FPS [Family Protection Services]

From Fairbanks Daily News miner Letters to the Editor

Don't cut ocs budget

Feb. 24, 2014

To the editor: In 2012, a workload study, commissioned by the current governor, recommended an increase in support staff for the Office of Children’s Services. This department, already underfunded to achieve its goal of protecting children from abuse and neglect, is set to receive serious budget cuts this year.

How can it be that those we’ve elected can turn away from such information? How can they say “these are the tough choices” we have to make?

The governor and our elected officials have an independent workload study recommending a feasible solution to protect our most vulnerable population, our children, from abuse and neglect. I wonder what they will say when more stories of abused children end up in the news.
Tough choices should not include gambling with the lives of children. “Choosing Respect” is more than words. Actions demonstrate respect. Our children deserve protection from violence, abuse and neglect. Voting to cut child protection is not choosing respect.
Kim Swisher
Fairbanks

 Now... lets follow the money:

Kim Swisher:

Department of Social Work. UAF

Clinical Assistant Professer and Feild Director for BSW program.

"... Master's of Social Work from the University of Alaska Anchorage in 2000 with an emphasis in Children, Youth and Families. ..."
"... in the field working with severely emotionally disturbed children, providing advocacy in court for children, child welfare, and child protection. Kim has worked as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) for children in foster care, and spent ten years with the Office of Children's Services, both in Anchorage and Fairbanks. Kim spent three years working for the Family and Youth Services Training Academy, through the UAA School of Social Work, traveling Alaska and training child protection workers in best practice. Kim currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Interior Center for Non-Violent Living (IAC), and the Advisory Board for the Birch Center in Fairbanks. She provides consultation to Stevie's Place, the Child Advocacy Center in Fairbanks, through the Resource Center for Parents and Children (RCPC). Kim's area of interest include direct practice with individuals, groups and communities, and she delights in inspiring students to become social workers. ..."

So... respect for whom?

The budget needs to be cut. Many, many positions need to be eliminated. CPS needs to be eliminated. It can then be rebuilt into FPS. "Family Protection Services" of which it is currently not. FPS can then hire individuals who have respect for families. Not those who concern themselves with the bottom dollar and where they get new inventory.

*The posts made in this blog are of our opinion only* Without Prejudice UCC 1-207