May is Child Abuse Prevention Month
Thursday, April 10, 2008 7:07 PM PDT
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E-mail this articleMay is Child Abuse Prevention Month
The current shortage of foster homes in Cowlitz County means that abused and neglected children are rarely able to remain in their original school when they enter foster care. More than 200 children are in out-of-home care in our county alone, many of them school age.
As a result, children who must enter foster care not only lose their families, but also friends, teachers, tutors, counselors, administrators, bus drivers, food service workers and custodians. For many of these kids, school was the only secure and stable piece of their lives.
It is also estimated that for each move a child makes, they fall 3-6 months behind in their education.
The shortage of foster homes affects all students.
Bouncing from school to school is a drain on the schools’ resources. Frequently schools develop an Individual Education Plan (IEP), and allocate resources only to have the child moved again. Because a substantial amount of each school’s funding is based on enrollment when enrollment drops, funding drops as well.
You could be the best solution, just in case a child in your school needs a home.
Room for one more? For more information on becoming a foster parent, call 360-430-1510
Jeanmarie Moore
Longview
Energy crisis is here
Worried about high gas prices? Virtually every consumer item in the stores is affected by the increases in fuel costs as oil prices continue to escalate. Along about 30 years ago, those old enough to remember President Carter with his Cardigan sweater urging us to turn down that thermostat to 68 degrees will recall him urging conservation and exploring alternative energy sources. Many laughed and dismissed him as some kind of fruitcake. Didn’t he realize that oil was cheap and abundant?
He did manage to get funding for some forms of research — geothermal, shale oil, wind and solar power and alcohol based fuels. In 1981 that changed dramatically as President Reagan took office. Funding for any research into alternative fuels or their development was cut at the urging of the oil company lobbyists. Auto mileage requirements were left at current levels.
Who needed it? Oil and gasoline were cheap and plentiful.
Sooner or later that energy binge would come to an end with escalating prices and demand from developing third world countries. The U.S,, as President Bush said, is indeed addicted to oil and our love for our cars and SUVs is going to be the undoing of the country and has resulted in an unjust and unnecessary war that has financially enslaved our children and grandchildren to pay for it.
Tim Strom
Longview
AmeriCorps works
Thanks for the inspiring and informative article about Washington Service Corps member, Ashley Brewer, in your April 1 issue. Grateful for the resources the Emergency Support Shelter provided her, Brewer made a commitment to AmeriCorps service, and gives back by collecting personal care products for Shelter residents.
In Cowlitz County, Brewer is in good company. Every year since 2000, 25-30 people join the Cowlitz AmeriCorps Network, our county’s first and only AmeriCorps state program. Members promise to “get things done for America — to make our people safer, smarter, and healthier.” Their pledge: “take action,” “seek common ground,” “persevere,” and “get things done.”
Until April 16, the Cowlitz AmeriCorps Network is accepting requests from schools, non-profits and government entities who’d like to host an AmeriCorps member. Individuals who want to serve may apply beginning June 1. For information call (360) 577-9093, e-mail ceby@residentialresources.org, or come to 1514 Commerce Ave, Longview.
Carole Eby
Longview
FAA must change its rules
Pilot fatigue is a huge issue. It has been reported in the news twice that pilots flew past the airport they were supposed to land at because they were both asleep. The airlines lobby Congress to keep the old — and extremely inadequate — rules because, if pilots are given adequate rest, the price of airline tickets will have to rise, and fewer people will fly.
Congress needs to require all maintenance to be fully certified and supervised.
Work done at subcontractors does not have to be done by a licensed mechanic; just signed off by a licensed supervisor. Maintenance done by an airline has to be done by a licensed mechanic and signed off by a licensed supervisor.
Work outsourced is not supervised by the FAA in any significant way. Supervision, if it exists, is done by the equivalent of the FAA of the country in which the work is done.
What good is it if the FAA gets tough with airlines about work done in the U.S. and completely ignores supervision of work done outside the U.S.?
Congress needs to require the FAA to backup all airline pilots on safety decision.
If a captain feels a plane’s maintenance is unsatisfactory, the FAA requires the captain to refuse to fly the plane. But the FAA does not back captains up.
Joseph G. Hobson
Longview
Facts on center are skewed
I am writing a response to the article in The Daily News about the Rainier Senior Center of March 10. The supposed facts are exaggerated and overstated beyond reason. Starting back in 2007, the vice president proclaimed that she volunteered 60 hours weekly at the center, which is open five days a week from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The center was built with the Rainier City agreement that they help by paying half of the utility bills and insurance. It’s a five-year agreement which will expire Feb. 14, 2009. The center should be self-sufficient by then, or it will close.
It’s stated they provide meals daily for 50-70 persons; once every five months they host a five-area luncheon that may have a turnout of that many, but most days there are less than 10 cars and no buses.
The president stated that they provide exercise classes, their newsletters say they have line dancing for a fee, in which all seniors can’t participate. Walking in the park is available seven days a week, and several can’t take part in that. That’s the only events scheduled.
The scheduled outings are for casino trips. A bus arrives to pick up people from all the surrounding areas, that is the only outing on the agenda. The list announced several functions to partake in. They have Bingo and card games. The pool table was donated by a senior couple. The center sold it several months ago.
Phyllis Cox
Rainier
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