Number of Kansas kids in state custody hits all-time high

TOPEKA – The number of Kansas children in state custody has risen to all-time highs as the number of child abuse and neglect complaints also is climbing.

The Topeka Capital-Journal reports about 7,000 children were in state custody at the beginning of June, including 6,168 in out-of-home foster care placement.

Kansas Children’s Alliance executive director Bruce Linhos says workers and government officials are struggling to find a cause for the increase.

An in-depth report by the Kansas Health Institute last month included comments from some advocates blaming state policies for straining poor families.

But a spokeswoman for the Kansas Department for Children and Families attributes the increase to heightened awareness and reporting of child abuse and neglect.

This story was originally published July 28, 2014 at 10:03 AM with the headline "Number of Kansas kids in state custody hits all-time high."