Salina Journal: Advocate discusses foster care crisis

10/10/18

"According to an expert advocate, the Kansas foster care system is in crisis.

Benet Magnuson, Executive Director of the Kansas Appleseed Center for Law and Justice, discussed contributing factors and possible solutions to the increasing number of children in the Kansas foster care system during a Lunch and Learn Tuesday afternoon at the Salina Public Library. The presentation was organized by the Salina League of Women voters.

Expanding needs
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At the end of June 2018, there were about 7,600 Kansas children in foster care who were removed from their original home due to neglect, physical or sexual abuse, substance use, problems in the parent-child relationship, or other concerns. Children leave the foster care system when they are can be safely reunited with their original family, are adopted by another family, or age out of the foster care system.
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The number of Kansas children in foster care increased by more than 46% in the last seven years, according to data from the Kansas Department for Children and Families (DCF), which represents about 2,400 additional kids."

Read more: Salina Journal