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Too many parents whose children have benefited from the KIDS of El Paso program, Tuesday's lifting of a restraining order that temporarily closed the project was good news. It's good that the injunction has been lifted against this organization that tries to help young people who abuse drugs and alcohol but it doesn't solve all of KIDS' problems. The program's officials must be much more open about what they are doing. Refusing the public any views or information about the program brought on much of controversy. Trying to control free speech was detrimental to KIDS. As testimony in the two-and-a-half day hearing showed, the KIDS program is not for everyone. An effective screening program must assure that only appropriate candidates enter the program. And it should stick solely to drug and alcohol abuse, not those for which it is not designed. KIDS also should have an independent evaluation process to assure that it is proceeding properly and that the staff is fully qualified and sufficient in number to protect all its clients. These measures would help build public confidence in the program and help with its next hurdle - overcoming a negative review from the Texas Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse, which claims KIDS' license should be revoked. KIDS is a last resort treatment for seriously out-of-control young people. It has a good success rate and it does involve the entire family in the process qualities in its favor. Some of our young people need KIDS to help straighten out their lives. But KIDS needs to straighten out its program, too.
