Letters on equality, training caregivers, CINC review boards, foster homes, handicapped parking fakers

All Kansans are created equal

John Kennedy came a bit late to the table regarding civil rights. He remained fairly silent in public from his inauguration in January 1961 until the evening of June 11, 1963, when he addressed the nation, saying in part: “This nation was founded by men of many nations and backgrounds. It was founded on the principle that all men are created equal, and that the rights of every man are diminished when the rights of one man are threatened.”

The Declaration of Independence proclaims that all men are created equal. The Kansas Bill of Rights begins with these words: “All men are possessed of equal and inalienable natural rights, among which are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”

When we diminish women, gays or minorities, we diminish all of us in no small measure.

Kathleen Sebelius, when governor of Kansas, issued an executive order that would treat with respect state workers who were gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender. Gov. Sam Brownback would have been applauded if he had issued his own executive order to reaffirm those principles. For all that we may be critical of regarding our state’s chief executive, I know many people of many differing political, social and religious views who would still have applauded that kind of leadership.

Train caregivers

AARP Kansas is backing the Care Act, House Bill 2058. This bill would make life easier for the thousands of caregivers who care for patients who are dismissed from hospitals.

The bill is simple. It would require three things: When a patient is admitted to a hospital, he or she has the opportunity to name a caregiver. When the patient is to be discharged, the caregiver must be notified. The caregiver must be trained to do whatever medical procedures are necessary – wound care, medications, injections, physical therapy, moving the patient, etc.

Having been a patient quite a few times, as well as a caregiver, I know that some hospitals do a poor job of making sure the caregiver is well-informed. If a hospital has good discharge procedures, and follows them, there will not be a problem. It’s those that do a poor job that will be affected.

Good care helps the patient with recovery. Good care can even help prevent readmissions to hospitals.

As I said, it’s a simple bill, but it could make life easier, safer and happier for both patient and caregiver.

Fund review boards

I’ve been working on getting funding for a citizen review board (CRB) in Sedgwick County, but calls to our Kansas judicial branch and the Office of Judicial Administration confirmed a fear that these county services were slowly and quietly being shuttered for lack of funding.

Established by statute in 2006, a CRB is composed of community volunteers who are appointed by the administrative judge of a judicial district to review the status of cases involving children in the child welfare or juvenile justice system.

More important, the CRB provides another pair of eyes in child-in-need-of-care cases for the Kansas Department for Children and Families and for families, as well as reduces caseloads for our burdened courts.

Boldly, last December, I walked a letter into the Governor’s Office begging for welfare dollars. I was told later that because not all CINC cases that go before a CRB resolve in family reunification, welfare funding wouldn’t be appropriate.

As these monies come from the state general fund at a time when the governor is worried about a moral crisis in Kansas families, and we’ve seen a spike in DCF out-of-home placements, I beg people to contact their state legislators and tell them to fully fund KSA 38-2207.

Need loving home

When I saw that someone had proposed really good foster homes for children, I knew it would only be a matter of time until it was shot down. Someone’s “rights” would probably be violated. We all know that adults’ rights to abuse children trump children’s rights to be raised in a stable, loving home.

Not handicapped

As a semi-healthy 70-year-young man, I get aggravated at people who take advantage of handicapped-accessible parking.

While dining last week, I was seated in a position to see that parking area. I watched two separate couples use the handicapped-accessible spaces. One gentleman even tried to fake a limp, but as soon as he entered the restaurant his walking became normal.

The Legislature should pass a law where one individual in the vehicle has to carry identification proving disability. Anybody can break a window, steal a placard or use Grandma’s placard. Only lowlifes take advantage of those with disabilities.

I’ve seen people park in the handicapped stalls at the Great Plains Nature Center and walk the entire distance around it. No, I’m not a doctor, but if you walk the entire length of the center, you really don’t need handicapped parking. If you can walk around Wal-Mart for two hours shopping, you don’t really need handicapped parking. Parking 20 feet away in a normal stall is not going to hurt you.

Please, legislators, do something about this horrendous act against our disabled.

This story was originally published February 17, 2015 at 6:05 PM with the headline "Letters on equality, training caregivers, CINC review boards, foster homes, handicapped parking fakers."