Issue Position: Support Kansas Families and Fix the Child Welfare System

Issue Position

Under Governor Brownback's administration, the number of children in foster care increased by more than 38%. During this time, foster kids were found sleeping in offices, missing, and dead. This neglect of our state's most vulnerable children is abhorrent and unacceptable. Under Governor Kelly's leadership, things are turning around. The passage of Families First is especially exciting, as it will allow the state to use federal funds for family preservation services to hopefully prevent the need for foster care in the first place. Lindsay supports Governor Kelly's plan for fixing the child welfare system in Kansas and believes we should: expand access to TANF and SNAP funds, implement the Child Welfare System Task Force's top-priority recommendations, and provide additional funding to DCF for hiring more child welfare workers and improving data sharing.

In addition to fixing the child welfare system, Lindsay believes we need to start a conversation about Paid Family and Medical Leave in Kansas. This leave would allow hard working Kansans to take job-protected, paid time off to address serious health conditions, care for a family member, bond with a new child, or spend time with a family member preparing for military service overseas. In 2018 Governor Colyer signed an executive order giving a similar type of leave, Paid Parental Leave, to state employees. Lindsay believes this benefit should be extended to all Kansans, to increase the health and productivity of our workforce.

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