‘Official Child Neglect’

Your editorial focuses on the fraud that the State of California perpetrates on the taxpayers. The state makes laws to protect our children and then deliberately denies adequate funding to enable enforcement of those mandates. Los Angeles County, being one of the largest counties in the United States, both geographically and in population, is in need of a larger share of the funds.

As a former children’s service worker, I do not agree that “foster care is the most desirable way of raising children who have been taken from their parents.” In many cases it might be more effective to give intensive in-home training and supervision. It may only be “cheap” because we do not adequately compensate foster parents. But the adage, “What’s cheap is dear” can certainly be applied in this case.

It is my opinion that the Department of Children’s Services could be run more efficiently and economically if removed from the Civil Service system. I propose placing children in small family homes that are staffed by trained personnel. One must remember that foster homes can be licensed for up to six children. The average parent can become distraught with only one “difficult” child. As a children’s service worker, I met some wonderful, dedicated, and devoted foster parents, but there were many more who were inadequate for a variety of reasons.

ROSLYN WOLIN

Los Angeles