Parachute kids

Have you ever heard of parachute kids?  No, not the kind you find at children's parties.





Typically, "parachute kids" are international adolescents from Asia studying in the states without their parents.  I was recently interviewed for my opinions regarding what leads to positive development among this population and whether there are any special therapeutic issues to consider.
 
http://epx.sagepub.com/content/12/6/682.abstract

There are varying degrees of ideas regarding the familial, financial and social supports needed for the adjustment of these students to life in the United States.  What are your thoughts about this not-so-recent phenomenon?

Asian Americans Equal Protection for Test Scores

From the petitions.whitehouse.gov:  

On 1/30/2014, the California Senate passed SCA-5 , which would repeal some provisions of Prop 209 and allow the State of California to discriminate an individual or group on the basis of race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin. In the 17 years that Prop 209 has been in effect, California has become the most diversified and prosperous state in the US and Asian-Americans are proudly one of the essential pieces. Comprehensive initiatives have then been implemented to help students from disadvantaged families to obtain high educations. Currently, Asian-Americans often need test scores hundreds of points higher than applicants from other ethnic groups to have an equal chance of admission. Now SCA-5 seeks to unfairly punish Asian-Americans simply based on race.

To take action, try signing one (or both) of these online petitions:

http://www.change.org/petitions/california-state-assembly-vote-no-to-sca-5-3 

https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/californias-sca-5-against-equal-protection-clause-14th-amendment-us-constitution/TlHCfZJY