Biracial Children
"Many interracial families share close, caring relationships and strong parenting skills. [...] Counselors need to be aware of different approaches families from diverse cultures and races may take in relation to issues such as parenting"(Erford, 2008).
Children who come from biracial families sometimes suffer social issues while in school. Some issues such as judgment from their peers can cause them to find a hard time accepting who they are and where they come from. In schools, you find that friend groups tend to be racially divided. The Spanish students hang out with other Spanish students, African American students hang out with other African American students, and the white students usually hang out with other white students. So for a student who is mixed raced, they may have a hard time finding who it is they want to hang out with or socialize with because they are split between two races. They become isolated in their school environment which can hinder their learning experience.
This issue can lead a biracial student to also have tons of identity issues; not knowing which race they should identify with. Although these families typically have strong relationships with one another, the child does not receive the same sense of security as they do at home when they are in school. Because cliques and friend groups are sometimes racially divided, bi-racial students are sometimes not accepted by any race at all. For instance, for someone who is half Caucasian and half African American will not be accepted by the Caucasian because they are seen as black. Similarly, they wont be accepted by the African American students because they are perceived as white. These students need counselors who are aware of these issues that may arise in their schools in order to help them cope with being biracial in the most efficient way.
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This issue can lead a biracial student to also have tons of identity issues; not knowing which race they should identify with. Although these families typically have strong relationships with one another, the child does not receive the same sense of security as they do at home when they are in school. Because cliques and friend groups are sometimes racially divided, bi-racial students are sometimes not accepted by any race at all. For instance, for someone who is half Caucasian and half African American will not be accepted by the Caucasian because they are seen as black. Similarly, they wont be accepted by the African American students because they are perceived as white. These students need counselors who are aware of these issues that may arise in their schools in order to help them cope with being biracial in the most efficient way.
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Gay or Lesbian Families
Children who come from households with same-sex parents are almost sure to receive ridicule from their classmates. The way that homosexuality is perceived in this country influences the way students feel about homosexuals in their classroom. Some students believe that homosexuality is Taboo and so they bully these students who have same-sex parents. Instead of accepting it, the children often suffer from feelings of "embarrassment". Their classmates may tease them for having gay parents and also accuse the child of being a homosexual as well. This may even cause the child to perpetuate anger on their parents blaming the parents for putting them in that situation.
Guidance counselors should help the child understand that this situation is somewhat of a normal one and that gay couples adopt children all the time. Erford writes, "The embarrassment can be addressed through cognitive technique of challenging assumptions". They also should try to find other students in the same or similar situation and introduce them to one another so that the students can understand that they are not alone. Erford stated that "It is supportive for children in lesbian and gay families to interact with peers in similar situations". The common lifestyle of the students give each other a support group.
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Guidance counselors should help the child understand that this situation is somewhat of a normal one and that gay couples adopt children all the time. Erford writes, "The embarrassment can be addressed through cognitive technique of challenging assumptions". They also should try to find other students in the same or similar situation and introduce them to one another so that the students can understand that they are not alone. Erford stated that "It is supportive for children in lesbian and gay families to interact with peers in similar situations". The common lifestyle of the students give each other a support group.
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Homeless Families
Similar to children with same-sex parents, children who are a part of a homeless family also suffer from judgement and ridicule from their peers. They too feel "embarrassed about their living arrangements". Sometimes homeless kids feel like they are the only ones in the school who are homeless and so they try to keep it a secret from their peers. Erford explains that "Embarassment about living arrangements is prevalent and helping homeless children know about how to speak about it with others is valuable". Little do they know, many children are in homeless shelters who attend NYC public schools. This could be due to different causes such as house fires, neglectful parenting and other disadvantages related to low socioeconomic status.
They need a lot more support from everyday people as well as the government. Most of these students live in shelter systems in the neighbor hood. They move from different places frequently and most times don't have a permanent place to stay. Negative associations with being homeless, like parents who do not care for their child is not always the case. Abuse relationships between husband and wife may also lead to a student becoming part of a homeless family . Students might also feel like they want to drop out and that it is not worth it. They might feel as if school is a waste of their time.
Counselors need to let students know that there are others that are going through the same thing as they are and so they shouldn't feel so alone.
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They need a lot more support from everyday people as well as the government. Most of these students live in shelter systems in the neighbor hood. They move from different places frequently and most times don't have a permanent place to stay. Negative associations with being homeless, like parents who do not care for their child is not always the case. Abuse relationships between husband and wife may also lead to a student becoming part of a homeless family . Students might also feel like they want to drop out and that it is not worth it. They might feel as if school is a waste of their time.
Counselors need to let students know that there are others that are going through the same thing as they are and so they shouldn't feel so alone.
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by Zena Coles
Erford, B.T(2008). Helping children from challenging families (ACAPCD-23). Alexandria, V.A: American Counseling Association.
The Impact of Homelessness on Children: Promotional Video. (n.d.). YouTube. Retrieved July 3, 2014, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ur_9qUvCiHc
Science Supports Gay Parents. (n.d.). YouTube. Retrieved July 3, 2014, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IaA3R15fJis
Just Checking. (n.d.). YouTube. Retrieved July 3, 2014, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYofm5d5Xdw