Child Protection Is a Vital Issue

Re: “Return of Tots to Parent Was Urged, Official Says,” July 7.

Once again our judges and agencies have delivered a child to its doom. A judge and an agency (Child Protective Services, indeed!) of this county have not only failed to protect little Joselyn Hernandez, but have been the source of her death.

TUGS (Together United Grandparents) is a support group here in Ventura County. We have pointed out many times that the issues about which we are concerned are not really about grandparents, but about our grandchildren--the little children, like Joselyn, who are at risk.

In this case, the grandparent died and then the child was returned to the parents. Virtually any other option would have been preferable, given the history and the evidence. But under our current method of doing business, Joselyn didn’t stand a chance. As for James Isom’s statement that “there was nothing extraordinary about this case . . . ,” God help the next “ordinary” case and child. We feel that every child is extraordinary and it is unconscionable that this man in this job looks at this incident as just another case.

Shame on him--and everyone involved in this and countless other travesties and tragedies.

JAN RICHMAN

President, TUGS

Oxnard