Gina Meier-Hummel

Gov.-elect Laura Kelly speaks at a Kansas News Service event in December. On Thursday, Kelly announced a new interim head of two state agencies, and called for a halt to recently awarded grants for private foster care contractors.

Kansas Governor-elect Halting Deals With Private Foster Contractors, Names New Welfare Agency Boss

Madeline Fox

Kansas Gov.-elect Laura Kelly announced Thursday that she’s replacing the head of the state’s embattled child welfare agency, and at the same time...

Government

DCF Secretary Says New Foster Care Agreements Increase Oversight And Costs

Stephen Koranda

The top child welfare official in Kansas says bringing in additional contractors under a new series of grants will cost more but will help put the…

Kansas child welfare chief Gina Meier-Hummel, whose been faced with tough questions about the alleged rape of a girl in state custody.

Government

Questions Linger About Ramifications Of Rape Case Of Kansas Girl In State Custody

Madeline Fox

The alleged rape of a 13-year-old girl while she was waiting for a foster care placement in May has many asking about consequences for the contractor,...

DCF Secretary Gina Meier-Hummel addresses staff and community members at the agency's regional office in Leavenworth. The secretary and her staff have visited 18 of the 36 DCF offices so far as the agency undergoes a top-to-bottom review.

Government

Kansas Child Welfare Agency Sees Administrative Turnover As Hope For Turnaround

Madeline Fox

Some 20 administrators in the Kansas agency managing child welfare and state assistance have been promoted, fired or shifted to other posts since...

Government

Kansas Looks To Fill Child Protection Jobs With Looser Requirements, Higher Staff Salaries

Madeline Fox

The Kansas Department for Children and Families is opening up child protection services jobs to people who aren’t licensed social workers.

Government

Bill Would Let Faith-Based Agencies Apply Beliefs In Child Placement

Stephen Koranda

A bill before Kansas lawmakers says faith-based child agencies should not be required to place children in families if it conflicts with the religious…

Government

New DCF Head Works To Rehabilitate Agency Reputation

The new head of Kansas’ troubled child welfare agency got a unanimous vote of confidence from a legislative committee Friday.Even the agency's staunchest…