Twitter Posts By Kansas Watchdog on 3/4/10

3/4/10

#ksleg Fr Fellhauer: Our goal is not to make money, but to promote family integration. 1:24 PM Mar 4th via web
#ksleg "It is not always clear what is in best interest of children", Fr. Edward W Fellhauer from St. Francis Community Services 1:22 PM Mar 4th via web
#ksleg Representative from St. Francis Community Services in Salina speaking but time is limited. 1:19 PM Mar 4th via web
#ksleg 398 cases and 15 removals were in Sedgwick County 1:15 PM Mar 4th via web
#ksleg DCCCA: Since new contract started, 398 cases resulted in 15 removals. Limits about what they can talk about. 1:11 PM Mar 4th via web
#ksleg New category of assistance needed: pregnant women on substance abuse. Requirements of DCCCA contracts are well defined. 1:07 PM Mar 4th via web
#ksleg Tom Yule (sp?) from DECCCA talking about family preservation http://www.dccca.org/ 1:05 PM Mar 4th via web
#ksleg Erin Stuckey, KVC: Talking about how they handle reunification. 12:59 PM Mar 4th via web
#ksleg Kiegerl: Training of contractors is poor and inadquate. You (Jordan) are making progress. 12:53 PM Mar 4th via web
#ksleg Jordan: Adults in cases disagree. We ultimately have to make decision. We are committed to children. 12:52 PM Mar 4th via web
#ksleg Jordan: We will learn from our mistakes. 12:50 PM Mar 4th via web
#ksleg Jordan: No system is perfect. There will be mistakes. "We have appeal mechanisms" with oversight of the court. 12:49 PM Mar 4th via web
#ksleg State Kiegerl to Jordan: Dilley case particularly bothers me. 12:47 PM Mar 4th via web
#ksleg Jordan: Children in institutions went from 67% to 8%. Goal was more children in homes. 12:41 PM Mar 4th via web
#ksleg New contracts went into effect July 1, 2009. 12:36 PM Mar 4th via web
#ksleg Jordan: Contracts rebid in 2005. Improved adoption contract. Children stayed with same contractor. 12:36 PM Mar 4th via web
#ksleg Contractors had limited ability to control length of stay in foster care. Contracts changed in 2000 to improve financial stability. 12:35 PM Mar 4th via web
#ksleg Jordan: Reviewing history that led up to privatization. State divided into 5 regions. Privatization started in 1996. 12:31 PM Mar 4th via web
#ksleg Jordan: Contractors play no part in investigations. 12:27 PM Mar 4th via web
#ksleg Jordan: People don't hear contingencies 12:25 PM Mar 4th via web
#ksleg SRS Secretary Jordan saying parents have been informed regardless of what they said in their testimony. 12:25 PM Mar 4th via web
#ksleg Two people submitted written testimony: Kathy Winters, Annette Sneery (sp?) 12:24 PM Mar 4th via web
#ksleg 4th conferee Julie Thatcher talking about SRS' removal of son. 12:14 PM Mar 4th via web
#ksleg Did not catch full name of 3rd conferee. Children were separated. Grandmother Linda needed financial assistance to care for children 12:13 PM Mar 4th via web
#ksleg Dilley was removed as foster parent after testifying last year to the Joint Committee. 12:05 PM Mar 4th via web
Will publish Eric Rucker's motion later today. 12:02 PM Mar 4th via web
Eric Rucker filed motion for disqualification in his attorney ethics cases.Chair of his committee had worked for Dr. George Tiller. 12:01 PM Mar 4th via web
#ksleg Marilyn Dilley addressing Fed & State Affairs committee about adoption issue. Tried to adopt foster child. Contractor change issue? 11:57 AM Mar 4th via web
#ksleg Grandmother Sadie Carpenter describing health problems of foster mother chosen instead of her to adopt granddaughter. 11:52 AM Mar 4th via web
#ksleg Grandmother Sadie Carpenter testifying about their attempts to adopt own granddaughter 11:50 AM Mar 4th via web
#ksleg Conferees will be limited to 7 minutes today because of time limits. 11:48 AM Mar 4th via web
#ksleg 3 bills have been introduced in Fed and State. 1 introduced in appropriations. 11:47 AM Mar 4th via web
#ksleg 23 cases discussed in Exec session with SRS. 68 had asked to testify. Names were not mentioned in testimony. 11:46 AM Mar 4th via web
#ksleg Joint Committee: SRS Secretary did not follow procedures but did not break law in dealing with extraordinary expenditure request 11:44 AM Mar 4th via web
#ksleg Joint Committee suggests making reimbursements to grandparents discretionary. 11:43 AM Mar 4th via web
#ksleg Joint Committee suggests legislature consider giving judges more latitude in their decision making 11:42 AM Mar 4th via web
#ksleg Joint Committee recommends more training for case workers. 11:42 AM Mar 4th via web
#ksleg: Joint Committee recommendations: Request post audit review of foster care esp. regarding to placement of children 11:41 AM Mar 4th via web
#ksleg Several weeks ago Joint Committee on Children issues had executive session to hear SRS' response to questions from past hearings. 11:37 AM Mar 4th via web
#ksleg Live tweeting from Kansas Fed & State Affairs Heaing: Reviewing recent hearings about foster care and other children issues. 11:36 AM Mar 4th via web