DSS Radio Program Slanted
July 19, 2004

To: Marc Steiner, The Steiner Show, WYPR Radio
SUBJECT: Your DSS Radio Program Slanted
FROM: Allan W. Garske, agarske@hotmail.com, (410)880-2483,Weblog:
http://allan366tripod.com/AllanG/

This is in response to your interview program on a new head for the
Baltimore City Department of Social Services.

I am a regular listener to your station and have noted increased
sophistication of your content with your hiring of seasoned journalists.
But I found your DSS program a self righteous group lament. If you get a
group of social workers together they are naturally going to claim services
will be improved if you give them more staff and more money.

I know you invited State Secretary of Human Resources Christopher J. McCabe
and interim Baltimore DSS Director Floyd R. Blair to appear on your program
and they were unable to participate. Perhaps understandably considering the
other program participants.

Repeat your invitation. Give McCabe and Blair equal air time to discuss what
they have been able to do in repairing the Baltimore DSS administration.
They should be the only two guests on that program.

From 1970 to about 1977 I served as public relations director for the
Baltimore DSS. Naturally, I had to answer a number of press questions as to
why when someone threw a baby out the window we did not have a social worker
there to catch it. I also produced a television program titled "A Child Is
Waiting" designed to recruit foster care and adoptive homes.

I have a feeling there are fewer people willing or able to provide foster
care. I suggest the State of Maryland consider the establishment of group
homes for foster children.

Better a child spend some time in a group home setting than be returned to
an abusive or murderous parent. I note that interim Director Blair may have
some experience in this area, having served as an associate director of
President Bush's faith based social services initiative.

In order to create a community discussion of this matter, I am sharing this
Email with others in Baltimore and am posting it on my weblog at







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