Sebelius acts to protect children from abuse
Changes, both immediate and long-term, recommended after investigation

Kansans were shocked earlier this year to learn of the alleged abuse of two Wichita girls. 

When the case became public, Governor Kathleen Sebelius said she was “appalled at how the system appears to have failed these two girls.”  Today, she announced a series of reforms the state is undertaking to ensure a similar situation doesn’t happen again.

Sebelius said, “It’s clear the system needs improvement.  We’ve identified a series of changes, both immediate and long-term, which will help prevent a similar tragedy from happening in the future,” she continued.

Sebelius outlined four areas for reform:

• Accelerated move toward “Children’s Advocacy Centers.”  Sebelius plans to include money in next year’s budget to speed the development of centers which bring law enforcement and social services organizations together under one roof to coordinate efforts to protect children.
• Immediate changes to SRS case screening process.  Sebelius has directed the Department of Social & Rehabilitation Services to immediately make changes to its case intake and screening process.  These reforms are designed to prevent potential abuse cases from falling through the cracks due either to screeners not having enough information about a case or incomplete knowledge of a family’s history in the system.
• Comprehensive review of the Kansas system to prevent child abuse.  Sebelius said she will bring together child advocates, law enforcement professionals, legislators, and other stakeholders to study whether the current system needs to be changed in order to better protect children from abuse.  This group will then recommend changes to the Governor and Legislature.
• Increased public awareness of child abuse.  Sebelius has directed her staff to develop a program to increase public awareness of child abuse, and to improve training of mandatory reporters, so that SRS and law enforcement have the information they need to protect children from abuse.

# # #