EDITORIAL : SAVING CHILDREN AT RISK; CONGRESS PUTS PRIORITIES WHERE THEY BELONG.CONGRESS has taken a promising step to help abused, neglected and abandoned children get a better start in life. Indeed, the bill overwhelmingly approved Thursday could go a long way toward saving the lives of children who otherwise might be forced to stay with abusive Tending to deceive; practicing abuse; prone to ill-treat by coarse, insulting words or harmful acts. Using ill treatment; injurious, improper, hurtful, offensive, reproachful. or neglectful ne·glect·ful adj. Characterized by neglect; heedless: neglectful of their responsibilities. See Synonyms at negligent. ne·glect families. The measure revamps a 1980 law that put entirely too much emphasis on keeping often dysfunctional families dysfunctional family Psychology A family with multiple 'internal'–eg sibling rivalries, parent-child– conflicts, domestic violence, mental illness, single parenthood, or 'external'–eg alcohol or drug abuse, extramarital affairs, gambling, together and not enough on protecting the welfare of children. Among other things, it seeks to speed up the adoption process for children who otherwise would remain in foster homes for many months while social workers try to help the youngsters' parents put their lives together. The need for a more child-friendly system was illustrated by a number of news stories and editorials in the Daily News in 1996 dealing with abused and neglected children in Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. County. Perhaps the most distressing case involved 2-1/2-year-old Lance Helms of North Hollywood, who was beaten to death by his father's girlfriend. County social workers had sought repeatedly to remove the toddler, who was born with a drug addition, from the home. But a county dependency court judge ruled during eight separate hearings that young Lance should remain with his father. The Helms case prompted a public outcry. Nevertheless, a state appeals court held in another matter March 29, 1996, that ``laws governing gov·ern v. gov·erned, gov·ern·ing, gov·erns v.tr. 1. To make and administer the public policy and affairs of; exercise sovereign authority in. 2. dependency establish an ongoing process to assure, whenever possible, reunification re·u·ni·fy tr.v. re·u·ni·fied, re·u·ni·fy·ing, re·u·ni·fies To cause (a group, party, state, or sect) to become unified again after being divided. of the family and the return of the child to the custodial parent(s).'' California legislators must review state laws to make sure they conform with the thrust of the new federal legislation and avoid legal confrontations that might put children at risk. Moreover, the state might risk the loss of federal funds Federal Funds Funds deposited to regional Federal Reserve Banks by commercial banks, including funds in excess of reserve requirements. Notes: These non-interest bearing deposits are lent out at the Fed funds rate to other banks unable to meet overnight reserve if it fails to speed up the adoption process for children who have been in foster care for extended periods of time. The new law is no substitute for caring parents and families. But it might make a big difference for children who have neither. |
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