THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, December 4, 1994 TAG: 9412020442
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 35 lines
I was a foster parent for the City of Virginia Beach from July 1992 to July 1994. I, like the foster parents in the Herrera case, was very disgusted with Social Services' care of my foster child. However, I didn't quit; I simply was not ``needed'' anymore after I petitioned the court against the Department of Social Services. Although decisions were made prematurely for my foster child, thankfully her better interest was taken care of by a judge.
Months after my petition, I was asked to testify in the Ed Mumma hearing. Mr. Mumma is a veteran worker for Virginia Beach Social Services and he, along with two co-workers, for months had been voicing their concerns about the policies and management within the department, plus their concern for the welfare of the children. An article in The Virginian-Pilot and The Ledger-Star outlined the Mumma case, and several mishandled foster-care cases were exposed.
My concern and fear are growing with each new case I read about. I shiver when I think about how many more innocent children may be mishandled and put in danger. I hope that drastic changes will be made within Social Services before they lose more needed foster parents; but more important, before they lose a precious child.
Debby Elling
Virginia Beach
KEYWORDS: VIRGINIA BEACH SOCIAL SERVICES by CNB