Taking care of the kids

Re “Shock, but no basis for surprise,” April 22

I worked in child welfare for Los Angeles County for almost 20 years, leaving 23 years ago because of stress and burnout. At that time, caseloads were high; morale and pay, low. I can only imagine how much worse it is now. With a population the size of Los Angeles County, violence glorified by Hollywood, economic stress and society’s lack of interest in social programs, is it any wonder children end up dead?

Penalizing individual social workers is not the answer. The welfare agency’s priority is to keep families united, because it is best for the child when it’s possible.

When you ask human beings to make assessments, errors will be made. Alleviating neglect can only come about when society acknowledges responsibility and becomes part of the solution.

Gerald Orcholski

Pasadena

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I am a nurse with more than 20 years of emergency room experience. I have seen many abused and neglected children. I have put some of those children into body bags.

I have also followed stories like this one in The Times. The theme is always the same: no funding for social workers, too big a caseload, children sent back to abusers because there is no other place to send them. Some local politician will express outrage, but they’ll do nothing concrete to change the situation.

After all these years, I can come to only one conclusion. As a county, as a state, as a nation, we just don’t care. I wish someone would prove me wrong.

Mark Kaliher, RN

Big Bear City