There are plenty of stories that could be told and need to be told about young? girls who are compelled to find their way in the world because of irresponsible, drug addicted and abusive parents.?

But a reality check:

For either scenario to occur the worker assigned to her case would have to be not just uncaring but also incompetent and the system? would have to be dysfunctional.?

?The premise assumes that foster care is the worst of all outcomes.? Yes, the system is flawed. But even if the social worker is uncaring? it does not logically follow that the foster parents to whom the young girl would be assigned will also be uncaring.? In fact, most foster parents are likely to be competent and caring — certainly more so than the alcoholic father in this scenario.? Or a homeless stranger.

Going into foster care may not be the happiest outcome — but it doesn’t logically follow that because it’s not a “Hollywood ending”? it must be the worst of all options.

Also in? the eyes of the law, an 11 year old youth is too young to be considered be a competent judge of whom she? she will “adopt” as an alternative parent.? ?And it would be SOP for the social worker to verify anyone claiming to be a? qualifying as next of kin for the purpose of assuming custody of a minor.?

And why would the father play along with her ruse, anyway, and affirm that a complete stranger is his brother?? And even if he does, how does it follow that staying with a homeless stranger is better than staying a foster parent who has had to go through a background check?

And where is the mother in? all this?

Why MUST the young girl avoid being put into the protective custody of a bona fide, certified foster parent?

And I third giannisggeorgiou’s advice.? Working with the logline formula is a useful tool to sort out your story and figure out what it is really about.

When I read a logline, the 1st question in my mind I try to answer is : what’s the story hook?? What makes the story unique, different from all the other stories about college students ?? What is there in the story that immediately grabs my interest?? What grabs my interest in this logline is the student debt angle.? The burden of debt U.S. students are assuming to get a college education is bone crushing and the default rate is soaring.? I suggest that’s a here-and-now crisis, a news hook around with which to build? a logline hook .