Foster kids in Kansas can’t get the mental health care they need, but there might be a fix
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,
Federal watchdog says Kansas has one of the highest rates for missing foster children
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.
Kansas foster children are still sleeping in offices years after promises that would end
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.
Audit of Kansas foster care provider scrutinizes financial controls, IT costs, CEO travel, PPP loan
Former Saint Francis Ministries CEO Robert Smith exploited a lack of financial controls and board oversight to drain the nonprofit’s resources on an IT project and escalating management expenses that included use of taxpayer funds for personal travel, liquor and entertainment.
Thirteen-year quest for payment of child support exposes Kansas bureaucracy, incompetence
A mother’s testimony about failure of the state’s child support collection system to deliver more than $53,000 owed by her daughter’s father inspired a rousing assault by legislators on state contractors Maximus and YoungWilliams.
New coalition working to stifle institutional racism in Kansas foster care system
The influence of institutional racism in the Kansas child welfare system can be depicted with statistics showing Black children were disproportionately investigated and removed from the home as well as reports demonstrating more rapid reunification of white children with their families.
Blaise Mesa / Kansas News Service
LGBTQ foster kids in Kansas have no guarantee they’ll land in homes that accept their identity
The Kansas Department for Children and Families says it works to make sure gay, lesbian and transgender foster children end up in welcoming homes, but nothing in state law requires special consideration.
Tricia Masenthin / The Lawrence Times
Mother blames child’s heat exhaustion on lack of safety protocols at St. John Preschool in Lawrence
A local mother is demanding corrective action after her child suffered heat exhaustion in the care of a Lawrence preschool. As she’s pondered her child’s experience, her mind has gone to “dark places” — including wondering if racism played a role.
Kansas extending reach of COVID-19 childcare, food assistance; here’s how to apply
Low-income Kansans will have wider access to childcare assistance tied to federal aid authorized in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, state officials said Thursday.
Black kids overrepresented among children ordered into Kansas foster care
A new report by state auditors confirmed overrepresentation of Black children in Kansas foster care and that Black and American Indian children in the system were less likely than white children to be reunified with their parents.
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