TEMPORARY FOSTER CARE IS A GOOD OPTION IN SOME INSTANCES

In a mobile society, relatives aren't always around to take care of children when emergencies arise. When parents end up hospitalized after a traffic accident, young children sometimes have nowhere to go

Parents who are going through drug and alcohol treatment programs may need someone to take care of their children for a short time.

Then too, there are those deadbeat parents who haul their children about while they sell drugs. When their parents are arrested, authorities and social service agencies often are faced with trying to care for the children until relatives show up.

Admittedly, their parents created the problem by dealing drugs in the first place. But children shouldn't have to suffer because of the sins of their parents.

A new program called the Crisis Nursery provides the temporary child care that is needed at times like these.

The Family Counseling Center is to be commended for setting up the service, with funding from the Missouri Department of Social Services.

The program began last week in Cape Girardeau. A similar service run by the Family Counseling Center has been in operation in Pemiscot, Dunklin and New Madrid counties for three years.

The program places children in foster homes for anywhere from 24 hours to 30 days.

Most importantly, the program is voluntary. Parents agree in writing to put their children in temporary foster care.

This avoids having to go through the courts to take custody of the children, an often lengthy, costly and impersonal process.

In emergencies, children need immediate and loving care. The Crisis Nursery can provide such service in a timely and caring manner.

Judging from its success in the Bootheel, this is a program that hopefully will be implemented throughout Missouri.