|
The topic of children who have experienced abuse, neglect
and trauma is uncomfortable and a conversation that we often
back away from.
Yet, with tax-overload a real threat to undermine the
passage of many of the issues on the November 8 ballot, a
vote FOR Issue 20, the Lucas County Children Services’ (LCCS)
levy represents an obligation and moral responsibility to
children.
The request is a renewal of the existing 1.4 mill levy that
expires December 31, 2016 plus a 0.4 mill increase that
enables the agency to continue its mission to keep children
safe from abuse and neglect. The money is used solely to
address the care and placement needs of abused and neglected
children, a population often overlooked in both policy and
practice.
LCCS received over 12,000 calls for service in 2015 and
through their intake and assessment process still have 600
children in foster care, 300 living with a relative, and
another 100 living with parents while they receive services
for domestic violence, homelessness and other problems.
A
disproportionate amount of the children served are racial
and ethnic minorities. This levy provides operating money
that pays for foster parents, counseling, mentoring and
other services for children and parents.
One third of the organization’s 336 employees are African
American. The agency also contracts with local media
including Urban Radio, WJUC, Toledo Journal, The Sojourner’s
Truth, Interfaith Gazette and LaPrensa. In addition, LCCS
pays for day-care services from 28 women or minority-owned
day care centers and includes minority suppliers in its
bidding pool for IT products and services.
More notably, this is not the LCCS a/k/a Children’s Services
Board (CSB) of two years ago. There is now a targeted
mission, laser-like focus and bold passion with the
leadership of new Executive Director Robin Reese, a
homegrown Toledoan, who understands more than anyone that
the protection of children is the first line of defense for
a community under the fierce assault of opiate addiction.
While we, rightfully, empathize and spend a lot of time and
money to address addiction and the addicted, it would be
morally irresponsible not to spend as much effort and money
to address the needs of children and families left behind in
the ruins of an addiction.
Thus, the passage of Issue 20 is a moral imperative to
protect our children from the ravages of both the current
heroin/opiate epidemic and crack cocaine, its predecessor.
This will be the first levy I will be voting for. Although
there are several tax levies to choose from, we cannot
desert the deserted children who have been abused, neglected
or traumatized as a result of addiction. LCCS is a prime
partner in this fight to save our children.
If this levy fails, then our community has failed. Vote FOR
Issue 20.
Contact Rev. Donald Perryman, D.Min, at
drdlperryman@centerofhopebaptist.org
|
