Letter: Children’s home meets special needs of Nevada youngsters

Saturday, Feb. 22, 1997 | 11:59 a.m.

I was appalled when I read Mike O'Callaghan's column regarding this issue.

It appears that Ken Patterson has done nothing to help the children. Apparently, he can house more children in foster care for less money. The children entrusted in his care have been waylaid so that he can look good to his higher-ups. His resume is more important than children's welfare.

Not all children do well in foster care. Some children have been bounced from foster home to foster home. Some children are from large family units and should remain together. Some children have psychological problems that do not warrant the state mental hospital but do require a controlled setting. Patterson should realize this if he has any training or experience in child sociology and child welfare.

The Southern Nevada Children's Home should be refurbished to the extent that even a legislator would want to stay there. The money is available.

These children need some consistency in their lives. They have done nothing wrong except to be born in the wrong place at the wrong time. It is not their fault that they are orphans.

Debbie Ford

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