Children forced from group homes

[proud2BlibKansan]

By FINN BULLERS
The Kansas City Star

Efforts to curb Medicaid spending are coming at the expense of some of Kansas’ most troubled children, who, critics say, are being placed in foster homes too soon to succeed.

Child-welfare advocates say that privately run group homes in Kansas are being forced to discharge mentally and physically challenged children before they are ready to live in home settings.

All told, the funding tangle affects an estimated 500 children statewide, said Rep. Bob Bethell, an Alden Republican who is leading hearings beginning Monday to address the problem.

“It’s not a large number of kids unless you’re one of those kids,” Bethell said Friday. “But these kids are some of most needy kids that must have stability in their lives. These are kids who may have been abused. They may be mentally ill. They may be mentally disabled. They may be aggressive.

“We really think this is a serious problem, and we’re trying to find a solution.”

The difficulty arose from a recent federal ruling that Kansas does not comply with its own Medicaid plan, which restricts stays in group homes to between 140 and 180 days.

more. . .

http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/14019804.htm

When oh when will enough people rise up and say "STOP!!" These GOP policies are HARMING OUR KIDS! Wake up sheeple!