Kansas again keeping foster kids in offices
TOPEKA, Kan. — Abused and neglected children are again sleeping overnight in the offices of Kansas foster care contractors because homes cannot be found for them quickly enough.
Since January, when Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly took office, more than 70 children have been kept overnight in the offices of the two non-profit agencies providing foster care services. Her Republican predecessor’s administration kept children from sleeping in offices during its final months after threatening publicly to fine contractors — a threat Kelly’s administration has dropped.
The state Department for Children and Families provided statistics in response to questions from The Associated Press after it received a tip that the practice had returned. Kelly, legislators and child welfare advocates have repeatedly cited the practice as a sign of serious problems in the child welfare system since it came to light in 2017.
“We need to build capacity to make sure that we’re able to find stable placements with family or with licensed foster homes or in the right facility for every youth,” DCF Deputy Secretary Tanya Keys said during an interview. “So, one is too many.”