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Headlines in the Sept. 29 Rocky Mountain News on Page 4 point the finger at
child welfare officials ("Failed by safety net, kids die under social services'
watch") while on Page 23 - beside the banner "A backlog of upkeep" - the city
has placed the Health and Human Services funding request as only seventh on a
priority list of nine ballot issues.
It is hard to find fault with $99.8 million for streets, $65 million for public
safety and $93 million for parks and recreation. Maybe the $60.5 million for refurbishing cultural buildings, $70 million for
expansion of cultural facilities and $51.9 million for libraries is a needed
investment. But as long as each of us can live with only $48.6 million for
Health and Human Services (which includes a new animal shelter!), we can expect
stories of child abuse deaths to make their periodic appearance in our papers.
As a society our values are reflected in what we are willing to consider
spending out of our checkbooks. We the public are the "failed safety net," not
the Department of Health and Human Services.

Bob Cooper, Golden

READER COMMENTS

wrong boob, the social workers who claim to be the all knowing persons on how to take care of a child are the failed safety net. the department was started with a good idea and then the social workiers became so important in their minds that to pass their test as a fit parent everyone fails but none as bad as they do.
if you want to see how involved they are try to adopt a child out of an American placement organization. you will soon learn why so many hae turned to other countries to adopt a child.

So many have adpoted from out of the country because they are not willing to adopt troubled childern or older children because God only knows that once that crack baby is 12 he doesn't really need love anymore right? They want the newborns. Hollywood has made is so acceptable to adopt a baby from Russia or China because they are small and defenseless in a cruel world, but noone from Hollyweird is breaking down the doors to adopt the abused 5 year old with a temper problem. Nope, not enough love to go there!! Bob is right, society itself is the failed saftey net

Thanks Bob. What we spend our money on, shows our priorities. The rest is just lip service.

When will we realize that the people who take care of America's children are supposed to work for the love of it so the rest of us will have more money to buy big cars and houses with?

Nonsense! Almost all the money spent on so-called human services comes from the Federal and State governments. Bob Cooper's $48.6 mil is a pittance.What he,Truth,Sharon B,and the rest of the shrieking mob DON'T want you to know is that it is policy for government,especially in large cities,to generate as many at-risk children as it can, just by finding the most incompetent would-be parents,and letting them know that there is free money,free medical,free housing ,and free attention from concerned,caring professionals to be had,simply for the asking.All one need do is what everyone likes to do anyway-have kids.The only caveat is that those who take those benefits must agree to take no responsibility ever for the misery their actions inflict upon their little meal tickets.
To do otherwise is vigilante parenthood,and the system hates that as much as law enforcement hates the better-known kind of vigilante.
Now in the event someone speaking for the system comes forth with the usual smarmy indignation and greasy reassurances that of course the system "comes to the table" with a "new paradigm" and "comprehensive outcome-based services" to every "victim" of "the archaic patriarchal" regime,the reader should remember that every government gives all of its agencies the legal right to lie to the public.

Jimminy, it is really true that you actually foam at the mouth when you are writing your posts?

Great dialogue there,Skippy! Full of innovative and forward-thinking,mission-oriented,solution-centered,modality-driven,and diversity-anchored proactive sensitivity-focused goal-challenged treatment feasibility alternatives.
In real life,my spies tell me, you're the Acting Temporary Chief Interim Deputy Assistant Executive Supervising Administrative Facilitator....at(kazoo flourish here) The Ministry of Truth.

"Imagine there's no nanny."

But what I really wanna know is NOT "oh won't you-ooh-ooh.Show me the way " but rather "Who does your hair,man?"

Every thing DHS does or doesn't do ,is protected under the dome of confidentiality. So they answer to themselves.

Everything can be hidden ,and the only way we know something is wrong is when a child dies.

Still the internal investigations are done in secrecy and confidentialality.

They will come out and say ,we made some mistakes and that will be it.This has been going on for years and years.

Things quiet down,the press goes away, people stop asking questions,and DHS and other agencies like it who work in secrecy go about their business. Nothing changes.

Then another child dies.

Then we get to see the same thing happen all over again. NOTHING!

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