Arkansas Blog

I'm sure John Z & LIsa F are fine individuals who will do a masterful job of supervising. I'd be willing to bet, tho, that the investigation (if it is factual and not a whitewash) will focus on overburdened staff. And the supervisors, as fine as they are, will only place a greater paperwork burden on the line staff. Thus the problem will only intensify as they try to manage their way out of this situation. The solution to many state gov't problems is simple - hire more people. The state has been on a no new hire directive for several decades now and while government hasn't shrunk, it hasn't grown along with the population.

I'm sure the libertarians and conservatives on here will howl with rage at the thought of more of their precious money going to 'slackers & wastrels' and no doubt there are some (in all organizations). But these problems will only get worse.

The challenge I think for all the players is to go where they have never gone before. In a social agency or public system or the policy driven professions, the art of healing may not always show its face for a number of years. Secrets that help bring understanding to the table, often remain within the encounter of "the other". The fine tuning for performance makes the fight for survival more than the intensity of a Razorback Game....many have perished later because the issues were not appropriately addressed. True healing is about the attitudes we carry and how we connect with the world in the better manner. Our spiritual calling matures within the vocations and advociations placed before us. Thansk for your interest in the topic Arkie Timers!

I wish the media would be more concise when using the term "social worker." Were the DHS workers who turned away the 2 year old Truly social workers? Because, by law, a social worker is a professional with requirements: including a bachelor's or master's degree in social work, a passing grade on a national exam, supervision and continuing education. I work hard as a LCSW and hate when CASEWORKERS are christened "social workers" by the media.

I apologize in advance if the employees in question, are, in fact, professional social workers. But I doubt it.

The challenge I think for all the players is to go where they have never gone before. In a social agency or public system or the policy driven professions, the art of healing may not always show its face for a number of years. Secrets that help bring understanding to the table, often remain within the encounter of "the other". The fine tuning for performance makes the fight for survival more than the intensity of a Razorback Game....many have perished later because the issues were not appropriately addressed. True healing is about the attitudes we carry and how we connect with the world in the better manner. Our spiritual calling matures within the vocations and advociations placed before us. Thansk for your interest in the topic Arkie Timers!

I wish the media would be more concise when using the term "social worker." Were the DHS workers who turned away the 2 year old Truly social workers? Because, by law, a social worker is a professional with requirements: including a bachelor's or master's degree in social work, a passing grade on a national exam, supervision and continuing education. I work hard as a LCSW and hate when CASEWORKERS are christened "social workers" by the media.

I apologize in advance if the employees in question, are, in fact, professional social workers. But I doubt it.

"All that reviewing and tasking and reorganizing and scrutiny since April -- and still four children dead and a 2-year-old in Children's Hospital after being turned away by DHS social workers who thought his bruises weren't bad enough to take him immediately into custody."

That, plus two newbie(?) posters who double-post because they're impatient?

The Governor STILL hasn't publicly addressed this tragedy and the state agency's complicity and we're supposed to feel all better now with an underling's fucking PRESS RELEASE SPIN?

And that lying weasel Lu Hardin gets a $1 million buyout, which would have paid for 20 -- count 'em -- 20 highly qualified social workers at $50K a year?

I don't know if Governor Beebe is still happy-slapping the backs of the Big Boys in Denver or is back home in Little Rock. But wherever he is, he's not on the job. Not in THIS case.

Someone tell me, is the states childrens affairs offices and the catholic churches in cahoots? The abuse and deaths of children with nominal if any punishment. The government hiding the facts, the church hiding the facts. When will the people of this world learn to act human? My heart aches for those poor children who were killed/died while under the care of anyone, parent, state agency, foster care, Gramps, Aunt May. It doesn't matter. What is the purpose of idle banter while those who could have stopped the deaths of these children stood aside and watched them die. Those who have little to fear because the government people have become as crude and perverse as those who commit the crimes by allowing the guilty to walk away with only a hand slap, (and book deal). All because if they pass enough sissified pansy assed laws to protect the criminals, they will be able to get away with the crimes they commit themselves.

So the underling in the Governor's office suggests the A-T call John Selig, director of the state Department of Human Services, like, "It's not OUR fault."

I have no idea how long Mr. Selig has held his position, but why am I not supposed to assume he is part of the problem and not the solution?

So what is next Max? Let's attack the fire department for too many house fires, the police department for too many murders, and judges for incompetent lawyers. You know good and well Beebe will do more to address the need of these special kids than anyone else could in his position. 1000 more police officers in Little Rock will not end murder in Little Rock. A shoot from the hip response to these tragic deaths is also not the solution. Some could have been prevented perhaps others not. A complete investigation to see if the system failed and how is in order. Reform must be considered and deliberate. I have not seen you going down to volunteer as a foster parent. Remember the system is dependent on the skills of those willing to help. Often the skills are lacking and the character less than needed. Overall the courts impose a duty to reunite the family. Drugs, mental illness, alcohol abuse, anger, and worse are allowed back with kids by court order. Remember the three branches? A complete approach is needed and a governor is but a part of any solution.

ARK. BLOG: I "know" no such things. The governor appoints the head of DHS. He IS responsible. The public deserves to know more than it knows now on what has occurred at that agency on his watch. Nobody is more aware or sympathetic than I at the problmes that wash up on DHS' steps. But four deaths? A battered child turned away? WE need details. We need to know which offices are responsible for these cases. The criminal investigations need not be compromised or revealed. The state knows names, ages, places circumstances, responsible parties. It is stonewalling the people. And kids are dying. Beebe should hang his head in shame between sips with Tom Kennedy

Phil Gramm was right. We are a nation of whiners.

I've never seen such whining.

Legislation and beauacracy may be about intellect and emotion. We can understand the problem. We can feel bad about the failures.

Executive action is about pure will. If you represent the people then your job is to act. In the face of death and denial and incompetence you must act. Good, bad, or indifferent, my grandpa said, "do something if it is wrong." That is will. That is action. That is governance.

Beebe may or may not be a good man. We know he is a fine fellow. Huckabee was a W when it came to governance. I don't know which 'Brownie' he put in charge. I know as a governor he was a disaster. But, that was long ago, 4 deaths ago. Beebe has been in office as long as our new VP nominee.

Good, bad, or indifferent. Do something if it is wrong.

I am astounded at the posts here today that somehow Beebe is removed from a DHS crisis. These are the same posters who basically felt that everything in state government was Huckabee's fault when he was in office.

I am really astounded by this blind allegiance to Governor Beebe. You people have been into the Kool Aid a little too long. And how long does this honeymoon go where everything is his predecessors fault?

Selig has been at DHS for years. He was a deputy director and then got the top spot when Kurt Knickrehm left for the private sector. Roy Kindle ran DCFS for years under John Selig. There was a distinct feeling within the department that there were serious problems in the division that were not being addressed.

Also....the department can't really claim that nothing about the deaths can't be released. There are sections of reports that can be redacted. You can't really get away anymore with the claim that we can't say anything.

Reporters should FOI the employment histories of the involved caseworkers.

Has anyone really commented on the fact that the mother of the abused child in the newspaper the other day was the daughter of Randall Bradford. Remember Bradford...Huckabee fired him as information services director at the start of the 2002 campaign. Bill Simmons worshipped Bradford and put his bizzare allegations on the front page for about two weeks.