Hi Andrea, I am sorry that you project sinister motives to my offer of a
civil discussion.

Foster care is a special interest of mine.  So, I have a wealth of
documentation on the problems in foster care.

However, the point is that your are not interested a civil discussion.  So,
I will respect your wishes.

Always a pleasure.




At 04:27 PM 2/23/00 -0600, you wrote:
>Good afternoon, Mr. Harwell.  You did make a suggestion that a civil
>discussion take place but not about the accomplishments of people of color.
>Your topics were "euro-americans" as chief beneficiaries of affirmative
>action programs and the absence of equity/justice for complainants before
>agencies that adjudicate complaints of discrimination.
>
>Regarding those topics as well as the topic of Foster Care in Dane County
>which you raise today, my impression is that you are not so much interested
>in an open and honest dialogue as you are in a one-on-one debate.  That does
>not interest me.
>
>If you would like to participate in a civil discussion on any of these
>topics, you hardly need a response or permission from me.  Begin your
>dialogue and let those interested in entering the discussion join in.
>
>Your reference to instances of horrendous treatment of some foster children
>is, sadly accurate.  I have seen recent television magazine coverage of
>remarkable situations in Georgia and another location that escapes my memory
>at present.  Linking those situations with foster care in Dane County is not
>appropriate or accurate.  I have made two brief presentations at CU meetings
>in the past year about the need for Foster Families in Dane County, provided
>materials at meetings throughout the year, and posted announcements, etc. on
>this listserv that have facilitated several helpful links with the community
>and potential foster parents.
>
>There is indeed a need, in my personal opinion, for community discussion
>about how to improve the foster care system.  Increasingly, there is
>acknowledgement that too many children spend too much time in foster care
>and there are many perspectives on how to address that concern. They range
>from status quo tinkering, to increased support for adoption, to
>establishing "family centered" foster group homes, with several other
>options in-between.
>
>  I'm not sure we can do the topic justice through the CU listserv, and
>foster care is not my primary area of involvement but I will do my best to
>respond to questions or connect interested individuals with others who can
>make a difference in Dane County. I am willing to encourage and support
>community discussion if CU members/member organizations would like to pursue
>the topic further.

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