Kansas Department for Children and Families Secretary Phyllis Gilmore repeatedly told a legislative committee that children are safe in Kansas foster homes during a Wednesday hearing on an audit critical of DCF oversight of the state’s foster care system. ANDY MARSO / HEARTLAND HEALTH MONITOR
Kansas Department for Children and Families Secretary Phyllis Gilmore brushed off two Democrats’ calls for her resignation and defended her agency Wednesday following an audit critical of its oversight of the state’s foster care system.
Gilmore acknowledged that the audit was “negative,” but disputed some of it and said the agency already had started correcting most of the deficiencies cited.
“I don’t intend to,” Gilmore said after Wednesday’s Legislative Post Audit hearing. “I serve at the pleasure of the governor.”
The report released Wednesday was published by the Legislature’s independent auditing team. It was intended to evaluate how safe foster care is for Kansas children, who have entered the system in record numbers in recent years.
The auditors found Gilmore’s agency and its contractors performed inadequate background checks of foster parents, missed monthly home checks or at least failed to document them, didn’t adequately investigate some abuse and neglect reports, and gave almost universal exemptions to living space requirements.
That included the case of Jonathan Schumm, a Topeka city councilman who resigned after he and his wife were brought up on child abuse charges.
The Schumms had more than a dozen children living in their 2,200-square-foot home when a judge agreed with DCF’s recommendation that they be allowed to adopt a child that was being fostered by a lesbian couple in Wichita.
The audit released Wednesday, however, found that DCF granted exemptions to sleeping space requirements for 98 percent of those requested.
An attorney for the department said most of those exemptions were granted to keep siblings together.
But Sen. Laura Kelly, a Democrat from Topeka, called the process “rubber-stamping” that clearly needs reform.
“An exception should be exactly that — an exception,” Kelly said. “Not a standard operating procedure.”
Gilmore said the department is tightening enforcement of that policy.
She repeatedly told the legislative committee that children are safe in Kansas foster homes. The auditors, she said, examined only 40 of the thousands of safety checks the department oversees each year and found the department’s response lacking in only five.
“That still is not acceptable,” Gilmore said. “But at the same time we realize we will never be perfect. There will always be human error.”
Gilmore urged legislators to look at federal assessments that rank Kansas’ foster care system among the top in the nation for child safety. Those, she said, are more comprehensive than the auditors’ work.
“We can be proud that Kansas is a leader in keeping children safe when they’re in our custody,” Gilmore said.
Rep. Ed Trimmer, a Democrat from Winfield, asked why he should put more stock in the federal assessments, given that the state chooses which cases the federal inspectors examine.
“Why is that a more comprehensive review?” Trimmer asked, adding that major problems had been uncovered in other states with high federal marks.
Background checks lacking
The audit also turned up deficiencies with background checks of prospective foster parents, including some that did not include fingerprints and some that only checked based on parents’ current names. The department failed to provide annual follow-up background checks in nearly all cases.
Gilmore said she is working with another state agency to implement a continuously updating background check system that would notify DCF of any disqualifying arrests after the initial check.
“It is potentially life-saving,” she said.
Gilmore said a survey of employees conducted by the auditors that found high turnover and low morale carry little weight because only 37 percent of those who received the survey responded. Satisfied employees would be less likely to respond, she said, thereby skewing the results.
“Those findings are going to be somewhat misleading because they are not statistically sound,” Gilmore said.
But she cautioned that negative media attention surrounding the audit could lower morale.
Republicans on the committee said the problems described track back several decades through multiple administrations.
Sen. Julia Lynn, a Republican from Olathe, called the audit “painful to listen to.” She reiterated concerns about the 1997 privatization of foster care that now has the state distributing $280 million a year to contractors.
“I’m not so sure that privatizing this really is the answer,” Lynn said.
An audit on the privatization is coming later this year, and DCF is renegotiating contracts.
Meanwhile, Rep. Jarrod Ousley, a Democrat from Merriam, said he and Rep. Jim Ward, a Democrat from Wichita, still want Gilmore to resign.
“Our kids are too valuable to have this sort of leadership,” Ousley said.
Andy Marso is a reporter for KHI News Service in Topeka, a partner in the Heartland Health Monitor team. You can reach him on Twitter @andymarso
Ellis County is projected to be in the path of a storm expected to sweep across southwest and west-central Kansas on Thursday evening.
According to the National Weather Service, severe thunderstorms will be possible this afternoon and early this evening, with the main hazard being strong winds and 2-inch or larger hail. Wind gusts are predicted to be in the 70 to 80 mph range.
The storms also could bring periods of very heavy rain, which could lead to flooding on roads.
The storms are expected to move into Ellis County around 7 p.m.
Additional thunderstorms are possible Friday, as well, according to NWS forecasters.
OLATHE, Kan. (AP) â Authorities say a pickup truck has struck and killed a toddler in the Kansas City suburb of Olathe.
The Kansas City Star reports that police identified the child as 14-month-old Harper Kay Rodden. Police said she was struck Wednesday afternoon on a residential street near her daycare. She was taken to a hospital, where she died.
Police said the driver stopped and cooperated with the investigation. Authorities are asking anyone with information to come forward.
The child was at a home daycare center when the incident occurred. Online court records show the daycare is licensed and has not had any major violations during the last three years.
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OLATHE, Kan. (AP) — Authorities say a pickup truck has struck and killed a toddler in the Kansas City suburb of Olathe.
Police said in a news release that the 14-month-old girl was hit Wednesday afternoon on a residential street near her daycare.
The girl was taken to a hospital, where she died.
Police said the driver stopped and cooperated with the investigation. Authorities are asking anyone with information to come forward.
CLAY COUNTY – A Kansas woman was injured in an accident just before 8 a.m. on Thursday in Clay County.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2012 Buick passenger car driven by Lisa Lynn Struber, 45, Linn, was south bound on Kansas 15 ten miles north of Clay Center.
The car left the roadway, entered the west ditch, struck a private drive and overturned.
Struber was transported to Clay County Medical Center.
She was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.
ABILENE, Kan. (AP) — Baseball players will don uniforms from the 1860s and use equipment from the era during a game next week in Abilene.
The Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum and Boyhood Home is sponsoring the Aug. 6 game. It will be played at Eisenhower Park, during the Central Kansas Free Fair, with rules from the Victorian era.
The rules are different from today’s game. For example, outfielders can catch the ball on one bounce for an out and base stealing and sliding are prohibited.
On the field will be the “Abilene Iron Cutters” and the “Wichita Bull Stockings” of the Cowtown Vintage Base Ball Club.
“This is a fun event, recreating the game from a bygone era,” said Tim Rives, Acting Director, Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum. “We encourage individuals and families to take advantage of this great ‘Americana’ experience.”
Kansas-based Sunflower Financial Inc. and Texas-based Strategic Growth Bancorp Inc. today jointly announced the signing of a definitive agreement to merge. The transaction will involve a merger of the holding companies and a merger of their respective banking entities, Sunflower Bank NA, First National Bank of Santa Fe, and Capital Bank, SSB, as well as Guardian Mortgage Company, Inc.
The pro forma combined company will have approximately $4 billion in banking assets with approximately $3 billion in both net loans and deposits, creating a super-community bank with a footprint exceeding 60 offices in Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, New Mexico, and Texas. The transaction partners two relationship-focused community bank organizations with stable deposit platforms and synergistic lending and fee income strategies. The corporate headquarters for the combined company will be in Denver with substantial office functions remaining in Salina, Kansas, and New Mexico and Texas locations. On a pro forma basis, the combined holding company will be the third largest Colorado headquartered banking institution by total assets.
Mollie Hale Carter, current Chairman and CEO of Sunflower, will serve as CEO and President of the combined holding company and CEO of the bank. Additionally, she will serve as Co-Chairman of the combined holding company and Chairman of the bank. William D. Sanders, current Chairman of SGB, will serve as Co-Chairman of the holding company. William P. (Pablo) Sanders, current Chairman of First National Bank of Santa Fe and Capital Bank, will be the COO of the holding company with responsibility for the mortgage and wealth management businesses and Interim President of the bank. The Board of Directors of the combined holding company will have 10 members, comprised of an equal number of appointments from Sunflower and SGB.
The financial terms of the merger were not disclosed. The transaction has been unanimously approved by the board of directors of both Sunflower and SGB as well as by the required vote of their respective shareholders and is expected to close in the first quarter of 2017, subject to regulatory approval and other customary conditions.
Mollie Hale Carter stated, “We believe we are merging two very special organizations that will have the capital and earnings power to continue to grow and successfully provide our clients with a unique community banking experience. We have each invested heavily in our franchises and fee businesses that will benefit from this increased scale.”
Pablo Sanders added, “We are excited to be in a position to combine these two banking enterprises each with a heritage of century-old community ties. We will bring the strength of a larger organization while maintaining locally informed decision making.”
Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc. provided certain financial advisory assistance to the parties in connection with the transaction. Nelson Mullins Riley Scarborough, LLP served as legal counsel for Sunflower and Davis Polk & Wardell LLP served as legal counsel for SGB.
About Sunflower
Sunflower Financial, Inc. is a bank holding company with $1.8 billion in total assets, $1.4 billion in deposits and $197 million of equity capital as of June 30, 2016. Headquartered in Salina, KS, Sunflower is the parent company of Sunflower Bank and Logia Portfolio Management. Sunflower Bank has been serving commercial and consumer clients in Kansas, Colorado and Missouri communities since 1892. www.sunflowerbank.com; www.logiapm.com
About SGB
Strategic Growth Bancorp, Incorporated is a bank holding company with $2.2 billion in total assets, $1.7 billion in deposits and $283 million of equity capital as of June 30, 2016. Headquartered in El Paso, TX, SGB is the parent company of First National Bank of Santa Fe, Capital Bank, SSB and Guardian Mortgage Company, Inc. First National Bank of Santa Fe is a nationally chartered banking organization headquartered in Santa Fe, NM and operates as First National Santa Fe and First National Rio Grande in New Mexico, and First National Denver in Colorado. Capital Bank, SSB is a state chartered bank headquartered in El Paso, TX. Guardian Mortgage Company, Inc. is headquartered in Dallas, TX.
TOWANDA, Kan. (AP) — Authorities have identified a man killed in a south-central Kansas house fire.
Butler County Undersheriff Tony Wilhite says 56-year-old Steven Hulse was killed last week when the fire broke out in the living room of his Towanda house. The Wichita Eagle reports that he was found next to his bed in the living room.
Hulse’s 16-year-old son had gone to a friend’s house earlier in the evening. When he returned, he went inside, but intense heat and soot forced him back outdoors.
Donald “Duck” Edward Pesicka, son of Fred and Wilhelmina Sophia (Reich) Pesicka, was born December 13, 1940 in Dupree, South Dakota. He grew up on a farm where he learned the value of hard work, love for the land, and love for family. He graduated from the Dupree School District High School as part of the Class of 1959.
Don moved to California in 1959, where he lived for 35 years. For a majority of this time, he worked for the City of Alameda as the Park Supervisor. On October 14, 1970, he was united in marriage to the love of his life Sandra Yleen Owens in Alameda, California. Together, they raised their beloved granddaughter Amanda (Rogers) Butkovich. He was always very proud of his little girl.
In 1989, Don joined the Elks Lodge in Alameda, where he went on to become a lifetime member. Eventually, he retired from the city and moved to Russell, Kansas. There, he joined the Masons and Shriners. In 2012, he moved to Olathe, Kansas, in order to live closer to his granddaughter Amanda.
In his free time, Don loved spending time with family and friends, playing with his faithful dog Wylie, working outdoors, going to coffee, tinkering in the garage, riding on his motorcycle, and traveling to South Dakota. All who knew him remember his big smile, kind heart, and warm spirit.
He passed away peacefully at his home in Olathe on July 22, 2016, at the age of 75 years, 7 months, and 9 days. There, he had been recovering from recent heart surgery. His final days were filled with love, and he was surrounded by family and friends.
Donald was preceded in death by his parents, sister Margaret Borgess, brothers Alvin and Wayne Pesicka, and son Ed Haley.
Survivors include his wife Sandra of Olathe; daughters Sharl (Gary) Leon of Hayward, California and Kimberly (James) Walton of Tempe, Arizona; son Fred Haley of Irving, Texas; granddaughters Amanda (Michael) Butkovich of Olathe, Kansas and Kristina and Jessica Ambrosino of Phoenix, Arizona; grandsons Vincent Ambrosino, Jr. of Phoenix, Arizona and Fred Haley, Jr. of Irving, Texas; great-grandchildren Alex and Lexy Bermeo of Phoenix, Arizona; and many other relatives and friends. He will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.
A memorial service to celebrate Donald’s life will be held at 11 A.M. on Saturday, August 06, 2016, at the Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary in Russell, Kansas. Visitation will be from 9 A.M. to 11 A.M. Saturday morning before the memorial service.
Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary of Russell, Kansas, is in charge of the memorial service arrangements.
Donald Dean Bernbeck, 86 died Saturday, July 23, 2016 at the Denver Hospice in Denver, Colorado.
He was born October 19, 1929 in Utica, Kansas the son of Ephraim G. & Martha (Schwindt) Bernbeck.
Donald grew up and attended school in Utica, Kansas.
After graduating from Utica High School he attended Kansas State University for 2 years. He was then stationed on the U.S.S. Philippine Sea during the Korean War in which he served from 1948 to 1952. On August 26, 1953, he married Juliana Marie “Anne” Dechant in Hays, Kansas. They moved to Manhattan, Kansas while Donald earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture. They moved to Garden City in 1956. They later lived in Jetmore and Utica for a short time before moving to Lakin in 1961. They later lived in Eudora, Kansas for a short time before moving to Parker, Colorado in 1994. They have lived in the Denver area since.
While living in Garden City and Jetmore, Donald worked for the Kansas State Extension offices. While in Lakin, he owned and operated Don’s Standard Service for 11 years before owning and operating Bernbeck Oil Co. In Eudora, Donald sold real estate for several years and after moving to Parker, Colorado he worked as a contract carrier and express driver for the United States Postal Service. He then retired in 2011.
Donald was a member of Ave Maria Catholic Church in Parker, Co., St. Anthony Catholic Church in Lakin, the Knights of Columbus, VFW of Lakin, and the NRA. He enjoyed airplanes and flying airplanes, and all sports where he loved to watch his grandchildren participate.
Survivors include 3 sons Devlon & (Joyce) Bernbeck, Lance & (Tonja) Bernbeck, and Duane & (Bonnie) Bernbeck all of Garden City; 3 daughters Kallie & (Frank) Male of Eudora, Ks., Donna & (Tony) Ramos of Garden City, Ks., and Trisha & (Leon) Anderson of Parker, Co.; 3 sisters Elvira Kilroy of Nokmis, Fl., Kay & (Dick) Horchem of Ness City, Ks., and Wanda MacKenzie of Gold Canyon, Az.; a brother Gary & (Anita) Bernbeck of Grand Junction, Co.; 14 Grandchildren; and 7 Great Grandchildren.
Donald is preceded in death by his wife Anne who died on November 16, 2009. He is also preceded in death by his parents; a son Richard W. Bernbeck; a daughter Deanna Marie Bernbeck; and a brother Gerald Bernbeck.
A Funeral Mass will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, July 28, 2016 at St. Anthony Catholic Church in Lakin with Fr. Rene Labrador as Celebrant. Burial will follow at the Lakin Cemetery. There will be no calling hours.
The family request memorials given to St. Anthony Catholic Church or to the Denver Hospice both in care of Garnand Funeral Home of Lakin.
During Miracle Treat Day, $1 or more from every Blizzard goes to the local Children’s Miracle Network Hospital. In western Kansas, that money is donated to Via Christi Hospitals in Wichita.
The Dairy Queen at the Love’s Travel Stop in Ellis, 200 Washington, is participating. The Hays location also is taking part.
In addition, the Ellis Love’s will participate in the company’s 18th annual campaign to raise funds for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals from Aug. 26 to Sept. 30. Details on that fundraising effort will be released soon, according to company spokeswoman Kealey Dorian.
