Re: “Legislators will have hands full,” Jan. 13 editorial.
While we agree with the Denver Post editorial, the state’s grim financial situation should not be the only story line to emerge from the Capitol this legislative session. While the state budget will necessarily dominate, others issues are urgent.
A critical policy issue that was not identified as a priority, along with medical marijuana, PERA, renewable energy and sentencing reform, is the reform of our child welfare system. For 20 years and several governors, this issue has never been a flashy one . . . until a child dies. While many are outraged by closing schools and furloughing state employees, our community repeatedly avoids the unmet needs of abused and neglected children.
As long as our child welfare system remains under resourced and fragmented, other policy successes will be compromised.
This is how the world works: It all starts with children. Children grow up to either become functional members of society or not. The most vulnerable population of Colorado is abused and neglected children. There are more than 8,000 abused and neglected children in foster care. It is unforgiveable to remove them from birth families only to deny them the critical treatment, education and a permanent home they so deserve.
We must not turn away from this voiceless minority. They will haunt us in years to come, long after bridges are repaired and the economy recovers.
Karen Lausa is a Research & Policy Reform Liaison at the Rocky Mountain Children’s Law Center, Denver.
