Kentucky State Auditor Allison Ball says her recent investigation into serious problems in the foster care system underscores the need for faith-based organizations such as Sunrise Children’s Services.
Ball and Ombudsman Jonathan Grate released last week “An Examination of Children Sleeping in Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS) Office Buildings and Other Nontraditional Placement Settings.”
Ball’s report detailed “the continued housing of vulnerable Kentucky children in state office buildings and other non-family or non-therapeutic based environments, a practice continuing for years despite CHFS promises to fix the problem.”
In an interview with Kentucky Today, Ball said many of the children were teen males with behavioral problems who are difficult to place in foster homes. But, she said, the investigation also found children of all ages who were not considered “high risk.”
“It basically covers every type of foster child who comes into this system, and it's a real serious issue. When we dug into it, we found out that the type of care they were receiving was not sufficient,” said Ball.
She said some of the buildings in which the children were being kept did not have bathrooms.
“So, they were having to be transported to fire departments or the YMCA or other places. We found really sketchy documentation showing that they are receiving their medication, getting their therapy, that they were going to school.”
Ball said the crisis is a result of both mismanagement by the Cabinet for Health and Family Services and a foster care system that is overwhelmed.
“You do have absolutely a CHFS issue, that's a big part of it. But there is a decrease in available foster parents and that's the problem too,” she said. “There needs to be a much more aggressive, much more intentional recruitment process. We need to figure out more treatment possibilities that are available for these kids.”
Ball said one of the solutions is for the state to more fully embrace and better support faith-based organizations such as Sunrise Children’s Services.
“The Baptists have had Sunrise since the Civil War, a long, long time, and they have done great work,” she said.
Ball noted that she opposed Gov. Andy Beshear’s 2021 attempt to cancel the state’s contract with Sunrise because of its Christian convictions on LGBTQ issues.
“Sunrise has a tremendous track record. We need their assistance. We really need to engage the faith-based community so much more.”
Sunrise President Dale Suttles agrees.
“We have been mandated, the church was mandated, to be the difference for the orphan — the least of these,” said Suttles. “Sunrise needs to play a vital part in that, and we are trying.”
Suttles said Sunrise is expanding some of its programs and creating new ones to try and meet the need.
“The state needs to look at faith-based organizations, certainly, but thinking outside the box being creative, and asking God to drive this effort — that's what we need to do,” he said.
Suttles and Ball agree that the state also needs to prioritize more funding to the foster care system, including treatment services for traumatized children.
Ball urged Kentucky Baptists to “keep doing what you’re doing,” and pointed to the efforts of one church in Bowling Green.
“That region is no longer using office buildings to house kids because this church has donated a house that has a bathroom and a kitchen and three bedrooms,” she said.
“One young child, we’re told, said that it was the nicest place he'd ever stayed in his life. So absolutely, there is a significant role for the faith-based community, and I think that will fill in a lot of the gaps that the cabinet is encountering right now.”
“God help us come up with the answers for this,” said Suttles. “I'm sure we'll make some leeway, but it's going to take all of us.”
