An independent evaluation of the Kansas foster care system showed the state, for a second year in a row, failed to make progress in several key areas, and had even more children sleeping in offices than the previous year.
Almost 30,000 Kansans are still waiting to find out whether they’ll receive Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP) funds. For some people, that’s meant accruing credit card debt or sacrificing medical care to keep the heat on.
More than 50 foster kids are missing in Kansas at a given time. The state said it is making progress to fix the problem, but critics say it could do more.
Kansas legislators leveled criticism at programs designed to serve children subjected to abuse or neglect, alleging attorneys fell short of expectations and asserting a volunteer initiative failed to mirror diversity of children served.
A 13-year-old foster child died after running away from an event in Independence, Kansas, stealing a car and crashing.
State Sen. Molly Baumgardner called on the Department for Children and Families on Tuesday to stop placing kids with one of its contractors and to claw back $12 million in tax dollars following several high-profile mistakes.
An independent evaluation of the Kansas foster care system shows the state is improving the stability of children in state custody but breaking its promise to end the practice of children sleeping in offices overnight.
Changes in state law should help expand mental health services, but it will take years to get everyone on board.
HHS Office of Inspector General,
More than 7% of Kansas foster children went missing during a 30-month period, according to a new federal watchdog’s report that places the state’s rate of runaways among the highest in the nation.
Foster children still regularly sleep in offices instead of homes despite the Kansas Department for Children and Families settling a lawsuit by agreeing to end the practice.
