The majority of these workers are poorly trained and/or grossly uneducated in the proper ways of handling a situation. They drag their feet when a suspected abuse is reported. They find excuse after excuse to ignore the report or not take their responsibility to make their required monthly visits to the foster children already in the system. Then they make up words to document their inaccurate case reports in order to cover their backside if they are ever called to account.

You don't have to be a public policy wonk to understand a limited number of caseworkers are attempting to properly work an unlimited number of alleged cases of child abuse. Additionally, you don't have to be a genius to realize children are our most precious human resource on the planet. We are all "against" child abuse. No one is "for it."

However, it is time to look at DFCS differently. With a set of fresh eyes. With a willingness to tackle the biggest problem facing DFCS. To do this, you just have to look at the number of cases of alleged child abuse that are substantiated - versus the number of cases that are screened out or deemed unsubstantiated.

I live in Douglas County. According to Georgia's Child Protection Services State Fiscal Year 2002 report for Douglas County, out of the 1,469 reports of alleged child abuse - 532 reports were screened out. A total of 661 cases were closed as unsubstantiated. There were 276 substantiated cases of alleged child abuse. But we're supposed to believe child abuse is rampant.

I am aware of no one, I repeat no one, who at a governmental level is trying to reform DFCS by doing something serious about the huge number of false allegations of child abuse essentially filed by both adults and children.

If Department of Human Resources Commissioner B.J. Walker and Clayton County caseworker Rita Goodman want to see less caseworkers quit and caseloads where they ought to be, than it is high time for those who make false accusations to be punished.

Atlanta Journal-Constitution reporter Craig Schneider says a lot in his article, "Caseworker turnover alarms agency", when he writes, "In some instances, caseworkers cut short an investigation when it becomes apparent that a family needs some counseling or health advice."

But those accused of child abuse the investigator knows are innocent, must contact the references the accused has provided ASAP to let them know a case of alleged child abuse is no longer being pursued. Why should the accused have to keep asking their references (usually, loved ones or co-workers) if the investigator has called? What must the references be thinking?

We truly need a statewide discussion on the policies and procedures that DFCS caseworkers follow. With the huge number of screened out and unsubstantiated cases in every Georgia county, does anyone have the heart to think about how many people have seen their individual lives and families ruined because of false allegations of child abuse? Better to be safe than sorry doesn't cut it.

It doesn't matter that I'm a taxpayer.

It doesn't matter that I'm an American citizen.

It doesn't matter that I'm a law-abiding person.

It doesn't matter that I was ripped off, violated and betrayed.

It doesn't matter that I was right.

It doesn't matter that I don't hurt other people.

It doesn't matter that I have the evidence.

It doesn't matter that the other person broke the law.

It doesn't matter that he or she is clearly guilty.

It doesn't matter that he or she is wrong by all moral standards.

It doesn't matter that my life is ruined.

It doesn't matter that a Constitution exists.

It doesn't matter that I'm living like a fugitive in my own country.

It doesn't matter that I'm a loyal employee.

It doesn't matter that I gave my life to the company.

It doesn't matter that I'm a veteran who offered his life for his country.

It doesn't matter that I paid more in attorney and legal fees than I earned this year.

It doesn't matter that I told the truth.