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Saturday's letters: Community-based care requires community involvement

 
Published June 15, 2018

Fix foster care, and do it quickly | Editorial, June 15

Involve the community itself

While the detailed article about the scathing state review of Hillsborough County's foster care problems touched on leadership, a critical point was not addressed.

In the Peer Review Team Report released by the Department of Children and Families, Eckerd Connects Hillsborough's Board was specifically mentioned as not being representative of the community. Currently, the board is composed of just four individuals ultimately in charge of $77 million in public funds. All also sit on the national Eckerd Connects board. By no measure is that governance model reflective of a community as large and diverse as Hillsborough.

This is significant because successful change must involve all levels of an organization and the community at large. Although a skilled chief of community-based care was recruited to turn the ship around, he can't do it alone. From both a practical and appearances perspective, having such a small, insulated board contributes to the reported distrust of the organization among some stakeholders and the larger community.

Community-based care — and the leaders who govern it — shouldn't require the dogged efforts of the media, advocates or inspector general to be accountable, transparent and trustworthy. A larger and more community-minded governing board is an essential element of community-based care.

Roy Miller, Tallahassee

The writer is president of the Children's Campaign.

Trump, the anti-Reagan | Bret Stephens column, June 14

At least Trump is trying

It seems to me from several letters, that some writers would prefer North Korea having nuclear weapons if it were President Donald Trump who could achieve their removal. In his interview after the talks he said that (1) there would be verification, (2) our annual war games would be paused as long as there was progress and (3) the agreements would have to be approved by Congress. I feel better knowing someone is trying.

Lee Seymour, Clearwater

Insult to Gold Star Families

I have just seen a picture of Donald Trump, the president of the United States, the leader of the free world, the most powerful man in the world, saluting a general from North Korea, one of the most oppressive regimes in the world where the leader has members of his own family killed. In the background is the leader with a big smile.

Could there be a bigger insult to the hundreds of thousands of American soldiers who have fought for this great country over the last 200 years, many of whom have given their lives in the interest of bringing freedom to oppressed peoples? Could there be a bigger insult to the Gold Star Families who have lost sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, husbands and wives fighting for the rights of other peoples?

Barry Kreiling, Brooksville

A couple of coifs

Regarding the Trump-Kim summit; Is it just me or did the world have a bad hair day?

Dan Raulerson, Plant City

Despair is overwhelming,
but it is not permanent | Column, June 15

The personal, not political

I abhor Karl Rove's politics (although not as much as our current president) but really admire this touching article.

Sue Frye, St. Petersburg

Charter schools aren't
the enemy | Letter, June 14

Support public schools

Simple math says as soon as a charter school receives a dollar in public education tax funding, the funding for traditional public schools has been reduced. It's been shown many times that Florida has one of the lowest funding programs for education in the country.

The answer isn't a further reduction of funding by paying for charters or private schools (through vouchers). We need to recognize the importance of education and increase funding. Florida is in a growth mode, more housing and higher values.

Let's take a bigger chunk of that increased revenue and point it toward public education.

John Day, Clearwater

White House defends splitting up
families as 'biblical' | June 15

Immoral acts on the border

Taking babies and children from their parents at the border is immoral. Attorney General Jeff Sessions says the action was biblical. I am certainly not a biblical scholar, but I have never come across the directive. And, well if it is in the law — and again I couldn't find that directive — then the GOP could change the law, as they control the House, the Senate and the presidency. The president could also change this action with an executive order.

Ross P. Alander, Tampa

Who would do this?

Who is going to stand with a fist for the children at the border? I saw a precious tiny girl with beautiful black hair and wearing a tattered old red sweater trying to hold on to her mom who was being led away on CNN. What manner of person would order something like this? We have had enough. No one is going to rip up the lives of the ragged little pilgrims at our door on my watch.

Byron Dean, Brandon

Crunch Time: Saving Frito | June 14

A decent life for everyone

It seems ironic that on the same front page, there is a fight to save a tiny sea horse ("Crunch Time: Saving Frito"), whose life expectancy is about two years, while saving our children, whose life expectancy is not as long as it should be, are having to fend for themselves ("Eckerd Connects Warned").

All creatures great and small deserve a shot at a decent life.

Carol Vigneault, Spring Hill