LETTERS: BUILDINGS AREN'T LICENSED FOR FOSTER CARE

To the editor:

This is in reference to the Sept. 23 article concerning Shepherd's Cove Children's Home. We believe the first obligation of a reporter is to ascertain the truth of what she intends to report on before she reports it.

It appears this reporter failed to do that, as have others in past articles concerning Shepherd's Cove. We have no idea where or from whom she got her information that Shepherd's Cove is a licensed foster home.

Obviously, she failed to check with the body that issues these licenses, the Department of Social Services' Division of Family Services. If she had, she would have known that Shepherd's Cove is not a licensed foster home. DFS only licenses people, not buildings. The licensed foster parents who did live at Shepherd's Cove are no longer there. When they left, their license left with them, as did the children who were placed in other homes. DFS can only place children at Shepherd's Cove when there is a licensed foster parent in residence.

Shepherd's Cove was, is and always will be just a building, not a licensed foster home.

DALE NELSON, President

DANNY UPCHURCH, Vice President

Cape Girardeau County Foster Parents Association

Cape Girardeau