In politics if you do not have a seat at the table, you may find yourself on the menu. Sen. Jane Nelson’s presence at the table for more than 47,000 children in the care of the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services ensures that our most vulnerable have a voice.
Her column [DRC, April 11] challenges us to improve ways to protect children.
When looking at the first stages of development, birth to 2 years, and trust vs. mistrust, we often find that these children have cracks in their basic foundation. Even when employing best practices, it is very hard to repair those basic wounds. At best, we patch them up, hoping it holds until the children mature enough to process their own tragic history.
The problem is the child’s behavior is often so disruptive and difficult during that time that no family can maintain the youngster, so the child bounces from one place to another, wounded at each disruption, unable to move through the rage.
We need small group facilities that can manage the most damaged of our children, eliminating those moves that impede their recovery.
Psalm 127, 3-4: “Lo children are a heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is His reward. As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are the children of the youth.”
Sen. Nelson’s arrows hit the mark. Her commitment to their issues is the shining beacon of hope that shapes their future well-being.