Letters to the Editors

State, governor share blame in DCF tragedies

Following all of the press coverage having to do with shortfalls in the Department of Children and Families, I am not surprised by the discoveries being made. Tragically, some professionals have not been following through on their duties to their clients. This is evident in the recent terrible murder of a child who was to have been visited that very day by his DCF worker. That worker then falsified records. There is no excuse for that, and prosecuting that person is an appropriate response for not following up on cases and then falsifying documentation.

Blame for this particular shortfall was laid at the feet of the DCF worker. Blame must also be shared by the governor and the state government which supported the drastic cutbacks on spending that would have helped support additional DCF workers and supervisors to do a more thorough job of serving their clients.

DCF and other government agencies are terribly overworked and understaffed. That can be changed, and proper care for needy children and adults can be provided by the people of Florida. But Tallahassee cannot shuck off responsibility by prosecuting an errant DCF worker and her supervisor (the sacrificial lamb).

The state government and Gov. Bush can point all the fingers they want, but they need to consider some drastic and damaging decisions made in the past few years which have cut the legs out from under proper service to needy people in this state. I hope the people of Florida speak out loudly both in the media and in the elections that are coming up.
-- The Rev. Richard Mence, Clearwater

State is not doing enough

The state of Florida has once again failed to protect a child within its custody -- 2-year-old Alfredo Montez's body was found off I-275 just days after a caseworker from the Department of Children and Families reported that she had found the boy to be happy, clean and well-cared for. Alfredo's babysitter is charged with beating the child to death after he was angered because he soiled his pants. The DCF employee has admitted to falsifying records; Alfredo was beaten to death the day of her alleged visit.

More frightening than the fact that this crime has happened, is the fact that the state has done little to prevent this from happening again. Sure, Gov. Jeb Bush and DCF Secretary Kathleen Kearney have lamented about what a terrible tragedy this is, how the responsible staff are being fired or prosecuted. They also have promised that all of the other children in the state's care will be visited soon. These were all promises they made after the DCF recently discovered that 5-year-old Rilya Wilson, another child in the state's care, had been missing since January 2001.

Obviously, the leadership in this state has not done enough to prevent this sort of crime from occurring. One cannot help but wonder whether we really value the children that the state has pledged to protect. If we did value such children, we would ensure that DCF employed only high-quality staff. In addition, we would make certain a guardian ad litem represented each child in protective custody. A guardian would act as a safeguard and ensure that an adult is assigned to every child under state custody to represent his or her best interests, even if DCF staff fail to do so.

The state would bear a heavy cost in ensuring that DCF employed only high-quality staff and in establishing programs for guardians to represent all children within the state's care. Apparently, as this latest case demonstrates, the cost is just too high for this administration.
-- Stephanie N. Marusak, Gainesville

Child protection has many problems

As a former child protection agent with 26 years experience, I would like to make several comments.

First, in child protection, staff is almost always new. People quit, move to other positions in social services, and the agencies seem never to address why they cannot retain staff. This is almost universal in child protection.

A caseload of 50 protection cases is impossible to keep up with. Each of the 50 child victims has parents, grandparents, friends, and one is likely to be dealing with 250-300 persons that make demands of one sort or another. Truth be known, often these relatives and friends are not the best of folk.

In each agency, and in state and federal law, there is the dual and conflicting problem of protecting the child versus preserving the family. These forces seem to always have the power to challenge every decision that is made and bring the matter to the court when removal of the child is considered. The county agency I left two years ago was then in preservation mode, and protection was the outcast in funds and focus.

Imagine a job where one can be imprisoned for 15 years for "cheating" on a record, an act you were likely driven to by pressure to do more than possible. Enron's CEO, Ken Lay, is not facing anything close to this for cheating on his records.

I know that children die on child protection caseloads. Personally I am proud that I "only" lost two, but still live with what I could have, or should have done in a more perfect world.

As long as child protection remains an entry-level job, held by the newest and youngest employees with conflict as to what the role of interventions is, mistakes will continue. As long as we, as a society, are unsure about what we want and expect from child protection there will be controversy. Until we are willing to intervene ourselves in abuse and neglect situations, there is little hope of protection improving. Would you have taken, and kept this young caseworker's job for her pay of about $25,000? I think not.
-- Paul R. Halenbeck, Clearwater

Nurses should take pride in appearance

Re: Hospital workers scrub the ho-hum, July 13.

The nursing profession is in the worst shape of it's history! Nurses no longer take the time to think about the perception people in the community have about nursing.

People can no longer walk into a hospital and pick out the professional registered nurse. They can, however, walk in and see an assortment of wrinkled, wild colored RNs, LPNs, CNAs, cooks, housekeepers, etc. -- many without name badges!

I know that colorful scrubs may have a place in the children's ward. However, RNs in America have no pride in wearing the only white uniform and black striped cap that states, "I'm a nurse and I am proud of it!"

There are many RNs out there who have walked away from nursing because of how they feel about the job they do every day. "No respect" -- it's heard all the time. We must respect our self-image and how we portray what we do! Nurses need to pay more attention to the details that make them professional. You may be the influencing factor for the next generation of RNs in America!
-- Linda Nichols, RN, BSN, Palm Harbor

Maintain a professional image

Re: Hospital workers scrub the ho-hum.

I'm appalled by the article about nurses' uniforms. At a time when we have a critical nursing shortage and need to present a positive professional image to attract people to the profession, you have printed a puff piece that demeans the profession of nursing.

I have been an RN for almost 30 years and a nurse educator for more than 15, and I found the inside picture of two masked nurses cavorting about in their spiffy, colorful Hawaiian prints totally offensive. First, nurses only wear surgical masks for limited purposes: surgery in the operating area, sterile procedures, isolation and preparing chemotherapy. For the most part, surgical gowns and gloves would also be worn. You would rarely, if ever, wear a mask and your uncovered uniform.

Second, the story suggests that patients prefer nurses in the colorful uniforms. Except for pediatrics where the white sometimes scares the kids, patients appreciate seeing real nurses wear nurses whites. In the Tampa area, hospital employees wear every color of the rainbow including denim, khaki and black, which makes them hard to distinguish from non-employees. Patients cannot tell who is a nursing assistant who has had two-weeks training in the hospital basement classroom or who has attended a four-year university program and passed the rigorous licensing exam. Patients get a sense of security from knowing who's who.

When I'm in a local hospital with my nursing students, in my white uniform, I am often the only nurse in white on a unit. I am frequently approached for information and help by patients and visitors who view me as the only nurse around.

The proliferation of colors and patterns of scrub uniforms has led to a general casualness about appearance that has some people coming to work looking as though they slept in their uniforms.

Nurses are professionals just like dentists, accountants, doctors and teachers. We master a specialized body of knowledge, pass a licensing exam, have a code of ethics and are held accountable for keeping up-to-date. If we want to be taken seriously, we need to present a professional image. Your pictures did nothing to further that image.
-- Rise W. Sandrowitz, MSN, RN, Hillsborough Community College Nursing Instructor, Clearwater

We've had enough with the studies

Re: Hormone replacement therapy.

In my 20s, I took some hormone pills for a problem with spontaneous abortions -- bad timing from my hormones. At age 30, I had my first child. In my late 40s, I tried Premarin, but it did not agree with me, so my doctor prescribed Ogen (another form of estrogen) and I have taken it ever since (I am now 75 years old). In my 50s, a new doctor (a woman) prescribed progesterone also, to avoid possible uterine cancer. The prescribed schedule is estrogen beginning on the first day of the month to the 25th and progesterone on the 16th day to the 25th. This is not perfect as the normal hormone secretion for a female is 28 day schedule.

However, at age 75, I do not have osteoporosis, do not break bones, am emotionally stable, have no heart problems or circulatory troubles except those normally experienced at my age.

Each woman must work with a doctor she has confidence in and discover what her particular physiological needs are. No one formula works for every person. Enough already with these "studies." Spend the money on cures for specific ills.
-- Eleanor G. Hobbs, Port Richey

DJ will be missed

I was saddened to learn of the passing of local radio personality Scott Robbins on June 29. I was a fan and a friend, going back to his days with WHBO-AM, and I continued to listen and attend the many functions that he hosted all over the bay area. He was a hard-working individual who was dedicated to his work on the radio but always took time for his many fans. He epitomized the disk jockey of the rock 'n' roll era from the '50s to the '70s and was always willing to lend an ear and time for those who called or stopped by to see him at his many engagements.

I will always remember the many loyal listeners who brought votes to his Friday night live broadcasts, when the St. Petersburg Times was holding the "Tampa Bay's Favorite Top DJ" contest, and I believe he won that distinction.

He will be missed by his many fans and friends.
-- Mark Kaiser, St. Petersburg

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