TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Abuse and neglect is the main reason the state of Kansas is removing children from homes, which is a change from the past.

Statistics from the Department of Children and Families show during the current fiscal year, children were taken from homes 59 percent of the time because of abuse and neglect. Other issues, such as a child’s behavior problems or a parent being in prison, accounted for the other 41 percent of the removals.

The Topeka Capital-Journal reports in past years, non-abuse causes were the primary reason children were removed from homes.

DCF Secretary Phyllis Gilmore says the agency is focusing on keeping families together if no actual safety issue, such as specific abuse, is present in the home.