(published
in Dallas Morning News April 12, 2004)
Let's
do more for our foster children
(The following guest editorial was written by
Dr. Kurt Senske
regarding Texas State Comptroller Karole Keeton
Strayhorn's report
on the Texas foster care system.)
The
first time most parents hold their newborn infant,
they make a vow to provide the best possible life
for their child.
But for the more than 26,000 children in Texas'
child welfare system, those vows were broken or
they never were made.
State Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn tries
to make it right for Texas' abused, neglected
and abandoned children with a comprehensive audit
of the system that seeks to ensure that Texas
children are protected and that they receive the
care and compassion they deserve.
In her report, "Forgotten Children: A Special
Report on the Texas Foster Care System,"
she identifies the shortcomings of the system
and the opportunities for improvement.
There are many dedicated staff at the Texas Department
of Family and Protective Services who see their
jobs as a calling.
At Lutheran Social Services of the South, we are
privileged to work with those individuals, who
put in long hours, under stressful conditions
for little pay or recognition.
But years of experience have taught us that there
is significant room for improvement.
Ms. Strayhorn's report has many specific suggestions.
Here are the two recommendations we believe are
the most important.
End the dual system of foster care.
We wholeheartedly agree with Ms. Strayhorn's recommendation
that the state should get out of the direct-care
business and instead focus all of its attention
on health, safety and education of the children
in its custody. Non-profit child placing agencies
are able to access community resources that the
state government can't.
For years, mentors, tutors and volunteers have
made a profound difference in the lives of the
nearly 2,400 children served annually at our four
Texas residential treatment centers and our network
of foster homes.
Generous donors contribute to build recreational
facilities and state-of-the-art dormitories and
make gifts so we can pay for modifications to
foster homes and buy equipment for medically fragile
children.
Increase accountability through performance-based
contracts.
Accountability is critical to improving the system.
Agencies should be expected to demonstrate that
the care they are providing, whether it is basic
care or more intensive treatment, is making a
difference in the lives of children. Agencies
should be able to prove that taxpayers are getting
a high return on their investment in the child
welfare system.
We urge state officials to seek accreditation
by the Council on Accreditation of both Texas
Department of Family and Protective Services and
foster care providers to ensure that consistent
standards of care and fiscal responsibility are
being met.
We also agree with Ms. Strayhorn that every provider
should be held to the same standards and that
those who exceed the minimum standards should
be recognized and rewarded..
"Forgotten Children" challenges our
state officials and citizens to set higher expectations
for the care that we provide to the victims of
abuse, neglect and abandonment.
It is my hope and prayer that we will to rise
to that challenge.
Kurt
Senske is chief executive officer of the Austin-based
Lutheran Social Services of the South, Inc., which
serves more than 25,000 children, elderly and
poor throughout Texas and Louisiana. The group's
Web site is www.lsss.org.
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