Child care staff face tough task when making an admissions decision

by Tim Brown, Vice President for Community Services

Many factors influence the admission and release of children at Methodist Children's Home. There are as many unique factors and extenuating circumstances that surround each child who is considered for admission to, or release from, care as there are children. Each case brings with it compelling arguments for and against consideration. In some cases, licensing constraints impact our decisions. Staff members who participate in making these tremendously difficult decisions must determine what is "in the best interest" of that particular child and family and then live with that decision for eternity.

Children and their families who contact Methodist Children's Home are typically in intense conflict or they are at a point where they feel they are out of choices and are desperate for relief. We hear stories of abuse, neglect, poverty and violence daily in the calls for assistance. Staff members live with and know our limitations, our strengths and the impending stresses resulting from the changes that will be expected of children and families if they are accepted for admission. They know the frustration of working with children and seeing them progress, sometimes to see them prematurely released to an unimproved home environment. Then, there are always the influences and behaviors of other children in a group care setting who are struggling to face their own painful realities.

With so many constraints, issues and influences that impact our ability to be successful and productive - and an equal or greater number of factors that families face when children have to leave their families - is it anything short of a miracle that we are as successful as we are?

What is the "right thing to do" in every case? There are no simple answers! We have diversified our programs and services. We have created a "structured" care program to serve children with more behavior problems or who struggle with facing greater personal challenges. We have employed more competent and sophisticated staff members and we have enriched our programs and services with "extras" in an effort to meet more needs.

Still we struggle, as we should, with each decision we make. Is it the correct one? Could we do more? Should we do more? Will it ever be enough? Was it the right thing to do? Is it in the best interest of the child and his or her family? Would I make the same decision if this were my child and my family? When we have answered these questions and more, what else can we do to help children we cannot serve?

We must always be guided by the ultimate question that is asked of us: "What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God?" (Micah 6:8) What an opportunity we have to be instruments of God in the lives of men. What an awesome privilege we have to witness changed lives, potential realized and the peace of God descend on His children.

This article appeared in the December 2003 issue of Sunshine. Methodist Children's Home, Waco, Texas