Two recent news stories aptly illustrate what Missouri children “at risk” of maltreatment need — and what they don’t.
What they need is concrete help for their families, so their family poverty is not confused with “neglect” and they are not torn from everyone they know and love and consigned to the chaos of foster care.
To his great credit, Missouri Republican U.S. Rep. Jason Smith has partnered with Wisconsin Democratic U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore to introduce legislation to clarify that a small source of federal aid can be used to provide this kind of help.
And to his great credit, in supporting the bill, Children’s
Division Director Darrell Missey said: …