(published in Austin American-Statesman, September 16, 2003)

An unfair option
(The following guest editorial was written by LSS CEO Kurt M. Senske regarding government funding of health and human services.)

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 iswww.lsss.org.

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