Children deserve same protection as elderly receive

To the editor:

Citizens for Missouri's Children wants to applaud Missouri Senate President Pro Tem Peter Kinder's leadership in assembling a bipartisan coalition to reform nursing-home legislation and protect some of Missouri's most vulnerable residents: the elderly. Kinder and his bill's co-sponsors recognize it makes no difference whether a nursing home is operated by a for-profit, not-for-profit or religious organization. Protecting the elderly is the goal.

We hope Kinder will feel the same about children. Several bills have been introduced in the Missouri Legislature that would require unregulated religious reformatories to meet minimal health and safety standards. These institutions also care for a vulnerable group: children. But because they enjoy an exemption on religious grounds, they are not required to be registered with state or local governments, are exempt from licensing standards and are not required to conduct background checks on their employees.

We urge Kinder to take the lead in ensuring that Missouri's children enjoy the same protections and safeguards given to the elderly.

RUTH EHRESMAN

Policy Director

Citizens for Missouri's Children

St. Louis