Foster care in need of changes

MY EIGHTH-grade science teacher has a saying on his wall, “Children Are Our Most Precious Resource.”

I do not blame the Children, Youth and Families Department for the recent death of a child in any way. The constant saying of “fix the system, what can we do to fix this system” is becoming too repetitious.

Anyone who applied for being a “foster” parent can clean up their home, if only momentarily, for an inspection by CYFD. The bottom line is: You do not know these people. It takes a long time to truly know and recognize safety.

Would it be better to have a check and balance on more than one individual, true adults, by having group homes or even a residential facility near a medical facility that can provide services, if need be, psychological as well as physical? Siblings may be able to stay together; each early childhood teacher/provider, social worker, security; and, yes, dare I say it, cleaner or maintenance person, would be a check and balance on each other. One room could possibly be a classroom.

To report that a foster family had feces and old garbage throughout the home and a child’s arm was twisted in a car seat that was used for a bed is revolting. Did they borrow a crib when the inspectors first came around and then return it?

As we all know, services for NM children are on the very low level according to the national polls. I know that it is hard to have a check and balance on everything or everyone coming and going from the system.

Where were the police on the pueblo where three little toddlers and their mothers were found dead on the outskirts, of exposure? It was written in the media that the mother of two of the children filed a restraining order against the father, who was being released from jail. It was stated that he was on that property prior to their deaths. Did she get her restraining order? Was this information conveyed to the police on the pueblo where she lived, or where the father lived? Where is the check and balance? I do not know and feel extremely sad. DEBORAH GRIMME Rio Rancho