To the Readers Forum:

If I am not mistaken, but going back a few decades or so, I thought to be able to work with troubled children in an institution-like setting you had to have a degree in psychology.

But what happens if these children aren’t quite ready for adulthood and they’re put in a residential like setting when they turn 18? I understand many of the people who work in group homes don’t necessarily have to have a degree to work them. Why? Many of these places will hire just about anyone off the street, and many people that work these places thinks working them is easy work, all the time. People shouldn’t want to work these places because they think they’re “easy money”, work very little and have a job that has great benefits like going to movies or ball games, but I think the state should mandate employees that work in these homes have some kind of degree. You ask “Well what about my experience of taking care of my sibling or parent?” These homes may have more than 2 or three people living there – some have 12 or more. Twelve or more differing disorders and ailments.

Malcolm Klingensmith,

Jamestown