The only question is:
What will be the outcome of the audit?
The Legislative Post Audit was requested due to the Secretary of SRS/CPS Don Jordan stating that the Sedgwick County District Attorney's Office bullied Social Workers into writing things they don’t believe to remove children from their parents custody.
The Legislative Post Audit was requested due to the Secretary of SRS/CPS Don Jordan stating that the Sedgwick County District Attorney's Office bullied Social Workers into writing things they don’t believe to remove children from their parents custody.
Click on this link to hear Jordan's comments:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2BhDnnC2x4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2BhDnnC2x4
Not only did Secretary of SRS Don Jordan make allegations that the DA's Office of Sedgwick County bullied Social Workers but so did many workers. KSN TV Channel 3 reported they recieved the same comments from a number of Social Workers who said they had to adjust records at the demand of a prosecutor from the Sedgwick County DA's office. Senator Jean Schodorf stated that she had received the same complaints from Social Workers. Representative Jason Watkins said he's been hearing complaints about the state's child welfare system for a long time. Representative Watkins wrote a letter to the Kansas Legislative Speaker of the House Melvin Neufeld and Mike O’Neal requesting to convene a special committee so legislators can investigate on their own. Representative Mike O’Neal who is now Speaker of the House also requested an investigation into falsification of documents. Representative Melody McCray-Miller felt there were issues with a disproportionate amount of African American Children being taken into custody in Sedgwick County. NAACP president Kevin Myles says the problems in Sedgwick County go way beyond minority children.
"The Kansas Attorney General refused to investigate but lawmakers still pushed for an investigation — saying they had heard such allegations even before Jordan's widely publicized statements."
Former Social Worker named “Susan” who was on KSN TV Channel 3 reported:
Former Social Worker named “Susan” who was on KSN TV Channel 3 reported:
“It was very difficult to sleep at night knowing that not always was it, um, the entire truth that had to be put into the court reports,” she said.
She’s talking now to back up comments made by SRS Chief Don Jordan. Susan estimates information would be adjusted in about 20 to 30 percent of the cases and that someone would bully her into saying something she didn’t want to say. "If I didn't do what I was told, or asked to do by the DA, I wasn't gonna have a job,” she said."
KSN TV Channel 3 reported they received complaints from Social Workers:
She’s talking now to back up comments made by SRS Chief Don Jordan. Susan estimates information would be adjusted in about 20 to 30 percent of the cases and that someone would bully her into saying something she didn’t want to say. "If I didn't do what I was told, or asked to do by the DA, I wasn't gonna have a job,” she said."
KSN TV Channel 3 reported they received complaints from Social Workers:
"Still, a number of case workers, including Susan, contacted KSN. The other workers weren’t willing to go on camera, but all claimed that information was sometimes adjusted at the demands of a prosecutor from the Sedgwick County DA’s office. Many of the caseworkers who have made complaints say they haven’t gone to the attorney general because they still work in the field in some capacity and they’re concerned for their jobs."
Senator Jean Schodorf:
"Kansas Senator Jean Schodorf says she’s heard from case workers who claim Jordan was right the first time" (Jordan recanted his statements even though he was recorded). "Schodorf contacted Attorney General Steven Six and asked for an investigation but he refused."
Representative Jason Watkins:
"Said the Kansas attorney general is wrong for not investigating complaints made about the state's child welfare system. Watkins wrote the following to Mike O’Neal and Melvin Neufeld, “As both of you are well aware, these claims, complaints and accusations are not new. In fact,a Legislative Post Audit was requested and conducted a few years ago. That audit found several problems as they pertained to the Judicial Branch and SRS relating to child welfare. However, it now appears that in addition to none of the highlighted problems being addressed, they have actually become worse. There are now former SRS employees who are coming forward with horror stories about the corruption within the child welfare system. Indeed Secretary Jordan has been recorded as saying these problems do exist. Although he later recanted, I think this was due to “political pressure” not a realization that his comments were in error.”
Speaker of the House Mike O’Neal:
Senator Jean Schodorf:
"Kansas Senator Jean Schodorf says she’s heard from case workers who claim Jordan was right the first time" (Jordan recanted his statements even though he was recorded). "Schodorf contacted Attorney General Steven Six and asked for an investigation but he refused."
Representative Jason Watkins:
"Said the Kansas attorney general is wrong for not investigating complaints made about the state's child welfare system. Watkins wrote the following to Mike O’Neal and Melvin Neufeld, “As both of you are well aware, these claims, complaints and accusations are not new. In fact,a Legislative Post Audit was requested and conducted a few years ago. That audit found several problems as they pertained to the Judicial Branch and SRS relating to child welfare. However, it now appears that in addition to none of the highlighted problems being addressed, they have actually become worse. There are now former SRS employees who are coming forward with horror stories about the corruption within the child welfare system. Indeed Secretary Jordan has been recorded as saying these problems do exist. Although he later recanted, I think this was due to “political pressure” not a realization that his comments were in error.”
Speaker of the House Mike O’Neal:
"A similar request for an investigation of SRS also had been submitted by Rep. Mike O'Neal, R-Hutchinson."
Representative Melody McCray-Miller:
Representative Melody McCray-Miller:
"Local leaders say the probe will also reveal system wide problems in Sedgwick County.
"We're gonna begin with the most alarming statistics and that's in Sedgwick county," They'll begin in Sedgwick County, where McCray miller says 45 percent of children in foster care are minorities. "This is out of control we need to look here first and go across the state and figure out what's going on what's actually happening in our communities," Miller said."
NAACP President Kevin Myles:
"We're gonna begin with the most alarming statistics and that's in Sedgwick county," They'll begin in Sedgwick County, where McCray miller says 45 percent of children in foster care are minorities. "This is out of control we need to look here first and go across the state and figure out what's going on what's actually happening in our communities," Miller said."
NAACP President Kevin Myles:
"Says the problems in Sedgwick County go way beyond minority children.
He says when his organization began looking into the issue five years ago; they found a shocking disparity between Sedgwick County and other counties in the state when it comes to how many children were removed from their homes and how few were reunited with their families."
More information on the Legislative Post Audit: http://kansascpspostaudit.blogspot.com/
On OCT. 31, 2008 Deputy post auditor Leo Hafner said Thursday that the investigation into the Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services will start in the next two or three weeks. The investigation is expected to take 15 to 20 weeks to complete.
OK, well it has been well over 20 weeks and almost 10 months since Leo Hafner made these comments. Is the time finally here? We are being told the Audit will be released the end of THIS MONTH Aug. 2009.
He says when his organization began looking into the issue five years ago; they found a shocking disparity between Sedgwick County and other counties in the state when it comes to how many children were removed from their homes and how few were reunited with their families."
More information on the Legislative Post Audit: http://kansascpspostaudit.blogspot.com/
On OCT. 31, 2008 Deputy post auditor Leo Hafner said Thursday that the investigation into the Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services will start in the next two or three weeks. The investigation is expected to take 15 to 20 weeks to complete.
OK, well it has been well over 20 weeks and almost 10 months since Leo Hafner made these comments. Is the time finally here? We are being told the Audit will be released the end of THIS MONTH Aug. 2009.
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