CUMBERLAND — March is Social Work Month and I’d like to tell you more about how Allegany and Garrett County social workers are providing a wide range of supports and services for local families of all sizes and descriptions.
In today’s society, family does not always mean the traditional model of married parents with biological offspring. In fact, less than half of America’s children live in a traditional “nuclear” family. Divorced, separated or unmarried parents who have individual or shared responsibility for children now factor into the family definition. So do grandparents caring for grandchildren, gay and lesbian couples with child responsibilities, and adoptive and foster parents. All these American family types come with special strengths, needs and challenges.
Social workers define “family” as two or more people who assume obligations and responsibilities generally conducive to family life. As such, all families deserve support systems that include access to economic resources, health care, employment, education, housing and social services. Poverty, homelessness, drug and alcohol addiction, abuse and neglect are key factors for families splitting apart. Social workers are equipped to help families cope with stresses of life and deal with problems associated with these situations. They work through support systems, counseling, coordinating resources and advocating for clients.
Supporting families involves many functions, including: counseling families to find working solutions to problems; placing abused children in nurturing homes; helping to find employment and housing for homeless families; helping pregnant women, adoptive parents and adopted children through states’ adoption systems; Helping those in need make best use of the public welfare system; and aiding women and their children who are victims of domestic violence.
Making the new American family stronger takes a family-centered approach along with a clear view of social problems and the many ways to address them. Social workers are there to help.
Monica Barnett
Adoption worker
Garrett County Department
of Social Services
Letters
Social workers provide wide range of services
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Other reports say to beware of fracking
Scott Cline writes that fears being voiced in the Times-News about hydraulic fracturing are long on fiction and short on facts, then proceeds to explain why fracking is so safe (“Unfounded fears about shale gas obscure facts,” Jan. 25 Times-News.
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You’ll have to be rich to breathe Md. air if they begin taxing it
Let me see Marylanders, can you think of any more ways our elected officials can raise taxes in Maryland?First there was the flush tax to save the Chesapeake. Then there was sales tax raised from 5 cents to 6 cents on the dollar. Then we had toll fees at the Bay Bridge go up. Then we had car registration fees increase, along with vehicle tag prices increase.
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Spending on non-academic projects causing the problem
Mr. Long’s poignant comments regarding school closings were good (“Is not a school more than just a school?,” Feb. 1 Times-News), however, he missed the sole reason for the closings — that the Garrett county Commissioners and their leader are too committed to adventure sports and relative extravagant non-academic ventures.
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Garrett has better uses for taxpayers’ money
At a time when Garrett County schools are threatened with closure, the Adventure Sports Center International’s (ASCI) executive director mounts a public relations campaign requesting $3 million more from the commissioners. (“On eliminating ASCI’s $3M debt: Exec. speaks out,” Jan. 20 times-News, Page 1A)
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Here’s what befell those who could have solved the problems
Something to consider:
Why are schools being closed?
Why has the housing market become so volatile?
Who is the person destined to cure cancer?
Why is Social Security on the brink of disaster?
Where is your doctor from? Don’t we have enough doctors graduating stateside?
And where is the cure for the common cold? Not enough tax revenue for fed and state and local governments is a real problem.
One very good answer is that these students, house buyers, medical researchers and inventors were never born. -
These ideas might resolve smoke detectors’ shortcomings
From what I have read/heard about the recent fires in the area, in at least a couple of cases smoke detectors were found in the ruins but were disconnected or had no battery.
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Your votes can help raise funds for a new county animal shelter
Please help the Allegany County Animal Shelter by voting for it at the Shelter Challenge being sponsored by The Animal Rescue Site.
Several months ago we were able to win $1,000 (towards a new shelter) by being the No. 1 vote-getter in the state of Maryland. With your help we can do this again and possibly win more. -
Keeping streams, waterways clean will help bay
The Times-News reported in December on Maryland’s efforts to reduce pollution in the Chesapeake Bay and how Allegany County did its part by submitting a local plan to the Maryland Department of the Environment (“State’s bay cleanup plan to EPA concerns clean water advocates,” Dec. 20, Page 1A).
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$3 million would be better spent on schools, not ASCI
I am a local Garrett County resident, pay taxes and am a voter. I am very concerned about the finances of Garrett County Commissioners budget and the Garrett County Board of Education’s budget.
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County commissioners may be endorsing hasty, nasty outcome
These comments respond to your reader, Scott Cline, PhD “petroleum engineering” of Stanley, N.Y. (“Unfounded fears about shale gas obscure facts,” Jan. 25 Times-News).
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Other reports say to beware of fracking
