Latest news with #KansasDepartmentforChildrenandFamilies
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Kansas teachers left in the dark when reporting suspected child abuse, neglect
Marcus Stratton, a school counselor in Wakarusa, tells a legislative committee on June 2, 2025, in Topeka about his experience as a mandatory reporter of suspected child abuse and neglect. (Kansas Reflector screen capture of the Kansas Legislature You Tube channel) TOPEKA — Filing reports of suspected child abuse or neglect is the most difficult part of Marcus Stratton's job as a school counselor at a Kansas middle school. Stratton is a mandatory reporter, the title given to educators, health care workers, social workers and members of law enforcement who are required by law to report any suspicion of neglect or abuse. Teachers and school staff are the most frequent reporters of child neglect and abuse in Kansas, but minimal feedback, communication and transparency from the state foster care agency have left more questions than answers. Testifying before the Joint Committee on Child Welfare System Oversight, Stratton asked lawmakers Monday for more training for mandatory reporters and greater clarity on how the process of investigating allegations of abuse or neglect works within the state's foster care agency, the Kansas Department for Children and Families. 'When I get to a point where I have to make a mandatory report for a child, I can no longer meet the needs of the child in a public school setting,' Stratton told lawmakers. Teachers are taught not to investigate when they suspect potential abuse or neglect. Once a report is made, Stratton said he rarely knows the outcome. He only knows whether or not it has been assigned for investigation. 'Once we make the report, we may be meeting our legal obligations to do that, but we still have the relationship with the student that we have to maintain,' he said. Stratton is a counselor at Pauline South Intermediate School in Wakarusa, and he was not speaking as an official representative of the school. With concern for the wellbeing of students, he regularly questions how to navigate the opaque mandatory reporting process. He said the process can only be as good as those who are making the reports and those who are receiving them. Of the 71,000 reports of potential abuse, neglect or a family in need of assessment to the Kansas Protection Report Center in 2024, about half are assigned to an investigator, according to DCF data. Almost 30% of reports come from educators. In his nine years as a counselor, Stratton has never been called to court to testify in a child's case after filing a report. His experience with the Kansas Department for Children and Families has been good about 90% of the time, he said. 'In the years that I've been making mandated reports, I haven't come up with a magic formula,' Stratton said. 'There's so many different types of situations, so many different types of people. There's just no way that I think you can perfectly legislate something like this.' The more information, the better, he said. He suggested training for mandatory reporters to understand how DCF's process of investigation works and what qualifications and training an investigator might have. Eudora Republican Sen. Beverly Gossage, a former teacher and chair of the committee, said Stratton's concerns resonated with her. She relayed her experience with an old student who came to her sixth-grade class with a 'belt mark' across his face. He always had a story, Gossage said. After the second time, she filed a report. 'It does put you in an awkward position,' she said. The process can be a gray area for mandatory reporters, who may not know the consequences of filing a report and whether their anonymity will be maintained. It can be difficult to be specific when filing reports, said Monique Young, a Missouri educator who has also worked in Kansas. In Missouri, counselors, teachers and administrators participate in required training to recognize when a student needs help, but it can be a tough balance, Young said, when no central system exists within schools to ensure the best outcomes for both reporters and students. Often, information regarding investigations is confidential, said Tanya Keys, the deputy secretary of DCF. But she took Stratton's suggestions in stride, indicating there might be opportunities for educators to gain insight into the mandatory reporting system. Before Stratton left the committee room Monday, Gossage gave Keys and Stratton homework. She requested they meet again outside of the committee setting to discuss Stratton's concerns and find solutions that can apply to all mandatory reporters.
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
187,000 Kansas children miss out on free summer meals despite eligibility
Kansas Department for Children and Families data shows only 3% of eligible Kansas children received summer food assistance through the federal Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer program. (Sam Bailey/Kansas Reflector) TOPEKA — An estimated 187,000 Kansas school-age children could have received free summer meals last year — their families just didn't submit the application. Of the 193,000 potential applications estimated by the United States Department of Agriculture for the SUN Bucks program, according to the Kansas Department for Children and Families, there were 5,645 submitted — only 3%. The program, also known as the Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer program, gives families a $120 summer grocery card per eligible school-age child. How to apply for SUN Bucks Application is open now through Aug. 29, 2025. Families who did not receive a letter from the Kansas Department for Children and Families in January can check their eligibility. Families should apply through the DCF Self-service portal. While most eligible children did not receive the SUN Bucks, 59,265 families automatically received them, according to DCF. The number of families who automatically received benefits were not counted into the 193,000 potential applications. Children in a household that had already submitted paperwork to receive free or reduced-price school lunches or applied for monthly food assistance programs, for example, were auto-enrolled. Families auto-enrolled for this summer received a letter in January. The majority of states that offer SUN Bucks auto-enroll children in Medicaid. Kansas does not. Haley Kottler, campaign director for food access at Kansas Appleseed, says DCF can't auto-enroll children on Medicaid because of capacity issues with its internal system. 'If systems were integrated and updated, approximately 60,000 more eligible children could be auto-enrolled in SUN Bucks,' Kottler said. After federal funding was approved, families had from Aug. 12, 2024, to Oct. 15, 2024, to apply. This year, families have from Jan. 27 to Aug. 29 to apply — enlarging the window from two to seven months. Kottler identified the small timespan as a reason for the low number of applications. The original application deadline was Sept. 11, 2024, and Kottler fought to change it. But she said that even with the extended window, applications didn't increase. 'It made it really challenging, because a lot of families just didn't know they were able to utilize this benefit,' Kottler said. Erin LaRow, a spokeswoman for DCF, said her department spread the word via social media campaigns, messaging within the DCF phone system and self-service portal, a dedicated webpage and a statewide news release. The department also shared a fact sheet, both in English and Spanish, with the Kansas State Department of Education. David Rubel, a New York City-based education consultant, looked at 12 states' potential number of applications vs applications submitted. He found the percentage of applications submitted in every state was less than 20%. North Carolina had the highest results, with 19.3% of applications submitted, followed by Missouri, with 18.3%. He said the comparatively robust numbers are because of communication about the SUN Bucks program from school districts. 'It's all about the school districts getting the word out to their families. And why I emphasize the school districts is because they're the only ones who have the current contact information for the families,' Rubel said. Amber Wheeler, the superintendent of Humboldt School District — which has 33% of students approved for free and reduced-price lunches — said it has posted a DCF infographic on their social media accounts. Robin Button, the food and service director for Fort Scott School District — with 56.7% of students approved for free and reduced-price lunches — said it plans on posting the infographic and mentioning the program at its town hall. In the wake of President Donald Trump's promise to deport more people — and the use of federal documents to identify them — immigrant families are wary of submitting more documentation. While the Kansas DCF website states that receiving SUN Bucks would not affect a family's immigration status, fear remains. 'There's a chilling effect when it comes to programs like this,' Kottler said. 'It's absolutely causing them fear and to not apply.' Trump and tech billionaire Elon Musk have been pushing spending cuts — a crusade that has trickled down to state-level officials. At the Kansas State Board of Education meeting on April 8, the board nearly cut the Public Education Partnership, which informs parents of the summer meals offered to them. The partnership was saved by one vote. In the 2025-2026 Kansas legislative session, Republicans attempted to insert a provision in the budget that would ban the use of SUN Bucks on candy or soda. Democratic Governor Laura Kelly vetoed the provision — and while the Senate overturned her veto, the House did not — ultimately upholding her veto. LaRow with DCF said the department has received 1,294 SUN Bucks applications as of April 11.
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Kansas gov. vetoes child custody bill
TOPEKA (KSNT) – Governor Laura Kelly announced on Monday that she has vetoed a bill she says would interfere with the welfare of children. Kelly announced in a press release on April 7 that she has vetoed House Bill 2311. She issued the following statement regarding why she thinks the veto decision was necessary: 'The top priority of the Kansas Department for Children and Families should be adhering to the 'best interest of the child' standard. Legislation like this detracts from this standard and stands in the way of best serving those in the child welfare in need of care already face unique and complex challenges. I will not sign legislation that could further complicate their lives. I also have concerns that this bill could expose the state to frivolous lawsuits and hinder the agency by taking time and resources away from critical services.' Gov. Laura Kelly on House Bill 2311 Kansas gov. vetoes six bills Friday, allows for two new laws House Bill 2311 would, if passed successfully, prohibit the secretary of the Kansas Department for Children and Families (DCF) from adopting and enforcing policies for placement, custody and appointment of a custodian that may conflict with sincerely held religious or moral beliefs regarding sexual orientation or gender identity and creating a right of action for violations. The bill returns to the Kansas Legislature which will need to obtain a two-thirds majority in both the House and the Senate to override the governor's veto. House Bill 2311 passed the House at a vote of 84-38 and the Senate with 31-9. For more Capitol Bureau news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here. Follow Matthew Self on X (Twitter): Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Kansas utility customers face urgent deadline for support programs
TOPEKA, Kan. (KSNW) — Kansas utility customers facing high energy bills are approaching a critical deadline. Two major support programs — the Cold Weather Rule and the Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP) — will end on March 31. State officials urge residents to take immediate action to prevent service shutoffs or missed financial assistance. 50 Kansas students get full-ride Rudd Scholarships Cold weather rule ending Since November, the Kansas Corporation Commission's Cold Weather Rule has prevented utility disconnections when temperatures drop below 35 degrees for residential customers. It also requires providers to offer a 12-month payment plan upon request, even for previous defaulters. But come Monday, that protection ends. After March 31, customers without payment arrangements or who fall behind may face disconnection, and reconnection could require full payment of outstanding balances based on utility policies. LIEAP Application Deadline Also ending Monday is the application window for the Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP) — a federally funded program that provides a once-per-year benefit to help low-income households cover their heating bills. To qualify, the Kansas Department for Children and Families must receive applications by 5 p.m. Monday, March 31. More information and the application portal are available at Act Now to Avoid Disconnection The KCC is urging all customers behind on utility payments to act now. Residents can contact their utility provider directly or reach out to the KCC Consumer Protection Office at 800-662-0027 or 785-271-3140 for more information. A full list of assistance programs and regulated utilities is available at Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Kansas ‘back to work act' would force state employees to return to offices
Adam Proffitt, Secretary of the Department of Administration and the state budget director, addressing Kansas legislators on Jan. 16, 2025. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector) TOPEKA — The lunch rush in downtown Topeka's restaurants and cafés hasn't been the same since the COVID-19 pandemic, said Seth Wagoner, an investment executive. Thousands of state employees who once worked in office buildings in Kansas' capital and frequented downtown businesses for lunch and happy hour now work from home all or part of the time. They could be called back to the office under proposed legislation. At a Thursday hearing in the Senate Committee on Government Efficiency, legislators considered Senate Bill 256, or the 'back to work act.' Wagoner, the CEO of private equity firm AIM Strategies, said in testimony that at some lunch hotspots in downtown Topeka, business is still down by 10% from pre-pandemic times, accounting for inflation. He was the one proponent to speak, and five state employees, testifying as private citizens, spoke against the bill. One employee, Frances Dewell, who works in the protection report center within Kansas Department for Children and Families, which fields calls related to suspected abuse and neglect, said mandating state workers back to the office full time risks losing at least a quarter of their staff. 'Yes, state workers could return to a pre-COVID office setting,' Dewell said. 'However, the changes that have developed over the last five years have compelled us to evolve.' A virtual work culture has developed in her workplace and allowed prioritization of employee growth and well-being, she said. Roughly , according to A 2023 report from the Kansas Legislative Division of Post Audit examining 81 state executive branch agencies found that 30% of state workers work from home all or part of the time. Of the state's roughly 18,000 employees, the estimated 5,500 who work remotely under a telework agreement, the state's official term for working from home full-time or on a hybrid schedule involving remote and in-office work, would be required to return to office buildings full-time with some exceptions. Agency heads would be allowed to offer exemptions to employees with atypical work hours, positions that don't reasonably require in-office work and if office space constraints would mean added costs to accommodate a return to work mandate. In smaller agencies that have around 100 employees or fewer, most or all of them telework, according to the data from spring 2023. That includes the Kansas Water Office, the Kansas Sentencing Commission, the state board of optometry examiners and the board of mortuary arts. It also includes the Kansas Board of Regents, the Office of the State Fire Marshal and the Office of the State Bank Commissioner. In the largest agencies, the popularity of remote work varies. In the Kansas Department for Children and Families, 85% of employees engaged in some form of remote work as of April 2023. At the Kansas Department of Transportation, which employed more than 2,100 people at the same time, around 14% had telework agreements. More than half of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment's roughly 1,500 employees worked remotely. 'Telework is viewed as a benefit by many state employees,' said Adam Proffitt, speaking on behalf of the Department of Administration, which includes Gov. Laura Kelly's office. Proffitt, who shared that he often works from home one day a week usually when the Legislature is not in session, told legislators that the state offers a template for agencies that dictates the roles eligible for telework and the number of days employees can work remotely. He said telework can be a tool to attract and retain employees, and 'can actually expand our radius of talent,' by hiring employees who don't live in Topeka or cannot commute. The department of administration will be required under the bill to create a report for the government efficiency committee listing state agencies granting exceptions to the mandate, the number of exceptions granted, the job descriptions or titles associated with each exception, the number and costs of buildings leased by each agency and the number of state employees assigned to a physical office space but working remotely. However, concerns for state employees with disabilities arose in the Thursday hearing because of the job description or title reporting requirement. Employees with disabilities could be identifiable in smaller agencies, a violation of legal protections including the Americans with Disabilities Act. Martha Gabehart, the executive director of the Kansas Commission on Disability Concerns, said in written testimony that the mandate would be out of sync with Kansas' reputation as a model employer for people with disabilities. 'By creating a policy that would, if not implemented correctly, violate the rights of employees with disabilities, we would no longer be considered a model employer,' she said. A back to work mandate would be costly to the state, according to a fiscal note attached to the bill. The health department estimates the change would cost the state a combined $1.3 million over the next two fiscal years. More than 160 of the department's employees are fully remote, and office space for them does not currently exist. Several other agencies noted increased costs associated with finding new office space for returning employees and the possibility of employees resigning if the back to work act is implemented. Agencies including the Department of Corrections noted no or minimal cost increases because the majority of their employees have returned to in-person work. The bill is awaiting final approval in the Senate committee and has yet to be introduced in the House.
