned.

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Future scope
It is imperative form the story that Dennis and John have exemplified family life
being a gay couple as a result of foster parenting. It is therefore observed that homosexual
couples in the future would not encounter any kind of major hurdles or obstacles as far as
foster parenting is concerned. Additionally, it is quite likely that children under the care of
homosexual couples are quite likely to accept them as parents as far as the parenting ability of
the respective couples are concerned. The work related to welfare of children under foster
care and homosexual couples engaged in fostering children are to be analysed and researched
upon accordingly in this regard.
Conclusion
It can be concluded by stating that the analysis pertaining to the role played by Dennis
and John in fostering children as gay parents is justified and appropriate. The positive
testimonies of children fostered by Dennis and John are also taken into consideration
accordingly. In a nutshell, the role of Dennis and John as parents have been analysed as far as
the concept of family is concerned.

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References
ABC News, (2017). Two gay dads redefining the meaning of family through foster care.
[online] YouTube. Retrieved form https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2qNtXC6i13U
Chen, Y. (2018). Right of Adoption for Same-sex Parents.
Copolov, C., & Knowles, A. (2016). Support for gay men: an Australian study. Culture,
health & sexuality, 18(2), 211-220.
Diaz-Serrano, L., & Meix-Llop, E. (2016). Do schools discriminate against homosexual
parents? Evidence from a randomized correspondence experiment. Economics of
Education Review, 53, 133-142.
Drew, C. (2016). Wholesome homosexuality: Normative childhoods in same-sex family
advertisements. Global Studies of Childhood, 6(3), 324-335.
Frederico, M., Long, M., McNamara, P., McPherson, L., & Rose, R. (2017). Improving
outcomes for children in out‐of‐home care: the role of therapeutic foster care. Child &
Family Social Work, 22(2), 1064-1074.
Ganjour, O., & Widmer, E. D. (2019). Macrostructural Conditions of Early Versus Late
Institutional Inclusion of Same-Sex Couples in the Family: An International
Comparison. Journal of GLBT Family Studies, 1-14.
Hilferty, F., & Katz, I. (2019). Inter‐country adoption in Australia: Examining the factors that
drive the practice and implications for policy reform. Australian Journal of Social
Issues, 54(1), 76-90.
Hufnagel, S. (2016). Policing cooperation across borders: comparative perspectives on law
enforcement within the EU and Australia. 4th ed. Abingdon: Routledge.
Malvaso, C. G., Delfabbro, P. H., & Day, A. (2017). The child protection and juvenile justice
nexus in Australia: A longitudinal examination of the relationship between
maltreatment and offending. Child abuse & neglect, 64, 32-46.
Mathews, B. P. (2017). Oversight and regulatory mechanisms aimed at protecting children
from sexual abuse: Understanding current evidence of efficacy. 6th ed. Canberra:
Commonwealth of Australia.

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Mathews, B., Bromfield, L., Walsh, K., Cheng, Q., & Norman, R. E. (2017). Reports of child
sexual abuse of boys and girls: Longitudinal trends over a 20-year period in Victoria,
Australia. Child abuse & neglect, 66, 9-22.
Perales, F., Bouma, G., & Campbell, A. (2018). Religion, support of equal rights for same-
sex couples and the Australian national vote on marriage equality. Sociology of
Religion, 80(1), 107-129.
Whitehead, A. L. (2018). Homosexuality, Religion, and the Family: The Effects of Religion
on Americans’ Appraisals of the Parenting Abilities of Same-Sex Couples. Journal of
homosexuality, 65(1), 42-65.
Wright, A. C. (2018). Investing in Adoption: Exploring Child Development Accounts for
Children Adopted from Foster Care. J. Soc. & Soc. Welfare, 45, 129.