Dear Friends of LSS,
You may have read or heard about a negative article regarding LSS’s foster care program that appeared in the Austin American-Statesman on August 14th.
You may have read or heard about a negative article regarding LSS’s foster care program that appeared in the Austin American-Statesman on August 14th.
Please understand that we are very disappointed that it tells such a limited story. In a foster care program the size of ours data can be read and interpreted in various ways. Our foster care program serves the most challenging children, and we successfully provide quality Christian care to those with histories of the most severe abuse and neglect in Texas.
Please understand that the article is misleading at best and we are very disappointed that it tells such a limited, falsely slanted story. Many allegations referred to in the article were later found to be unsubstantiated, and the trends of any compliance issues have improved dramatically over the past year. In a foster care program the size of ours data can be manipulated, reshaped, and cast in a misleading light, which is the case here. What the article fails to mention is that we serve the most challenging children, and successfully provide quality Christian care to those with histories of the most severe abuse and neglect in Texas.
It has been known for some time that a child died in a horrific swimming pool accident in Laredo earlier this year at the home of one of our foster families. This family has been a great foster family for LSS for the past five years. There was no indication during their five-year tenure that something like this could happen. From what we know, this was a freak, tragic accident that sadly could occur in any family home.
As with any article such as this one in the American-Statesman, there is obviously more to the story, and we are in regular communication with the Commissioner of DFPS and others.
We have great confidence in our foster care program, and serving in the best interest of the children and families always comes first. We remain proud of our staff and families, as day-in and day-out we continue to serve the least of these. This is our mission that began in 1926 and will continue today, tomorrow, and for many years to come.
Sincerely,
Dr. Kurt Senske, Chief Executive Officer
