FROM OUR READERS: KEEPING FAMILIES INTACT:
The best interest of children
We must seize opportunity to fix the system
To the editor:
Thanks to Annette Appell and Richard Wexler for the information and suggestions in their July 8 commentary, "No substitute for home."
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Child Protective Services has a wide open window of opportunity at this time. Our highly respected county manager, who will be leaving soon, suggested in transition statements that it is going to take the entire community to solve the problems of CPS. We have representatives of UNLV and this newspaper advocating for change along with every well-informed leader in the community.
Ms. Appell and Mr. Wexler suggested we look at other communities so see what works best for families. They suggested treatment programs for entire families. Both ideas would be giant steps. Even beyond looking at other communities, we need to look at other countries.
Several years ago, a visiting social worker presented a lecture stating that he had been traveling around the United States and was amazed at how angry workers are. He presented a totally different perspective on how social workers in his country attempt to help families. They work with the adults to get services needed to solve the problems which brought them to the attention of CPS. When a family has sexual abuse problems, it is not the child who is removed from the home. The abuser participates in a residential treatment program with individual counseling, family counseling and supervised visitation while maintaining employment if possible.
Another reason a shift in the perspective of service providers is paramount is because of very serious negative consequences. A young child in a family which has the attention of CPS is obviously at-risk due to whatever problem or problems the adults in the family are experiencing. The child's security as well as all aspects of development are seriously impacted. If the child witnesses adversarial interactions between the parents and social service workers, legal representatives and/or community agencies, the child naturally develops fear, suspicion and disrespect for authority figures.
Young adults who disrespect authority, lack coping skills and have underdeveloped impulse control are detrimental to themselves and others. In our mission to protect children, it is imperative that we step back, regroup, look around and be sensitive to what is in the best interest of children.
