Columnist Sandy Thompson: Change system for benefit of children

Sandy Thompson

Saturday, Nov. 25, 2000 | 2:37 a.m.

Sandy Thompson is vice president/associate editor of the Las Vegas Sun. She can be reached at 259-4025 or e-mail at thompson@lasvegassun.com

THE CHILD welfare and foster care system in Nevada is "not a good one," according to Chris Brooks.

He should know. The 19-year-old has been in the system for 14 years. When he was 5, he and his brother were taken from their mother because of abuse by a boyfriend. Eventually, his brother was adopted, and Chris remained in foster care, living in 30 to 40 different homes in 14 years.

He also moved from caseworker to caseworker, although not as often as he changed homes. "You form a bond with them and they leave," Chris says. "They can only spend five minutes a month with you."

Despite the system's pitfalls, Chris says he will be OK because he is a strong person.

Chris is articulate and sincere when he discusses his years in foster care and advocates not kicking children out of the system at age 18 when they are not prepared to live on their own.

His main message, though, is to lawmakers:

"When making these laws, listen to kids who have been in the system. We have first-hand experience."

Lawmakers should keep that in mind when they consider a proposal to revamp the state's child welfare system. A legislative subcommittee, chaired by Assemblywoman Barbara Buckley, D-Las Vegas, will have its final public hearing on the proposal Tuesday at the Sawyer Building.

The subcommittee is recommending that the bifurcated system -- in which the state handles certain functions and the counties handle others -- be overhauled. Clark and Washoe counties would handle the bulk of services, with the state taking care of services in rural counties.

It's a massive step toward fixing a broken system that does not serve the needs of children, as was pointed out in previous legislative hearings.

"In terms of children's issues, this is at the top of the list," Buckley says.

While everyone agrees that it's a priority, properly funding a new system will be an issue in what could be a cash-strapped Legislature.

The state's share of a new, more efficient and effective child welfare system is said to be $10 million to $15 million. The cost provides for lower caseload ratios, increased foster care payments and the difference in pay for state workers who would transfer to the counties. Clark County workers are paid more than their state counterparts.

This money would be well spent. It would be an investment in the future -- to ensure that our children grow into successful, productive adults. So the returns on this investment could be great.

Gov. Kenny Guinn is said to be keeping an open mind on this, especially as it affects the budget. Hopefully the issue won't become mired in state-county turf or personnel battles and money squabbles.

This is an opportunity for Nevada to do something right -- to design a system that works for children. Lawmakers should seize the opportunity.

On a related matter, a Boulder City grandmother, Jane Horner, has been meeting with state and county child welfare officials on proposals to provide kinship aid to relatives who care for children taken from their parents.

Several states have kinship care bills, which provide aid to these relatives, most notably grandparents.

Horner says these caretakers should be entitled to aid just as foster parents are. A kinship care bill is expected to be introduced in the Legislature by Assemblywoman Chris Giunchigliani, D-Las Vegas.

This could help to keep children out of the system and out of non-relative foster homes, which could save money in the long run. It also could lead to more stability for the children.

Horner and the child welfare officials she has been working with should be commended for addressing this need.

Buckley also deserves a great deal of credit for tackling changes in the child welfare system. Her compassion, thoughtfulness and intelligent approach to problem solving should be commended.

And we shouldn't forget kids like Chris Brooks, who through no fault of their own didn't grow up in stable, loving families.

Let's design a system with them in mind.