I work in the foster care/adoptions unit at Social Services and
the amount of money we (taxpayers) spend on trying to "fix" situations
way out of control and possibly not able to be "fixed" is astronomical.
In our state (Maryland) we pay $535/month to foster parents for care of a
child under age 12 with no major problems (other than the fact that
he/she has been abused or neglected).  This is not counting medical care,
counseling, court costs,salaries for social workers, etc.  Children
unable to function in a family are either hospitalized (big bucks) or
sent to residential placements (very big bucks--sometimes over
$100,000/year).  We are paying for this whether we know it or not.  Would
it not make more sense to pay to try to prevent some of the potential
problems?  I would be very willing to pay higher taxes for the kind of
maternity leave mentioned--six weeks is ridiculous.  Talking about
choices in such a case is ridiculous.  I know many women who have managed
to provide quality care for their children in very adverse circumstances,
but should we have to?

Ruth DeRosa, LLLL, IBCLC, Frederick, Maryland