re: #270 kirkspencer

“?

Here in the US I think the biggest problems are due to it being a subject with multiple conflicting interests and a shortage of appropriate funding.

By conflicting interest, consider all the ways “do what’s best for the children” can mean to various parties.

And consider simple practicality with this fork. Social worker gets call, comes, and decides to take children away? hammer. Gets call, comes, and decides it’s not quite at that level? hammer (once/if the sordid details - which would have required a warrant and a bit of luck to discover - come out).

The most cynical people I know work in child services. They beat prison workers, attorneys, and soldiers by miles.

You’re completely right, IMO: but that horrific story from Rockbridge County seems to have been made far worse by what sounds like an utter abdication of responsibility by the local social-services administrators. Sending a social worker out who has to make hard decisions (and have them backed up) is one thing: not even bothering to send anyone out (due to prejudice, or, apparently, just plain assholishness) is another.