EDITORIAL BOARD

Saturday, September 13, 2008

When Child Protective Services seized hundreds of children at the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints polygamist compound in Eldorado earlier this year, the world watched as the cases went to court.

But the fate of thousands of children taken from their families because of abuse and neglect is decided mostly behind closed doors. Because the cases involve underage children, privacy is vital. But as the saying goes, out of sight, out of mind.

With permission from Travis County judges, reporter Chuck Lindell gave American-Statesman readers a good look at the system. On Fridays, judges preside over hearings that lead to decisions whether children will be returned to their families, placed in foster care or permanently removed.

None of the options are good. Many children suffer repeated abuse when returned to parents, even when parents have undergone treatment for drug addiction or emotional problems.

Permanent separation is also risky. In the best of circumstances, children will be adopted or taken in by responsible relatives. But many children, especially older kids and teenagers, languish in foster homes or treatment centers, moving from home to home until they age out of the system, typically at 18.

Lindell's stories told of the 5-year-old boy who was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. PTSD is common among war veterans — not kindergartners. Then there was the 2-month-old infant who was admitted to Dell Children's Hospital with a fractured skull and broken bones all over his tiny body.

But there are also acts of selflessness that shine through the tragedies. There was a mother with AIDS who came to court ready to fight to keep her 2-year-old, but, after hearing glowing reports about the foster family who has been raising her daughter, agreed to put her up for adoption.

In all, 2,280 children were victims of abuse last year in Travis County.

Nonetheless, there has been improvement, says Scott McCown, director of the Center for Public Policy Priorities.

Take heart that the state is removing fewer children from their families because CPS and advocates are working aggressively with parents to prevent children from being placed in system. This fiscal year, there were 3,000 fewer children removed from families than there were in fiscal year 2006.

Current policy allows abused and neglected children to be placed with relatives when removal is immiment rather than in foster care. Now, one in four children are placed with relatives compared with one in seven a few years ago. Texas legislators should be proud of financing that policy, which deserves continued support.

McCown says Texas is doing better on adoptions, thanks to the Congress, which passed the adoption incentive program in 1997. The bill will expire if the Congress does not act by before it adjourns at the end of the month.

It's up to all of us to make sure these children are seen and heard.

http://www.statesman.com/opinion/content/editorial/stories/09/0913cps_edit.html

Emphasis added by H4K Editor