“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, Oh Lord, my strength and redeemer.” -Psalm 19:14

This scripture came immediately to my thoughts after a personal situation involving the medical care of an individual. I am Legal Guardian of this person and I feel that decisions were infringing on her “Right of Choice and Quality Life.”

It involves a neighboring state and legislation implied by existing legal decisions for these specific person/persons. Sound complicated? Well, in my thinking when someone is not able to express themselves and decide what personal medical treatment and medicines they need, they should have an advocate…which I am.

It has come to my attention that government legislation (in a neighboring state) is doing away with social workers from specific facilities to satisfy the U.S. Department of Justice. The U.S. Department of Justice is requiring all residents of certain facilities, formed on or after Oct. 7, be assigned a coordinator to oversee all their issues and transitions. (I am just now, as others, becoming aware of this.) These coordinators will eliminate social workers, who the Justice Department believes are unnecessary, referring to them as plagues of process.

The plot begins to thicken. On Sept 25, I, the guardian/parent of my severe mentally disabled daughter, was involved in a telephone conference meeting with her social worker, doctors, QMRP, HSTS, DT Staff, PT, OT, and APRN-NP. Who are QMRP, HSTS, DT Staff, PT, OT and APRN-NP? They are State of Nebraska’s current answer to cutbacks….the “Team”.

During the meeting on Sept. 25, we discussed the current matters at hand concerning my daughter and her health issues. Thoughts, opinions, ideas were discussed. Decisions were agreed upon, and the meeting was over. I became aware later that a second meeting was held the same day, shortly after the meeting I attended. This time I, the parent/guardian, was intentionally omitted. This meeting was led by the “Team”. My daughter’s social worker questioned having the meeting without my knowledge or input. The “Team” showed no respect to the social worker’s request that I be involved, indicated that they, the “Team” would soon replace the role of parent/guardian in my daughter’s life, as well as the other residents residing at her facility. Parents/Guardians were no longer vital in decision-making regarding their child. Does that sound like “termination of parental rights?”

I was later made aware that I was one of the few parents who knew of this new procedure/policy so far, and now it is almost too late to “fight back” for the rights of my daughter and the rights I have as her mother. How long will it be before advocating for the severely mentally challenged will no longer exist? The “Team” will solely make decisions as to what is best for these individuals by using written behavioral guidelines and formulated equations from their textbooks! The mentally challenged individuals will no longer exist as individuals with needs and feelings….rather “cases”. Not real people…rather “an assignment”.

I am prayerfully considering the evidence at hand and proper procedures as a Christian as to what I need to do. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable O Lord. May they be seasoned with grace as I meditate seeking wisdom from God and His Word. Let me be slow to speak so that the words will be seasoned with the salt of God’s wisdom, not spiced with frustration and anger.

I do believe that as Christians we need to definitely begin taking a stand or our rights and the rights of the aged, sick, physical and mentally challenged, etc…will ever so slightly be taken away from us all.

“There is no speech, no language where their voice is not heard.” -Psalm 19:3

Assistant Pastor Charlotte E. Nelson

Eden Valley Foursquare Church