DCF: Agency staff to conduct all annual foster home inspections by this summer

The Kansas Department for Children and Families plans to have all annual inspections of foster homes performed by agency staff by mid-2017.

The agency updated lawmakers Wednesday on its efforts to respond to a highly critical audit released this past summer and other reform efforts. DCF has been moving to take away annual inspections of foster homes from agency contractors, citing potential conflicts of interest.

Kaey Rogg, DCF deputy general counsel, explained the agency’s fear of conflict of interest.

“The reason for this position is that the exclusive source of CPAs’ funding is the placement of children in foster homes and the associated case-rate compensation that flows from that placement,” Rogg said. “This could create an institutional bias against conducting thorough inspections.”

Rogg said performing the inspections will require about 15 new DCF workers. The financial impact is expected to be minimal because the cash to pay the employees will come from the child-placing agencies, he said.

Lawmakers also questioned agency staff during a meeting of the Legislative Post Audit Committee about DCF’s efforts to recruit foster parents and social workers. Kansas continues to have a near-record number of children in foster care – about 6,500.

“When I was judge, I had to put a lot of kids in custody and they take them to Wichita, they take them to Wyandotte County, and how can you work reintegration back to the family, which is the ultimate goal, when you’ve kids that are 150, 200 miles away?” said Rep. John Barker, R-Abilene.

Rogg said the agency is undertaking many efforts related to recruiting. He said a stakeholders meeting last week drew 50 participants to speak about recruiting strategies.

“It’s definitely a priority for us and in licensing we’re working hard to make sure we’re not the barrier in that process,” Rogg said.

Rep. Ed Trimmer, D-Winfield and Sen. Laura Kelly, D-Topeka, both asked about staffing levels.

“One of the problems DCF had was they had too many cases for too few people,” Trimmer said.

Andrew Wiens, DCF policy and legislative affairs director, said a number of steps had been taken. He thanked lawmakers for providing funds for increased social worker pay.

“From that, I think we’ve seen some positive efforts, but it’s certainly ongoing,” Wiens said.

The agency said last month 463 staff positions were open, with an annual turnover rate of 18.9 percent. DCF has said it has “a number” of vacant positions it is trying to fill within prevention and protection services, but the precise number of openings within the division hasn’t been publicly disclosed.

The agency also said it was holding open other positions as it assesses the need for those positions.