‘This has to stop’: Kentucky auditor investigating housing of foster kids in offices

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WAVE) - In a 2023 Troubleshooters investigation, WAVE uncovered nearly 200 cases where Kentucky foster kids were being forced to sleep in offices, state parks and emergency rooms while family services waited for a permanent solution.

That is what the public has known, but the state auditor said the situation is actually worse.

"I knew it was an issue a couple of years ago, and I had hoped it was an issue that was resolved," explained Kentucky Auditor Allison Ball.

However, just months into her new role as auditor, Ball began to learn that was not the case. She said complaints began to pour into her office, and under her new authority over the Office of the Ombudsman, she began an investigation into the Cabinet for Health and Family Services.

"I can tell you that the numbers are greater than you just mentioned. You said 200. It's a greater number than that," said Ball. "It's been going on for over two years. That's a bad enough picture, it's a serious enough picture, for why we have to investigate."

Early indications are that CHFS has placed foster kids in office buildings, not just a few days, but in some cases weeks.

"It's one thing to say it's a problem. It's another thing to act on it," said Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates. "That's what we've got to do."

Brooks works closely with those children and families in foster care.

He says Frankfort has to begin getting serious about finding well-funded, creative solutions.

"We as a state just have to get real that young people who have young people who have lots of trauma, it's hard to meet their needs. That does not come cheap," explained Brooks. "So we're going to have to put our budget where our mouth is."

Brooks emphasized that lawmakers has invested millions of dollars into improvement efforts but, in his opinion not enough.

In announcing her investigation, Ball added that other states, like neighboring Tennessee, have worked to fix the problems Kentucky now faces in the foster system.

Brooks said he has already been in talks with those involved in the system in Tennessee and has heard several suggestions that he feels could alleviate the challenges the Commonwealth is going through. Those include tiered, higher pay for harder cases and more resources for both foster families and children.

He also suggested the state build dedicated spaces for temporary placement that are not under an office desk or emergency room.

"You don't stay in an emergency room forever, so that's kind of the child welfare version of an emergency room. And we're going to make sure you're protected, you're secure, you know, you get food, you're warm or you're cool, you're okay for 48 hours or 72 hours, and then let's go to work to find a place where you can stay for a longer period," explained Brooks. "They're almost temporary holding centers. Now that's not for long, and that's not a permanent solution. But it does address that kid sleeping under the desk issue,

Which solution is best is still unclear, but those working to fix the problem are determined to figure it out.

"These are vulnerable kids. These are kids that as a society have an obligation to help them and protect them, do everything we can to restore them," emphasized Ball. "And we really have to get these situations fixed. This has to stop."

The investigation looks to answer much this is happening, the reasons behind it, and how the state could resolve it.

Ball does not have a deadline for the investigation to end. She just wants to make sure it is done thoroughly.

However, Ball does hope they will have results ahead of the next legislative session in case lawmakers need to take action.

We reached out to CHFS for comment on this story but did not hear back by the time of publication.