Children of Addicts

It was with pain that I read your Nov. 16-17 articles about children of addicted parents. What is really sad is that reporting these matters to authorities does little good and often makes the problem worse. As a grandparent involved in court battles with an addicted parent, I can say that until our California laws are amended to put the welfare of the child over the welfare of a parent, little can be done. Our laws in California place reuniting a parent and a child over the priority of the safety of a child.

Although the children mentioned in these article were removed to foster homes, all the parent has to do is pass a couple of drug tests, make some gesture at attending a drug rehab program and the child is returned and the cycle starts anew. Children of drug parents play in the street while Mom or Dad are sleeping off a five-day high, they are moved from one apartment or boyfriend’s house to another each month to dodge the landlord and our courts look the other way. We as citizens must insist that our representatives create laws that protect our children.

KATHLEEN HALL

Palos Verdes

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Although all children in your series deserve much more than the crumbs of affection they are doled out by their “parents,” I must admit that none of them affected me as much as Tamika Triggs. The first question that came to mind as soon as I saw your front-page photo was, if your staff writers could find these monsters, why is social services turning a blind eye? Yes, Tamika was removed once your article hit the paper, but is it too late to stop her from walking in her mother’s footsteps? I hope not.

DIANE DIOTTE

Redondo Beach

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The Times’ Nov. 18 editorial informs us that little Tamika is “safe today” because “L.A. County social workers tracked down Tamika on Sunday after she was featured in a Times series” and then provides information about identifying and protecting children in similar circumstances. What did your reporter, photographer and editors do when they found these children? Did they contact the authorities at the time these children were found? If I’m reading the editorial and side article in Monday’s paper correctly, apparently nothing was done to assist these children until the social workers learned about it at the same time as the rest of us--on Sunday. Is this The Times’ contribution to “finding and protecting these children” that it editorializes about?

BETTY ANN DOWNING

Long Beach

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The article on drug-addicted parents is chilling, but as a property manager of apartments in lower-income areas I found it compellingly accurate. I have seen firsthand the gaps our system lets these innocent children fall through. I have found our Department of Children’s Services quick to respond to these children when I call them. The important thing is for people to call and call and call.

I do want to point out that most of these drug-addicted moms and dads collect welfare checks for these children and use the cash for their next high. I feel all welfare applicants should have to take a mandatory drug test and if they are on drugs, then they lose the right to parent until clean.

CYNDI VODHANEL

Los Angeles

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One’s emotions cannot help but be aroused by Sonia Nazario’s article. There is a feeling of anger over these parents who expose their children to their vicious acts, deprive them of food when they are hungry and most of all, use them to beg for more drug money.

It is extremely pathetic to read how these children cried out for anyone who was nice to them to adopt them. Why can’t these parents be punished and these child victims be taken care of by our social services?

ELOISA L. SAN MIGUEL

Hacienda Heights

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Flawed as it may be, our child welfare system is the first point of contact for many families. Tragically, social workers are crippled by exceedingly high caseloads rife with requirements to write court reports and home-visit logs as a priority over brokering resources for families. I know this firsthand, as I am one of the over 2,000 child welfare workers employed by the L.A. County Department of Children and Family Services. L.A. County child welfare workers struggle with the highest caseloads in all of California, which makes helping families a near impossibility. What it means to have a caseload of 65 (often higher) is that social workers have time only to do the bare minimum instead of helping families access solutions that would be longer-lasting and prevention-oriented.

The group of people with whom I work are among the most dedicated, passionate and child-focused people imaginable. I dare say not a one does not feel confused and frustrated that the Board of Supervisors and other decision-makers in the child welfare community have not demonstrated serious consideration of implications for children when caseloads are sky-high. The desperation that drove 99% of us to strike for three days in October was clearly not enough for them to take serious notice.

The issues at stake have perhaps been made more clear, and more human, via this series of articles and pictures, which could not help but capture any reader. Thank you for the attention, and believe that each of us “on the line” is out there every day trying to improve the lives of children who live in a city that is home to many “orphans” who remain unseen and unheard.

RHONA GARDNER

Los Angeles

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Teaching recovering drug-addicted women how to be mothers is admirable (Nov. 17), but I hope equal time is spent teaching them how not to become mothers.

BOBBIE CORBETT

Garden Grove

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As a child/parent consultant for Prototypes Women’s Center, I have the privilege of observing recovering women addicts along with their children learn to bond with each other and with their community. Rather than separating mothers from their children, they provide a living family environment while offering hands-on parenting training, counseling, vocational and living skills.

Places like Keith Village and Prototypes Women’s Centers should be provided in every city in the area. For more information regarding Prototypes call: (909) 624-1233 or (310) 641-7795.

ELISE ASCH

Manhattan Beach

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At first glance I thought I was looking at a knockoff of the Mary Cassatt painting, “Mother About to Wash Her Sleepy Child.” Then I saw the truth in Clarence Williams’ photo of mother and child accompanying “Orphans of Addiction.” The differences are startling .J.J. the similarities just as startling.

JOAN MARTIN

Woodland Hills

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This compelling and heartbreaking story shows how out of touch our leaders are. Democrats and Republicans are outraged over Chinese human rights abuses when in their own backyard these atrocities are being committed against American children. Where is our leadership, the Department of Children’s Services and the police?

Why does it take a news story to uncover what is only the tip of a widespread problem. I am sure that officials will scramble to help the kids profiled in your story but what about the thousands of others whose voices we do not hear or whose pictures do not cry out for help.

LINDA MITCHELL

Pasadena