Dear Editor,

Initiative 1015, which requires a background check to avoid placing persons with abusive tendencies in jobs where they take care of people requiring assistance, is a well intentioned and proper piece of legislation, but it does have unintended consequences.

Our daughter lost her job as a home care worker because of an incident that occurred 11 years ago when she punished her son for unacceptable behavior. He was eventually diagnosed with ODD (Oppositional Defiance Disorder).

My wife and I made many trips to their home near Port Orchard to help the family with their house, acreage, barns, etc. over a number of years and we never ever saw Karen lay a hand on her son. And believe me, he was a handful and a half to keep up with. He slept very little and did so much to try the patience of anyone taking care of him.

After she and her husband Mark separated, her now ex husband remarried and wanted to raise Kelly. However he and his new spouse decided Kelly was more than they could handle and Kelly came back to his mother, our daughter Karen, up to the present age of 18. If DSHS were to check with Kelly I’m certain he would assure them that she has never been an abusive parent.

If DSHS were to check with many of the families whose elderly patients she’s assisted as a home care worker they would find that she has been a competent and empathetic provider of services.

We believe there has been a decided overreaction to an 11-year-old incident brought on by a frustrated parent. It has resulted in a hardworking, productive member of society being reduced to a ward of the state. We certainly hope that DSHS will reconsider its position and rescind the previous ruling and restore Karen to her useful status as a home care worker. Her employer very much desires to have her back as one of their valuable employees.

Emil Martin
Beach Drive