By Phil Cauthon, KHI News Service-Topeka, 2/3/12- Gov. Brownback appointed Phyllis Gilmore as the secretary of the Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services (SRS), which will adopt the name Department for Children and Families under the recently announced executive reorganization order. 

Photo Courtesy of Phil Cauthon

By Laura Bauer, The Kansas City Star- 1/22/12- While reducing child poverty is one of the main goals of Gov. Brownback, the Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services (SRS) has made changes to food stamp policy. These changes, effective since Oct.1, eliminate food stamps for hundreds of low-income U.S. children whose parents are undocumented immigrants and reduce benefits for many more households. “I wonder if [the Governor] understands the ramifications of this policy, if he understands what’s happening to the children,” said Sister Therese Bangert of the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth.

By Kansas City InfoZine, 1/7/2012- Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt presented seven recommendations for the legislature to increase the protection of children from violent crime. These recommendations include:

Photo Courtesy: Office of the Kansas Attorney General

By Mara Rose Williams, The Kansas City Star, 12/29/11 –After the Penn state child sex crime allegations, Kansas Regents have demanded the six universities in Kansas to draft written policy for reporting child sexual abuse, making such reports mandatory.

Photo by Susana Mariscal

By Andrea Poe, Washington Times- 1/20/12 –A growing number of colleges across the United States are providing special support to students who have been in foster care. It is not surprising that California colleges and universities are leading this movement considering that foster children in California represent 25% of all the foster care population in the U.S.

Photo by Susana Mariscal

By Tom Braun, Reuters, 12/23/11 – The National Center on Family Homelessness reported that 1.6 million children were homeless –that is living on the streets of the United States last year or in shelters, motels and doubled-up with other families. This number represents an increase of 38% in child homelessness since 2007, mostly due to the U.S. recession and an increase in the number of extremely poor households headed by women. Indeed, recent census data showed that 48% of Americans are living in poverty or on incomes below $24,343 per year.

By Kelly Urban, Tribune-Democrat—University of Pittsburgh at Johnston is holding an Independent Living Youth Retreat for the 3^rd year. The school hosts youth in foster care in Pennsylvania who are nearing “aging out” of the system. The conference is designed to help the youth better prepare for transition to adulthood.

Photo: Susana Mariscal

By Marilyn Cox, Madison Eagle—A lawyer in Madison County Virginia is using her other talents on her farm working with foster children. Catherine Bowers wants to expand her work and go from being a concerned volunteer and foster parent to the founder of a nonprofit. Bowers would like to open Sparrows Rest and invite children to farms to assist in caring for animals. In the process and under the supervision of horse professionals and mental health professionals, Bowers says children will learn problem solving and conflict resolution and develop self-esteem.

By Brent Wistrom, The Wichita Eagle—Rob Siedlecki, the Secretary of the Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services of Kansas, announced that the department will hold a series of meetings throughout the state to brainstorm about how to reduce childhood poverty, neglect, and abuse. Siedlecki said they will invite national experts to talk about current trends in child welfare.

Photo: Susana Mariscal

By Angela Woodall, Oakland Tribune—An internship program in Alameda County, California is giving youth an opportunity to gain meaningful work experience during the summer. Adrienne Bergum is working at the Deputy Sheriff’s Activity League of Alameda County helping organize a series of meetings for parents about gang awareness, health, and fitness.

The Sun Sentinel, Palm Beach—Youth aging out of foster face many obstacles. One of those is finding a job with a decent wage. In the current economic climate, most unemployed Americans are struggling to find work, and aged out youth are feeling the burden of looking for work.

By Karen McEnany-Phillips, Seminole Voice—Florida guardian ad litem (GAL) volunteers are lending a hand to children in foster care. They serve as an extra resource for children when they need it the most. They visit, help obtain supplies, voice a child’s concern when people are not hearing it. They advocate for children without any compensation and often without much support.

By Scott Rothschild, Lawrence Journal-World—Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services Secretary Robert Siedlecki Jr. announces that the state has come to a compromise with Douglas County in keeping the county’s SRS office open. The office was slated to close along with eight other offices in the state. The Douglas County office in Lawrence was by far the largest office targeted for closure. It has 75 employees and serves thousands of people each month.

Photo: Susana Mariscal

By Scott Simon, NPR News—Vanessa Diffenbaugh fostered and mentored children in child welfare, and now she has written a novel about the complexities of emotions and experiences within foster care. The protagonist, Victoria, has been moved from placement to placement and struggles to find people who truly care and make connections.

 Photo Courtesy: Random House

ABC News, Salt Lake City—Teens aging out of foster care in Utah will attend a conference in Salt Lake City that aims to help them think about their plans for transitioning to adulthood. Over 200 teens age out of Utah’s foster care system every year.

Photo Courtesy of Sam Bracken 

By Laura Douglas-Brown, Georgia Voice—CHRIS Kids’, an organization that aims to help LGBT youth in foster care transition to adulthood, is celebrating the grand opening of its CHRIS Counseling Center, Education Center and Summit Trail Apartment Community. The apartment community houses 44 young adults who are transitioning from state care to independence. They receive not only housing but also individual assessments, counseling, and other services to assist them toward independence.

By Christopher McCabe, Baltimore Sun—Fostering Futures Howard County is working to help youth transition from foster care into adulthood. In partnership with Voices for Children and the Howard County Department of Social Services, Fostering Futures Howard County helps provide assistance to youth aging out of care. They offer many different services like helping people move, providing furniture, and assisting with college application.

Last Updated (Monday, 24 October 2011 14:28)

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