Making things better for our children

To the editor:

I actually wish to thank Vin Suprynowicz for his critique of the Children's Advocacy Alliance Report Card (Jan. 25 column). The sarcasm which filled his negative essay highlights the plight of children in our state. I share a few clarifications for the benefit of the reading audience.

The Children's Advocacy Alliance is a group of citizens concerned about putting the health and safety of our children first. We raised more than $1.1 million of private money to build and donate the Children's Advocacy Center on the campus of Child Haven. We initiated and funded the "diligent search" position to help locate relatives of foster care children. We hold events to help inspire and appreciate kids in the child welfare system, including the Wednesday's Child Christmas Program and a graduate party for foster care high school students who choose not to drop out.

We demand accountability of tax dollars. The report card is one way of asking for such accountability and raising awareness. We think it is important that citizens know that in 2007 approximately 9 percent of high school youth attempted suicide -- those are the reported cases.

Clarification No. 1: The report card scores are based upon data gathered from Kids Count and other reliable sources which are respected and credible sources, not "cooked-up" as is stated. The Review-Journal has no problem quoting Dr. Keith Schwer, director of the Center for Business and Economic Research at UNLV, on economic indicators that he provides about the state. How is it that his data reported in Kids Count is on the other hand "cooked-up?"

Clarification No. 2: Mr. Suprynowicz's sarcastic critique of our dismal figures with respect to prenatal care seems to revolve around his disdain for "illegal invaders." I will admit that my invaders came to America in 1600s and 1700s from Europe. The point of the matter is that those who do not receive preventative and prenatal care have put a significant economic strain upon our hospital system and its ability to deliver care, to a breaking point. We can neglect this issue due to prejudice against "invaders" or we can try to provide a greater measure of prevention, not necessarily at the expense of taxpayers.

The issue of those who do not have access to medical care reaches across all racial and ethnic lines. Whether you care to acknowledge it or not, there is a huge "hidden tax" upon a system that does not attempt to provide creative approaches to prevention. Eighty percent of teenage mothers become dependents of the state.

Clarification No. 3: Suggesting that our drop-out rate is not a problem by suggesting that we show kids the door and own up to a system that "cannot fix itself," demonstrates the limitation of one who has the capacity to be critical without the capacity to provide solutions.

The Children's Advocacy Alliance will continue to provide a report card on issues affecting our youth. The state of Nevada will never be better than the state of our children.

I invite Mr. Suprynowicz to join us at our next meeting to meet the men and women who volunteer their time to help facilitate better conditions for our youth.

GARD JAMESON

HENDERSON

The writer chairs the Children's Advocacy Alliance.