SUBSCRIBE |   | Why we charge
about Albuquerque, New Mexico     Contact Us
  
 

 
 
Home   News   Schools   Sports   Biz   Opinion   Health   Scitech  Arts   Dining   Movies   Outdoors   Weather   Archives Enhanced Classifieds NM Jobs Cars Real Estate  
  



 

Story Tools
 E-mail Story
 Print Friendly

Save & Share
 ‡  Tag this Page

Most Requested


Most E-mailed

Who's Blogging?
Read what's being written about Albuquerque Journal reports.
One Generation to Another: The Website of Daniel I. Arellano links to Sports: WNBA to Albuquerque?
Plucky Punk's Happy Land...Grr...Spit... links to Metro: Mind Games
Errors of Enchantment, weblog of The Rio Grande Foundation links to /keywords/people/David_Roybal/
Albuquerque Real Estate News links to story
Albuquerque Real Estate News links to Metro: Southeast Getting a Face-Lift
Albuquerque Real Estate News links to Business: 3rd Phase of ABQ Uptown Includes Hotel, Offices, Shops, Condos and Parking Structures
Heath Haussamen on New Mexico Politics links to home page
Duke City Fix links to story
Errors of Enchantment, weblog of The Rio Grande Foundation links to Opinion: Mayor's '09 Budget Steers Right Course
Errors of Enchantment, weblog of The Rio Grande Foundation links to OPINION/EDITORIALS: Balloon-Site Plan Out of This Budget World

Full list and what they're blogging




Guest Opinions
CYFD OBEYS LAW ON CONFIDENTIALITY

Domestic Drilling Is Part of A Sensible Energy Plan

Poll Data Trumps Science on Global Warming

Nmsu Investigation Based on Facts, Not Headlines

U.S. Oil Addicts Deny Need To Change Energy Policy

Cap-And-Trade Plan Simply Hot Air

Forum Pushes Respect, Not Racism

Subsidizing Growth on Fringes of City Wrong Policy

1 Question Lights a Fire Under Gov. Richardson

BLM Fumbles Balancing Act


More Guest Opinions


          Front Page  opinion  guest_columns


Thursday, May 08, 2008

Cyfd Obeys Law on Confidentiality

By Dorian Dodson, Secretary
Children, Youth & Families Department
      
    The Children, Youth and Families Department is charged first and foremost with the protection and well-being of children, some of whom are abused, neglected and cast aside. We know that our role and actions become the topic of emotional and highly charged debate because none of us can bear the thought of our most vulnerable and littlest citizens being mistreated in any fashion.
       But the Albuquerque Journal must rise above emotion and report the facts, which would include contacting CYFD to have a meaningful discussion on this important issue.
       The May 4 Editorial “CYFD Makes Excuses, Not Improvements,” misses the mark completely. Apparently no one at the Journal read the Children's Code, the state law that, among many other things, embodies the confidentiality requirements that CYFD must and will follow. This department tried in the past to change the Children's Code to do exactly what the editorial suggested—strike a better balance between federal confidentiality requirements and the need for transparency. However, these changes did not pass and the law remained the same.
       Therefore, it makes no sense for the Journal to pile the blame on CYFD for a report that subjectively determines what is good and bad law around these issues. That is meaningless. The law is the law until such time as it is changed. Other changes in the Children's Code have been made and we will continue to review what is needed for the best interests of the children.
       We will continue to follow the law and, above all, we will protect the confidentiality of the children in our care. We agree that we can do all that, but it will take a constructive and open dialogue—not continuous and misinformed attacks.
       The balance between confidentiality and transparency is a topic that CYFD had already determined it wanted to bring up again for public consideration and possible change in the law. But we need constructive partners, not protagonists who feel obliged to go after at the largest and easiest target around. Any takers?
      
Albuquerque Journal Subscriber Services
Submit a news tip | Place a classified ad | Advertise Online at ABQjournal | Advertise in Albuquerque Journal print products | Subscribe to newspaper
Save & Share Tag this Page | ...go to bookmarks
back to top