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Hoosier United Methodist News Archives
| Hoosier United Methodists together |
Nov./Dec. 2004 |
Much yet to be done as Hoosiers put children first
By Brittany Brown
According to a report by the State of Indiana, whether or not Hoosiers are putting children first receives mixed reactions.
The Indiana Commission on Abused and Neglected Children and their Families earlier this year published its findings in a report titled "Putting Children First." This is especially relevant to United Methodists because our bishops created the Bishops' Initiative on Children and Poverty eight years ago to address the needs of "the least of these." What is being done? Are we having an effect? The answers are mixed.
The child fatality numbers from the Division of Family and Children's Child Abuse and Neglect SFY 2003 Annual Report are down from 2002 by ten. A total of 61 children died in 2002 and eight cases were finalized in 2002, with 33 children dying of abuse and 36 dying of neglect. In 2003, 34 children died of abuse and only 17 died of neglect. This is an improvement; however, 51 children still died in 2003 of either abuse or neglect. As the United Methodist bishops state in "Our Shared Dream: the Beloved Community," the most recent statement on the Initiative, "we recognize that much remains to be done."
The Indiana Commission recommends in "Putting Children First" that the number of caseloads per worker be lowered to practice standard of 12 active investigations and 17 children to try to ensure that children do not get lost in the system and problems do not continue unnoticed. It also suggests a requirement that new employees hired have a degree in human services or social work and undergo training before taking on any caseload.
Furthermore, the Commission proposes a transitional living service for youths turning 18 or becoming emancipated to help them adjust to adult life on their own. Finally, it recommends standardization and full implementation of foster parent and adoptive parent training for people considering these roles.
Child protection
The issue has become so important that it factored into the recent Indiana gubernatorial campaign. Both major candidates had a stance on the matter, as reported in the Indianapolis Star on Oct. 13. Republican Mitch Daniels proposed a freestanding Child Protection Services and a reorganization of staff to produce more workers who deal directly with children in need, while Democrat Joe Kernan advocated the creation of a Department of Children and Families, the addition of 60 new caseworkers and a mandatory six-week training session before any worker could take a case. As the Star stated, "the next governor can make the biggest difference by establishing child protection as one of his top priorities."
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We recognize that much remains to be done. |
Indiana also has created a health care plan for children, pregnant women and low-income families in order to ensure children receive proper health care. Hoosier Healthwise can provide premium-free coverage to some qualified children and coverage with premiums as low as $11 for one child or $16.50 for two. According to the Hoosier Healthwise '03 Report Card, the plan covers about 450,000 Hoosiers.
However, Hoosier Healthwise "did not meet its 2002 target or the national median rate" for percentage of children receiving regular checkups with their primary medical physician. For 2004, Hoosier Healthwise has stated the goals of increasing regularity of checkups with physicians, increasing "well-child" visits for children from 0 to 15 months and increasing immunizations for Hoosier children.
Bishop's Initiative
With all this in mind, what are Hoosier United Methodists doing to further the Bishops' Initiative and address these issues? Various programs and fundraisers have been implemented in recent years to help children in need.
The Indiana Area organized prayer vigils in public places to draw attention to the issue, published a book to raise proceeds and collected shoes, blankets and teddy bears to donate to children. It also organized a march on the Capitol last year and this year's continued "Wash 'n' Dry," a program to collect towels, bar soap and diapers for various charities.
This is progress, to be sure, but we have much to do. The bishops have called upon all United Methodists to "dream, pray and work for the day when the ability to give with boundless generosity replaces the drive to collect, possess, own and withhold." What is more, they have urged us all to "dream, pray and work for the day when our relations across the globe will be characterized not by charity, dependence and paternalism but by partnership and solidarity."
Christmas Offering
One small way each Hoosier can participate in helping children, is by contributing generously to the Indiana Area Bishop's Christmas Special Offering for children. One third of the offering received in United Methodists churches across the state will support these ministries.
North Indiana: North Indiana Conference Camp Programs; KidTown, Grace UMC (Gary); Kokomo Rescue Mission; NIC Children and Poverty projects, Royal Family Kids' Camp, Marquette Park UMC Children's worship.
South Indiana: South Indiana Conference Division of Outdoor Ministries; Noah's Ark Children's Village; Vida Nueva, Brightwood Community Center and Brookside UMC (Indianapolis); Fletcher Place Community Center (Indianapolis); Fourteenth and Chestnut Community Center (Terre Haute).
The other two-thirds of the offering will be divided between children's ministries in the rest of the United States and around the world.
Last updated on 25 Apr 2008