Frontline Season 10 Episode 19 Who Cares About Children?

Who Cares About Children? is an episode from season 10 of the popular investigative journalism show Frontline. This episode explores the lives of children who grew up amid poverty and neglect in the United States and sheds light on how the country's social welfare system often fails to protect them.

The episode delves into the stories of several children who have had to navigate tough living conditions, including homelessness, hunger, and domestic violence. One of the children featured in the episode is Bianca, a young girl from California, who had to live in a homeless shelter with her mother and brother. Bianca was constantly teased at school because of her appearance and her living situation, and as she struggled to make friends, she turned to self-harm as a coping mechanism.

Another child whose story is explored is Isaiah, a boy from Boston, who has been in and out of foster care for most of his life. Isaiah, who is African American, has faced racial discrimination and has been subjected to abuse by some of his foster parents. Despite these challenges, Isaiah remains resilient and determined to create a better life for himself.

The episode also examines the government's response to child welfare issues in the United States. It highlights the significant budget cuts to social services that have made it more difficult for families living in poverty to access support and services. Frontline speaks to experts who argue that this focus on budget cuts is short-sighted and ignores the long-term costs of neglecting America's children.

Aside from Bianca and Isaiah's stories, the episode features interviews with child welfare experts and advocates who are working to reform the system. One of the experts featured is Kathleen Noonan, a lawyer and advocate who co-founded the public-interest law firm called the Center for Health Care Strategies. Noonan argues that poverty and neglect are largely responsible for the problems children face, and that the government needs to address these underlying issues in order to protect America's most vulnerable citizens.

Overall, Who Cares About Children? is a thought-provoking and at times heart-breaking episode that shines a light on the often-overlooked challenges faced by children growing up in poverty in America. The stories of Bianca and Isaiah, along with the insights provided by child welfare experts, shed light on the many ways in which society fails to provide adequate support and protection to children in need. Ultimately, this episode calls for a rethinking of the country's approach to social welfare and the urgent need for policy changes to better support vulnerable children.