Thursday, January 28, 2010
Foster Care ~ Destruction Of Families
Unnecessary, overburdened
Although officials in Reno County claim to be mystified at the obscenely high rate at which children are torn from their families in the county, there is a clue to why it's happening right in your excellent story "Review of SRS status is ongoing," Jan. 17. Tearing "ungovernable" children from their families and parking them in an institution with other "ungovernable" children for a couple of weeks may have been "cutting edge" in the 19th century.
Now, it's widely recognized as barbaric.
It doesn't matter how kind the staff may be or how pretty the building, it's still an institution and it's still inherently harmful. And the foolishness of placing a bunch of children with behavior problems together right at the age when they are most vulnerable to peer pressure should be obvious. There are far better answers in such cases, such as wraparound programs, in which intensive help is brought right into the home - 24/7 if necessary - and it still costs less than institutionalizing children. When a rate of removal is as sky high as Reno County's, odds are a lot of children are being torn from everyone they know and love when family poverty is confused with "neglect." In other cases, families may have real problems, but the right kinds of help could keep them safely together rather than subjecting the children to the enormous inherent trauma of foster care. One major study of 15,000 typical cases found that children left in their own homes fared better in later life even than comparably maltreated children placed in foster care. Other studies have found abuse in at least one in three foster homes. The record of group homes and institutions is worse. And it's not just the children wrongfully removed who suffer. The more that SRS caseworkers are overloaded with children who don't need to be in foster care, the less time they have to find children in real danger - so more such cases are missed.The problem is even worse than the official figures show. Unlike every other state, Kansas simply refuses to count a child as removed if he is sent home before the first court hearing. Add in those children and there is a good chance Kansas as a whole is the child-removal capital of America - and Reno County is, of course, far worse than the average for Kansas.
None of this means no child ever should be taken from her or his parents. But it does mean that foster care is an extremely toxic intervention that should be used sparingly and in small doses. Unfortunately, Kansas in general and Reno County in particular have been prescribing mega-doses of foster care, and the county's children are suffering enormously for it. Kansas needs to learn from places that have rebuilt their systems to improve child safety by emphasizing family preservation.
RICHARD WEXLER
Executive DirectorReformAlexandria, Va.
Although officials in Reno County claim to be mystified at the obscenely high rate at which children are torn from their families in the county, there is a clue to why it's happening right in your excellent story "Review of SRS status is ongoing," Jan. 17. Tearing "ungovernable" children from their families and parking them in an institution with other "ungovernable" children for a couple of weeks may have been "cutting edge" in the 19th century.
Now, it's widely recognized as barbaric.
It doesn't matter how kind the staff may be or how pretty the building, it's still an institution and it's still inherently harmful. And the foolishness of placing a bunch of children with behavior problems together right at the age when they are most vulnerable to peer pressure should be obvious. There are far better answers in such cases, such as wraparound programs, in which intensive help is brought right into the home - 24/7 if necessary - and it still costs less than institutionalizing children. When a rate of removal is as sky high as Reno County's, odds are a lot of children are being torn from everyone they know and love when family poverty is confused with "neglect." In other cases, families may have real problems, but the right kinds of help could keep them safely together rather than subjecting the children to the enormous inherent trauma of foster care. One major study of 15,000 typical cases found that children left in their own homes fared better in later life even than comparably maltreated children placed in foster care. Other studies have found abuse in at least one in three foster homes. The record of group homes and institutions is worse. And it's not just the children wrongfully removed who suffer. The more that SRS caseworkers are overloaded with children who don't need to be in foster care, the less time they have to find children in real danger - so more such cases are missed.The problem is even worse than the official figures show. Unlike every other state, Kansas simply refuses to count a child as removed if he is sent home before the first court hearing. Add in those children and there is a good chance Kansas as a whole is the child-removal capital of America - and Reno County is, of course, far worse than the average for Kansas.
None of this means no child ever should be taken from her or his parents. But it does mean that foster care is an extremely toxic intervention that should be used sparingly and in small doses. Unfortunately, Kansas in general and Reno County in particular have been prescribing mega-doses of foster care, and the county's children are suffering enormously for it. Kansas needs to learn from places that have rebuilt their systems to improve child safety by emphasizing family preservation.
RICHARD WEXLER
Executive DirectorReformAlexandria, Va.
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Promises Broken By Kansas SRS Secretary Don Jordan
December 1, 2009, Kansas SRS Secretary Don Jordan agreed that he would do his best to investigate allegations of children removed from their parents custody.
To think that the citizens pay Jordan's wages and he so arrogantly has refused to live up to his own word is not surprising. Jordan had the audacity to insinuate that parents are liars without even looking into the cases as if Social Workers and the State of Kansas could do no wrong even with the Legislative Post Audit findings of falsification of documents by Social Workers.
After all, Jordan stated that the Sedgwick County DA bullied Social Workers into falsifying records to remove children from their parents custody. Jordan had stated that his office had even gone to the efforts to "train" his Social Workers into not being bullied into writing things they don't believe to place children in the custody of the State.
Jordan, as the head over all Kansas Social Workers that are employed by the State, this would make Jordan a mandated reporter as well and his failure to act on this has made him an accessory to crimes against children and families in Kansas.
To think that the citizens pay Jordan's wages and he so arrogantly has refused to live up to his own word is not surprising. Jordan had the audacity to insinuate that parents are liars without even looking into the cases as if Social Workers and the State of Kansas could do no wrong even with the Legislative Post Audit findings of falsification of documents by Social Workers.
After all, Jordan stated that the Sedgwick County DA bullied Social Workers into falsifying records to remove children from their parents custody. Jordan had stated that his office had even gone to the efforts to "train" his Social Workers into not being bullied into writing things they don't believe to place children in the custody of the State.
Jordan, as the head over all Kansas Social Workers that are employed by the State, this would make Jordan a mandated reporter as well and his failure to act on this has made him an accessory to crimes against children and families in Kansas.
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Bill proposes end to state's privatized foster care
Bill proposes end to state's privatized foster care
Comments (18)
Recommended (7)
BY DAVID KLEPPER
Posted on Thu, Jan. 14, 2010
Eagle Topeka bureau
TOPEKA — Legislation to end Kansas' privatized foster care system is the latest volley from lawmakers who say the state lacks oversight over the contractors managing such child welfare services.
Dozens of parents who lost custody of their children have complained to lawmakers in recent weeks that the state and its contractor caseworkers remove children without giving sufficient reason or the chance to appeal.
The legislation would stop the state from signing new deals with the foster care contractors. The Johnson County lawmaker behind the new legislation said it's meant to force contractors to answer questions if they want to keep the state's business.
"We're certainly going to get their attention," said Rep. Mike Kiegerl, R-Olathe.
"There's a lack of oversight, a lack of transparency. Nobody ought to have the kind of power these caseworkers have."
The contractors and Kansas' Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services say they're happy to address lawmakers' concerns. They note that local police and judges also play a key role in deciding when a child should be removed.
SRS officials promised to investigate the specific complaints raised by parents. But they stand by the state's privatized system, which was the first of its kind in the United States when it began in 1996.
"We feel like we have made a lot of accomplishments since privatization," said SRS spokeswoman Michelle Ponce.
Kyle Kessler, a spokesman for contractor KVC Behavioral HealthCare, said his company will "provide any information that is requested."
News of Kiegerl's bill pleased Kathy Winters, an Olathe woman who lost custody of two grandchildren in 2008. She contends the state and its contractors have been slow to respond to her concerns.
"We've hit brick walls so many times," Winters said. "Now we're getting somewhere."Read more: http://www.kansas.com/news/story/1135764.html?mi_pluck_action=comment_submitted&qwxq=854231#Comments_Container#ixzz0ceF6P32N
Overhaul of Kansas foster-care system urged
http://www.kansascity.com/115/story/1682382.html?mi_pluck_action=comment_submitted&qwxq=7349812#Comments_Container
Overhaul of Kansas foster-care system urged
By DAVID KLEPPER
Posted on Wed, Jan. 13, 2010 10:55 PM
The Star’s Topeka correspondent
More News
Missouri state children's agency earns national accreditation Two toddlers perish in KCK house fire Judge partially opens jury selection in Roeder trial Overhaul of Kansas foster-care system urged Hall Foundation gives $18 million to KU Cancer Center goal Parents sue fraternity over KU student's death Man convicted of first-degree murder in drug-sale death Karl Brooks named regional administrator for Environmental Protection Agency Runaways pose a quandary for police Tribute Nicholas Christopher Garcia was a kind man of high energy In brief Woman dies of crash injuries; rental property registrations due; UMKC gift Kansas seeks ban on synthetic marijuana; puppy taken from area store now paid for Lotteries Winning numbers for Wednesday, Jan. 13 Former mayoral aide sues Funkhouser, wife and city Missouri Supreme Court restricts laws regulating sex offenders Woman charged after throwing tantrum over burger at midtown McDonald's Independence church sues sheriff's office for taking property in search Kansas City Council considers campaign contribution limits for its own McCaskill committee seeks to overhaul Democrats� superdelegate system Missouri was most efficient in 2008 of using federal aid to recover Medicaid fraud funds TOPEKA Legislation to end Kansas’ privatized foster care system is the latest volley from lawmakers who say the state lacks oversight over the contractors managing such child welfare services.
Dozens of parents who lost custody of their children have complained to lawmakers in recent weeks that the state and its contractor caseworkers remove children without giving sufficient reason or the chance to appeal.
The legislation would stop the state from signing new deals with the foster care contractors. The Johnson County lawmaker behind the new legislation said it’s meant to force contractors to answer questions if they want to keep the state’s business.
“We’re certainly going to get their attention,” said Rep. Mike Kiegerl, an Olathe Republican. “There’s a lack of oversight, a lack of transparency. Nobody ought to have the kind of power these caseworkers have.”
The contractors and the Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services say they’re happy to address lawmakers’ concerns.
They note that local police and judges also play a key role in deciding when a child should be removed.
SRS officials promised to investigate the complaints raised by parents. But they stand by the privatized system, which was the first of its kind in the United States when it began in 1996.
“We feel like we have made a lot of accomplishments since privatization,” said SRS spokeswoman Michelle Ponce.
Kyle Kessler, a spokesman for contractor KVC Behavioral HealthCare, said his company will “provide any information that is requested.”
To reach David Klepper, call 785-354-1388 or send e-mail to dklepper@kcstar.com.
Overhaul of Kansas foster-care system urged
By DAVID KLEPPER
Posted on Wed, Jan. 13, 2010 10:55 PM
The Star’s Topeka correspondent
More News
Missouri state children's agency earns national accreditation Two toddlers perish in KCK house fire Judge partially opens jury selection in Roeder trial Overhaul of Kansas foster-care system urged Hall Foundation gives $18 million to KU Cancer Center goal Parents sue fraternity over KU student's death Man convicted of first-degree murder in drug-sale death Karl Brooks named regional administrator for Environmental Protection Agency Runaways pose a quandary for police Tribute Nicholas Christopher Garcia was a kind man of high energy In brief Woman dies of crash injuries; rental property registrations due; UMKC gift Kansas seeks ban on synthetic marijuana; puppy taken from area store now paid for Lotteries Winning numbers for Wednesday, Jan. 13 Former mayoral aide sues Funkhouser, wife and city Missouri Supreme Court restricts laws regulating sex offenders Woman charged after throwing tantrum over burger at midtown McDonald's Independence church sues sheriff's office for taking property in search Kansas City Council considers campaign contribution limits for its own McCaskill committee seeks to overhaul Democrats� superdelegate system Missouri was most efficient in 2008 of using federal aid to recover Medicaid fraud funds TOPEKA Legislation to end Kansas’ privatized foster care system is the latest volley from lawmakers who say the state lacks oversight over the contractors managing such child welfare services.
Dozens of parents who lost custody of their children have complained to lawmakers in recent weeks that the state and its contractor caseworkers remove children without giving sufficient reason or the chance to appeal.
The legislation would stop the state from signing new deals with the foster care contractors. The Johnson County lawmaker behind the new legislation said it’s meant to force contractors to answer questions if they want to keep the state’s business.
“We’re certainly going to get their attention,” said Rep. Mike Kiegerl, an Olathe Republican. “There’s a lack of oversight, a lack of transparency. Nobody ought to have the kind of power these caseworkers have.”
The contractors and the Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services say they’re happy to address lawmakers’ concerns.
They note that local police and judges also play a key role in deciding when a child should be removed.
SRS officials promised to investigate the complaints raised by parents. But they stand by the privatized system, which was the first of its kind in the United States when it began in 1996.
“We feel like we have made a lot of accomplishments since privatization,” said SRS spokeswoman Michelle Ponce.
Kyle Kessler, a spokesman for contractor KVC Behavioral HealthCare, said his company will “provide any information that is requested.”
To reach David Klepper, call 785-354-1388 or send e-mail to dklepper@kcstar.com.
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