'We've got to do something': Senate moves forward with plan for oversight of KS foster care system

TOPEKA — Sen. Molly Baumgardner says the first call she received as an elected senator was about the foster care system in Kansas.

The Republican from Louisburg recalls reading newspaper reports before she was elected that detailed “horrific” neglect and abuse of Kansas children. Seven years later, those stories are still being reported.

“What bothers me the most,” she said, “is that most often there are adults that were fully aware of the dire circumstances of a child but chose to do nothing or their message was ignored.”

Baumgardner led the charge for passage of legislation that would form an office of the child advocate. Longtime supporters of the concept jeered her plan, which places the office directly under a politically ambitious attorney general ahead of an election year.

Read more: https://kansasreflector.com/2021/04/02/weve-got-to-do-something-senate-moves-forward-with-plan-for-oversight-of-kansas-foster-care-system/