Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Who are you?
It’s Christmas and I wonder if anyone else has held on to the startling statistics posted in class regarding the poverty rate of children in Texas. For children under 18 in 2003 the poverty rate was 24% and in 2001 the poverty rate for children under 7 was 22.71%. Do we want to know what the poverty rates are today? The state owns health and human services and regardless of where we stand in the nation these numbers are terrifying all by themselves. Allow me to define poverty in Texas monetarily speaking; a three person family (mom, dad and child) makes around $1300.00 a month. How can you provide for your household with $1300.00 a month? Let’s forget about the parents for a moment and how/why they are in a position to earn a poverty level income. Let’s focus on the children; during Christmas there is an insane amount of holiday giving and cheer. Associations, organizations and the wealthy adopt children and families for the holidays. If one can not afford a Christmas, “Come to my organization/association and we’ll give you a Christmas meal and a few presents for your children.” The poor walk away humbled or humiliated? The rich walk away feeling better about themselves because they gave back to society.
Sometimes, I do think we make it entirely too easy for people to be poor in Texas but on the other hand I think our ways of helping the poverty only pacifies them and keeps them. The cynical part of me, simply a sort of band-aid?
I challenge Texans to dig deeper into their hearts and past the selfish desire to make you and yours so comfortable and recognize the human duty to care for those beyond you. Specifically the children in Texas, how many of them will become a product of their parents? As a child of poverty my parents were always to busy trying “make the rent,” they didn’t know anything outside their present means which might have looked a tad better than their means as a child. I aggressively searched for a way out but others aren’t so driven. People I love who don’t share my drive live in poverty and they posses talents that with only little encouragement and love as a child could have been influenced into something beyond what they are today. Today they are adults, whom are less attractive to us and viewed deficient. So, I ask you, help the child in them.
Sometimes, I do think we make it entirely too easy for people to be poor in Texas but on the other hand I think our ways of helping the poverty only pacifies them and keeps them. The cynical part of me, simply a sort of band-aid?
I challenge Texans to dig deeper into their hearts and past the selfish desire to make you and yours so comfortable and recognize the human duty to care for those beyond you. Specifically the children in Texas, how many of them will become a product of their parents? As a child of poverty my parents were always to busy trying “make the rent,” they didn’t know anything outside their present means which might have looked a tad better than their means as a child. I aggressively searched for a way out but others aren’t so driven. People I love who don’t share my drive live in poverty and they posses talents that with only little encouragement and love as a child could have been influenced into something beyond what they are today. Today they are adults, whom are less attractive to us and viewed deficient. So, I ask you, help the child in them.
Monday, November 5, 2007
The Texas Band-aid
The National government tends to push policy pertaining to family matters back to the state and local courts therefore, my concerns lye with the State of Texas. How is it that we have a judicial system in Texas that allows abused and neglected children to be overlooked and not cared for in way that will allow them to one day be functional responsible citizens in their time? We have all heard it before, “not enough funding”, “resources are scarce” and “social workers are over worked.”
Children who are neglected /abused are pushed through a system not adequate to handle high volumes of case loads. We see how effectively our state manages our case loads on CNN with disgusting headlines of victims finally murdered. Their little lives had a case number with CPS or victim services and they were simply overlooked. Do you hate the abuser? Why? It’s highly likely they too were part of a vicious cycle of abuse and neglect which are system eventually dismissed.
Other victims go to foster homes and sadly statistics show many in foster care have a surprisingly low chance of surviving successfully because they experience some form of continued abuse.
The state sometimes offers free counseling or a reduced rate therapy. For most families they want these “incidents” to disappear and a once a week drive to a therapist is a reminder to the child and the parent of misperceived faults. It can take months before a therapist can get a person to open up or truly understand the depths of emotional and mental damage. Parent’s, eventually stop attending important meetings or feel the care has been adequate, time simply needs to pass. There are many reasons families don’t reach out for help and our state doesn’t manage them.
Why doesn’t our government design a tracking system that will allow long term care? Too much money? What about the money put into victims care after they commit a legal offense. They are on the other side of the law and they won’t slip through the cracks now. Our system for dealing with abused and neglected children is a band-aid. The truth, their isn’t big money in focusing on changing our system for victims. A lot of the talented folks stray away from this sort of policy. Most people who are committed to this work do so for personal motivations not related to money.
It’s no secret abuse and neglect can affect people well into their elder years if not managed properly. But again we have a legal system which doesn’t lose track of you once you have committed a crime. There is almost never a chance the failure to handle a charge from the state will just go away without incident. Why is it different for our victims?
Does our government really know and understand the depths of emotional and mental damage a person carries into their adulthood when not managed? Like I said there is no “big money” in these issues. There is a small group of really fabulous people in our state and all over the world who share my thoughts maybe with less cynicism but they exist. Everything in Texas is big when will it be big on all it’s children.
Children who are neglected /abused are pushed through a system not adequate to handle high volumes of case loads. We see how effectively our state manages our case loads on CNN with disgusting headlines of victims finally murdered. Their little lives had a case number with CPS or victim services and they were simply overlooked. Do you hate the abuser? Why? It’s highly likely they too were part of a vicious cycle of abuse and neglect which are system eventually dismissed.
Other victims go to foster homes and sadly statistics show many in foster care have a surprisingly low chance of surviving successfully because they experience some form of continued abuse.
The state sometimes offers free counseling or a reduced rate therapy. For most families they want these “incidents” to disappear and a once a week drive to a therapist is a reminder to the child and the parent of misperceived faults. It can take months before a therapist can get a person to open up or truly understand the depths of emotional and mental damage. Parent’s, eventually stop attending important meetings or feel the care has been adequate, time simply needs to pass. There are many reasons families don’t reach out for help and our state doesn’t manage them.
Why doesn’t our government design a tracking system that will allow long term care? Too much money? What about the money put into victims care after they commit a legal offense. They are on the other side of the law and they won’t slip through the cracks now. Our system for dealing with abused and neglected children is a band-aid. The truth, their isn’t big money in focusing on changing our system for victims. A lot of the talented folks stray away from this sort of policy. Most people who are committed to this work do so for personal motivations not related to money.
It’s no secret abuse and neglect can affect people well into their elder years if not managed properly. But again we have a legal system which doesn’t lose track of you once you have committed a crime. There is almost never a chance the failure to handle a charge from the state will just go away without incident. Why is it different for our victims?
Does our government really know and understand the depths of emotional and mental damage a person carries into their adulthood when not managed? Like I said there is no “big money” in these issues. There is a small group of really fabulous people in our state and all over the world who share my thoughts maybe with less cynicism but they exist. Everything in Texas is big when will it be big on all it’s children.
Sunday, October 21, 2007
Analysis: Many in child-sex cases serve no time
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/5232562.html
As I was reading an analysis in the Houston Chronicle called “Many in child sex crime serve no time” I felt relieved and disgusted at the same time. It was a relief to see someone publicly critical of the Texas punishment system for sexual offenders but disgusted because it doesn’t appear much is being changed in the system. The article goes on to say although there are new harsher consequences for sexual offenders even the death penalty offenders move on with minimum punishment.
The author said it best “Some victims advocates say that while the new legislation may be politically popular, it doesn't attack the root of the problem.”
All sexual crimes are difficult but sexual crimes against juveniles and/or children can be particularly difficult because they are typically committed by someone known to the victim. So many emotionally gripping factors come into play when dealing with this issue and it appears the author of this article truly grasp were the real problems are. It doesn’t appear our Texas government wants to address or commit the resources needed to effectively punish sexual offenders. These types of crimes can be deeply rooted in a family. Putting the law in ones living room can bring on feelings of guilt, exposure, embarrassment and shame for the victim and families involved. Victims who don’t deal with their abuse or feel their offender was adequately punished can carry burdens well into their adulthood. Also, statistics show those who are violated and don’t deal with their abuse are more likely to sexual offend themselves opposed to those who deal with their abuse. My point, if the Texas legal system doesn't properly deal with sexually abused victims they might one day be dealing with them on the opposite of the law.
So I ask myself why did our Texas legislature spend so much time to pass new laws which are not implemented, only available? I agree with the Director of The Family Place in Dallas, Liz Hodges the legislative changes are "a way for everybody to feel like they've done something. The more important question, what is our state going to do to address the “root of the problem?” These crimes go on legally “swept under the carpet” because this is a huge task to tackle. If our Texas courts system and legal experts can’t handle sexual crimes against juveniles and/or young children committed by the “guy next door” how is a Texas family expected to handle the issue on their own?
As I was reading an analysis in the Houston Chronicle called “Many in child sex crime serve no time” I felt relieved and disgusted at the same time. It was a relief to see someone publicly critical of the Texas punishment system for sexual offenders but disgusted because it doesn’t appear much is being changed in the system. The article goes on to say although there are new harsher consequences for sexual offenders even the death penalty offenders move on with minimum punishment.
The author said it best “Some victims advocates say that while the new legislation may be politically popular, it doesn't attack the root of the problem.”
All sexual crimes are difficult but sexual crimes against juveniles and/or children can be particularly difficult because they are typically committed by someone known to the victim. So many emotionally gripping factors come into play when dealing with this issue and it appears the author of this article truly grasp were the real problems are. It doesn’t appear our Texas government wants to address or commit the resources needed to effectively punish sexual offenders. These types of crimes can be deeply rooted in a family. Putting the law in ones living room can bring on feelings of guilt, exposure, embarrassment and shame for the victim and families involved. Victims who don’t deal with their abuse or feel their offender was adequately punished can carry burdens well into their adulthood. Also, statistics show those who are violated and don’t deal with their abuse are more likely to sexual offend themselves opposed to those who deal with their abuse. My point, if the Texas legal system doesn't properly deal with sexually abused victims they might one day be dealing with them on the opposite of the law.
So I ask myself why did our Texas legislature spend so much time to pass new laws which are not implemented, only available? I agree with the Director of The Family Place in Dallas, Liz Hodges the legislative changes are "a way for everybody to feel like they've done something. The more important question, what is our state going to do to address the “root of the problem?” These crimes go on legally “swept under the carpet” because this is a huge task to tackle. If our Texas courts system and legal experts can’t handle sexual crimes against juveniles and/or young children committed by the “guy next door” how is a Texas family expected to handle the issue on their own?
Friday, October 5, 2007
Bush vetoes children's health care bill
In the Houston Chronicle on October 3rd an article titled Bush Vetoes Children’s Health Care Bill by Jennifer Loven talks about Bush vetoing a bill to expand Childrens Health Insurance.
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/5183555.html
The article initially seems to be a genuine concern for the four million children who will be deprived of medical insurance as a result of Bush’s veto but the article shifts gear and focus’ on democratic political agenda and how the veto works against Bush. Loven goes on to discuss the veto as a “high stakes gambit” and how the decision “pits” him (Bush) against democrats and his own party. I do feel how we get to change is important but should it supersede the issue at hand? For the most part, the people in public office or the voting public aren’t significantly affected by this particular decision therefore the bill lacks representation compared to others.
I think it’s equally important for Loven to discuss how this will directly affect America’s children. I would like to know what it means for the 4 million children who will go without insurance. How will this impact our economy? When a child is sick and goes to a public hospital with no insurance, who picks up the tab? How does it affect children long term to go with out medical coverage as a child? I prefer to see an equal focus on the children/people directly affected by Bush’s decision.
Bush can’t be re-elected so how much can the veto hurt him? At this point in his term he doesn’t seem to be fighting for the public favor. Does it matter? Bush fought for more funding for our war which overtime seems to be alive as a result of a great marketing campaign staged from the Bush administration and others who stand to gain from it. The only positive thing I can pull out of Bush’s decision is truth. We may be seeing the true heart of our President and were his priorities lye. Will the voting public take note and if they how will it sway their next presidential vote.
It’s seems in politics the issues at hand take a back seat when compared to making policy. I am personally very interested in public policy and want to get as close as I can to bringing about change without taking office because there seems to be something corrupt about being in office. Specifically, it seems sustaining office is more important than the issues on the table. Politicians seem to advocate or lean towards a decision that will likely secure their office.
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/5183555.html
The article initially seems to be a genuine concern for the four million children who will be deprived of medical insurance as a result of Bush’s veto but the article shifts gear and focus’ on democratic political agenda and how the veto works against Bush. Loven goes on to discuss the veto as a “high stakes gambit” and how the decision “pits” him (Bush) against democrats and his own party. I do feel how we get to change is important but should it supersede the issue at hand? For the most part, the people in public office or the voting public aren’t significantly affected by this particular decision therefore the bill lacks representation compared to others.
I think it’s equally important for Loven to discuss how this will directly affect America’s children. I would like to know what it means for the 4 million children who will go without insurance. How will this impact our economy? When a child is sick and goes to a public hospital with no insurance, who picks up the tab? How does it affect children long term to go with out medical coverage as a child? I prefer to see an equal focus on the children/people directly affected by Bush’s decision.
Bush can’t be re-elected so how much can the veto hurt him? At this point in his term he doesn’t seem to be fighting for the public favor. Does it matter? Bush fought for more funding for our war which overtime seems to be alive as a result of a great marketing campaign staged from the Bush administration and others who stand to gain from it. The only positive thing I can pull out of Bush’s decision is truth. We may be seeing the true heart of our President and were his priorities lye. Will the voting public take note and if they how will it sway their next presidential vote.
It’s seems in politics the issues at hand take a back seat when compared to making policy. I am personally very interested in public policy and want to get as close as I can to bringing about change without taking office because there seems to be something corrupt about being in office. Specifically, it seems sustaining office is more important than the issues on the table. Politicians seem to advocate or lean towards a decision that will likely secure their office.
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Immigrant Children Living in Detention
The T. Don Hutto Family Residential Facility in Taylor, Texas is one of two facilities in the United states that holds young children in former prisons. This facility is home to non-Mexican immigrant families including children. The facility holds 375 occupants, 200 which are children.
Families in the facility are waiting to be granted asylum or denied and deported back to their home country. Previously, when illegal families were apprehended they were released and issued a court date to appear in immigration court. Because so many families failed to appear in court some authorities feel the Hutto facility is ideal.
One particular Palestinian family is being detained with their 4 children ranging in age from 3 to 15 years old. Their father Mr. Ibrahim is being detained in a detention center in Haskell, Texas. The Ibrahim family was denied asylum but they can not return to their home country because they have been denied access to pass through Israel or Jordan to get home. Essentially the Ibrahim's are in limbo until the U.S. Immigration department gains access to their homeland or overturns their asylum denial.
The Ibrahim story is not unique so many other young children sit down the street from us in a former prison facility waiting for their destiny to be handed to them.
The Dallas Morning News
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/dmn/stories/020107dnmetpalfamily.3b835587.html
Families in the facility are waiting to be granted asylum or denied and deported back to their home country. Previously, when illegal families were apprehended they were released and issued a court date to appear in immigration court. Because so many families failed to appear in court some authorities feel the Hutto facility is ideal.
One particular Palestinian family is being detained with their 4 children ranging in age from 3 to 15 years old. Their father Mr. Ibrahim is being detained in a detention center in Haskell, Texas. The Ibrahim family was denied asylum but they can not return to their home country because they have been denied access to pass through Israel or Jordan to get home. Essentially the Ibrahim's are in limbo until the U.S. Immigration department gains access to their homeland or overturns their asylum denial.
The Ibrahim story is not unique so many other young children sit down the street from us in a former prison facility waiting for their destiny to be handed to them.
The Dallas Morning News
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/dmn/stories/020107dnmetpalfamily.3b835587.html
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