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

 

The department will also be ramping up their efforts to increase adoptions. They are looking to improve adoption initiatives in the state by taking from other areas’ successful approaches. Siedlecki said that he will work to modify the One Church, One Child program that originated in Chicago in the 1980s. Many communities have used this model to increase adoptions and support for adoptive families. The project has a family from a church adopt a child and the entire congregation helps with transportation and mentorship of the child.

The Secretary explained that creativity is necessary to determine how to adopt children who have been in the system for an extensive period of time.

"Everyone wants a new puppy with no problems," he said. "Everyone wants a newborn. They don't want the kid who is 13 years old, sexually abused, physically abused and malnourished. That kid needs our love more than anybody else."

The department wants to bring as much attention to adoptions as possible. Hopefully that will increase interest in adopting those who need homes.

Courtesy of The Wichita Eagle

Original Article: SRS Chief Plans Statewide Discussions on Child Welfare

Link: http://www.kansas.com/2011/08/16/1976464/srs-chief-plans-statewide-discussions.html#ixzz1ZSKT0x3c