Brownback favors audit of child and families services agency

Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback joined the controversy over the Kansas Department for Children and Families’ practices in selecting foster homes for children in the state’s care. In the wake of allegations of discrimination against same-sex couples as foster parents by same-sex couple Lisa and Tesa Hines, of Wichita, State Rep. Jim Ward (D-Wichita) called for an audit of the department’s foster home selection process. Today, Brownback said he favors an audit of the state’s foster care and adoption programs, according to the Associated Press.

At issue in the controversy swirling around the KDCF, besides the allegations of discrimination, is a sealed 2013 court ruling by a Johnson County judge that was divulged recently, according to The Topeka Capitol-Journal.

“In a 2013 decision, Judge Kathleen Sloan removed a then 2-year-old boy from state custody after finding DCF had gone to extraordinary measures to create a case against a lesbian woman who wanted to adopt the foster child she had cared for since birth,” said the newspaper.

“The Hineses believe they were discriminated against. Last fall they lost custody of a baby who had been in their care for almost a year. The child was placed with Topeka Councilman Jonathan Schumm and his wife, Allison, but the baby was removed from that home last month. The Schumms were arrested on charges of child abuse Nov. 19.”

KDCF officials have said that they don’t discriminate against same-sex couples.

Although supporting a thorough audit of the foster care and adoption programs, The Kansas City Star said, “Brownback deflected recent calls for the removal of Phyllis Gilmore as secretary of the Department for Children and Families.

“’Phyllis is a good person with a strong set of experiences and background,’” he said. ‘Let’s take a look at what’s happening in the system.’”

According to the Star, “Tom Witt, executive director of Equality Kansas, said Brownback’s call for a review of the system doesn’t go far enough. A thorough investigation is needed into each case in which discrimination has been alleged, he said.”

“’They’re going to want to make this whole thing go away,’” Witt said. “’We’re going to insist on a full investigation of these cases.’”

In an interview with the Capitol-Journal, Witt went further, saying, “the 2013 ruling shows DCF didn’t take the best interests of the child into consideration. In the ruling, Sloan wrote that throughout all of the correspondence between agency officials admitted into evidence in the case, ‘not once’ was there any discussion of what was in the best interest of the child.

“Asked about Brownback’s call to look into the child’s current situation, Witt said the administration didn’t care about the child in 2013 but had a sudden interest now because discriminatory actions had been exposed.”

The Capitol-Journal continued, “On Thursday, the Legislative Post Audit Committee could tackle a request for an audit from Rep. Jim Ward, D-Wichita, over whether DCF discriminated against same-sex couples in foster care and adoption cases. Ward said Tuesday he also plans to renew a July request for an audit investigating whether the agency follows the best procedures for ensuring children’s safety.

“’Both of those issues go against the prime objective of DCF,’ Ward said. ‘ Their goal is to protect children.’”

Brownback says the state's placement policy focuses on the best interest of the child. He also said federal and state laws favor keeping siblings together and placing children with relatives when possible, according to the Associate Press.

The Gayly – December 8, 2015 @ 6 p.m.