WICHITA, Kan. (AP) - The founder of a Wichita nonprofit that has 30 respite and foster care homes was given confidential information and had inappropriate influence over child placement decisions, the Kansas Department of Children and Families concluded after a three-month investigation.
Despite its findings, the DCF said in a report made public Monday that it would resume allowing children to be placed with FaithBuilders homes after suspending placement Oct. 24 pending the outcome of the investigation, The Wichita Eagle (https://bit.ly/1ciyIHU ) reported.
The DCF’s report said staff members at its Wichita office violated agency rules by providing FaithBuilders founder and executive director Andrea Dixon with “more information on certain cases than was appropriate” and by “giving unnecessary deference” to Dixon and FaithBuilders in child placement decisions.
The probe also “demonstrated the need for a greater oversight of relationships,” the report said.
Information released Monday came from DCF’s internal investigation, which was concluded Dec. 28, and in a review of complaints made by Brad Burke, chief attorney for the state’s labor department.
“A few DCF staff members within the Wichita Region violated DCF policies and procedures,” DCF Secretary Phyllis Gilmore said in a statement. “They have been held accountable.”
On Oct. 14, a day before an initial review of complaints was presented to Gilmore, Diane Bidwell resigned as director of the Wichita office. DCF has said her resignation was voluntary.
Carol Baker, foster care administrator at the Wichita office, was placed on administrative leave in mid-October. Agency spokeswoman Theresa Freed said Baker is still a DCF employee.
FaithBuilders doesn’t place children, but it works with Lawrence-based DCCCA to provide help for children and families, including serving as foster and respite care homes. DCF contracts with St. Francis Community Services, which has a contract with DCCCA.
In his evaluation, Burke said the “evidence paints a clear picture that Andrea Dixon and FaithBuilders utilized personal relationships to aid FaithBuilders in its mission.”
Some of the initial complaints were regarding the release of confidential information to Dixon by Bidwell, and Dixon using her relationship with Bidwell to have children directed to FaithBuilders homes.
FaithBuilders board president Lynn Ward issued a statement saying the DCF review “fully vindicated” her organization. She called the decision to allow placements in FaithBuilders homes “good news.”
“FaithBuilders has homes available right now to take in children; homes that have sat empty for several months, waiting for the DCF review to be completed,” she said.
The group was “truly saddened to learn that some DCF workers were being disciplined for working with FaithBuilders in trying to help kids,” she added.
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Information from: The Wichita (Kan.) Eagle, https://www.kansas.com
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