Parental rights: keep the focus on the children

This week we begin a series dealing with Division of Family and Youth Services (DFYS) and families who are struggling with lost, or diminished, parental rights. Most of these stories will follow individual cases of people who are willing to share their emotional, and very personal, struggles. It is critical to us that we remain balanced in this coverage, though that task will be difficult. While the families can choose whether or not to share information with us, DFYS is under strict regulations that forbid them to discuss specific cases that are ongoing.

Our intention with this series is not to point out injustice in the system, nor is it to pass judgement on individual parents or families. The question of child welfare is a difficult one, and the answers may never be completely clear. After all, each case is different. Perhaps, if there is a weakness in the system, it is for that reason. Government programs are ruled by strict guidelines that may apply a cookie-cutter approach to a problem that is more complex than that. On the other hand, the most important factor in this equation is the children, and we feel that DFYS does have their best interests in mind.

It is those interests that we should all bear in mind when we consider this difficult topic. Most people feel that it is important to keep families together whenever possible. Removing children from their parents and placing them in a public system, even a good one, is certainly not an ideal situation for the children. Of course, leaving children in homes that are either abusive, neglectful or influenced by drugs is far from perfect, too. While we normally prefer to leave family matters in the hands of individual families, we also have to admit that some parents simply aren't up to the task -- for any number of reasons.

Some of the people featured in these stories are brave simply to share some very personal issues with us. These are stories of drug abuse, jail sentences and any number of other challenges, and bad judgement. In many cases, though, there are also stories of heroic efforts to overcome the obstacles that have kept them from their children. These are people who have battled with addictions and emotional issues for a chance to reunite their families.

In the end, the question is one of balance. When has a situation deteriorated to the point that children must be removed? How should those children be cared for, and how much involvement should the parents have? When is it right to reunite the family, and how should that be managed? It is easy for the system to become focused on the pragmatic side. It is easy for the parents to focus upon their own needs. It is critical that we all focus upon the most important, and least powerful part of the equation -- the children.