Texas Civil Rights Groups Demand Resignation of Mental Health OfficerAfter Controversial Comments

December 6, 2004

Texas Civil Rights Groups Demand Resignation of Mental Health Officer After Controversial Comments On October 26, 2004, civil rights groups and critics of the Texas child welfare agency demanded the resignation of a prominent Tarrant County mental health official for telling a legislative hearing that many foster children "come from bad gene pools." Joseph Burkett, M.D., medical director of Mental Health Mental Retardation of Tarrant County, is refusing to resign after his comments, claiming the validity of genetic factors that influence mental illness. The plea for resignation came from organizations such as the Texas NAACP . . .