Should be no mystery in child removal policies

Jennifer Hemmingsen's series about “fractured families” was excellent and it underlies the need to take the mystery out of mental health and child protection services. Parents often are bewildered as to what to do in both cases, and they have nowhere to turn.

Before children have an intake in the child protection system and before patients are introduced into the mental health web, the individuals need to have unbiased information given them on possible therapies in several orientation meetings.

For example, families need to be prepared should their loved one be assigned a foster parent and possible adoption.

Before children are removed, parents should be given the option of taking parenting classes. The families need to know that they have the option of therapies offered by the state or by independent practitioners. The educational program would be helpful should the families have more children.

There should be no mystery about mental health or child removal policies. Families and individuals should have as much control about their treatment as those with physical problems.

Al Swegle

Cedar Rapids