Getting on the soapbox again...
For a country apparently obsessed with the well-being of children, we really do seem to drop the ball where it counts.
Florida's Department of Children and Families, not to mention plenty of other children's services, are barely able to do their job, but we'll turn the entertainment industry on its ear because some kid might see a part of a body in some stupid stunt at a sporting event.
Today, on thinking about it, I realized how apalled I was by the backwards priorities this represents. And then one slogan I truly loathe came to mind. "You can't solve a problem by throwing money at it."
This is the excuse given whenever more funding is needed for overwhelmed government services. For DCF in particular, this is not about "welfare" or income redistribution. This is about the safety of children in true danger. Take, for example, the famous case of Rilya Wilson. While misconduct and falsified records by DCF employees is not excusable and must be punished, that is not the solution to the problem.
The caseworkers are given loads they cannot hope to meet, and do not have the resources to do the job correctly. They need more people, they need better people, they need better tools for handling records. There is no way to get any of this without more money.
What to do about it? For everyone reading, I would ask that when they vote, they consider very strongly which candidate is going to help with issues like THIS when they promise a focus on family values... more so than chasing down indecency in the media, or passing "Defense of Marriage" acts. Furthermore, no matter which party you ultimately vote for, be sure you demand as a voter that they give this attention.
Rant over.