[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6340258,"mediaKeyId","2259720-3ccfd41ad3e3e55db8a128c42fa15076","parentId",2259720,"title","Ombudsman, Cabinet and providers outline scope of children placed in DCBS offices and gaps in placements","audioSeconds",409,"startMs",1186000,"endMs",1595000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2259720-3ccfd41ad3e3e55db8a128c42fa15076&start=1186&end=1595","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2259720-3ccfd41ad3e3e55db8a128c42fa15076/thumbnail_1186000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6340258/Kentucky/Ombudsman-Cabinet-and-providers-outline-scope-of-children-placed-in-DCBS-offices-and-gaps-in-placements","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6340258-57f539c4ea4bc202d4740df8cc86ae8f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771108723&Signature=C7s9drtH96sIoU30GH~hO3yL9nv6zRR9WKSYxuq5IlvIGosZeyBrjB6-NnK2ZDo0u9wIWuxPbWxXnOsy2XCYLaWnVuPBBIADLe~UNWg2R5gUV6P-uTN8RTu38EiaCC3JpZut7xEHrH1mbTmGtVCA-dolvBj28483VePq3pyLFxp~hLGr6azSDUdERJj2g-5i27Q5ePpEAyRTt~yHtcxXI5gKdhNh4XMbO43W4B7M~93eHfj9WdvHr3wX2Jz1UYKjSMkrXaHdnRxxpUfeAw9dJEAr19NPe4FfGhR6FOtQltjmHyEiBRTFurEXNf2C7kmK8xgltYbCWbBzVJxDyEsw6Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","KY LRC Committee Meetings","date","2025-02-11T00:00:00Z","article","A preliminary assessment by the Office of the Ombudsman and testimony from the Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS) and residential providers described ongoing use of DCBS office space as unlicensed, nontraditional placements for children when other placements are unavailable.

The ombudsman's preliminary review of a mid‑June through October period identified 49 children who were placed in office buildings during that interval. \"They looked at 49 kids that were placed in in office buildings during that time,\" Brian Morrow, division director for citizen services and policy integrity in the ombudsman office, told the committee. Morrow said 10% of those 49 children had no documentation of behavioral or disability diagnoses, 33% (16 children) were removed directly from their homes, and the report listed ages ranging down to infants of 1, 2 and 3 years. For that sample period Morrow said the average age was about 13, and he said the longest documented stay in the ombudsman preliminary tally was 35 nights.

CHFS presented separate operational data covering a tracked time period that showed somewhat different summary statistics: the cabinet's slide set reported an average of 2.8 consecutive days in a nontraditional placement (range 1 to 25 days), an average age of 15 for youth counted in that metric, and that 66% of those youth were male and 34% female. Commissioner Lisa Dennis said the tracked dataset and the ombudsman sample cover different windows and purposes, prompting the committee to request a deeper, harmonized analysis.

Committee members and witnesses framed three separate issues. First, lower-acuity placement gaps — children who leave unsafe homes but do not present pronounced violent behavior — often reflect brokered capacity limits in foster homes and rapid placement needs that can result in same‑day or overnight office stays. Second, higher-acuity children who display aggressive or violent behavior are difficult to place because residential providers worry about safety, staffing and their facility culture; cabinet officials and providers said those children sometimes end up in offices when no higher-level bed is immediately available. Third, the absence of clear, consistent policies or licensing for nontraditional placements raised questions about what happens to children while they are housed in offices.

Secretary Eric Friedlander acknowledged the problem is national in scope and said some states have addressed it by creating specific programs or engaging faith‑based and community partners; he told the committee, \"there is no question that we need some sort of facility in Kentucky where the focus is these kids.\" Commissioner Dennis described current interventions — enhanced rates, daily interagency morning meetings to coordinate cases, targeted provider meetings, intensive therapeutic supports and a provider outreach effort — and said those efforts have modestly reduced certain tracked metrics but that deeper analysis is required.

Residential providers Holly Hill and Maryhurst described how they evaluate referrals and their capacity limits. James Sherry, CEO of Holly Hill Child and Family Solutions, said his program participates in pilot referral arrangements and focuses on girls with complex trauma (including a high share with suspected trafficking histories); he said Holly Hill has accepted children referred directly from office placements in some cases. Paula Garner, CEO of Maryhurst, said her facility generally will attempt to serve referred youth but must decline cases when acute violence, arson risk or other safety drivers exceed the program's capacity. \"Our absolute focus and priority right now is safety and security and making sure that we can sustain the services that we currently have,\" Garner told the committee.

Committee members pressed for additional detail: a statewide inventory of provider capacity and populations served, documentation of which providers declined specific placements and why, and a harmonized set of policy options for nontraditional placements (for example, temporary licensed shelter space versus ad-hoc office stays). The committee also discussed Senate Bill 111, a separate measure referenced by the chair that would create higher-level processes and detention options for youth who require acute psychiatric care, and members asked that the ombudsman and cabinet continue the deeper assessment and return with more granular findings.

The discussion did not produce a committee vote on policy changes but resulted in committee direction to obtain additional, harmonized data and to continue oversight and collaboration with providers.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate Standing Committee on Families & Children (2-11-25)","oneSentenceSummary","A preliminary ombudsman assessment found dozens of children placed in nontraditional settings (DCBS offices) over a recent period; committee discussion and provider testimony highlighted variable ages, short average stays, and gaps in higher-acuity placements and facilities.","taxTitle","2025 Legislature KY, Kentucky","taxId",77680,"location","Kentucky","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6340262,"Committee approves CHFS amendment to foster-parent background-check rule",162,992000,1154000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2259720-3ccfd41ad3e3e55db8a128c42fa15076&start=992&end=1154","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2259720-3ccfd41ad3e3e55db8a128c42fa15076/thumbnail_992000.jpg","/articles/6340262/Kentucky/Committee-approves-CHFS-amendment-to-foster-parent-background-check-rule","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6340262-2b01a77a444309b92d2b766a9a39b5e2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771108723&Signature=h7VDExINcE4rptIeb4K9jJ8U7J04uCBxwQI3wJ3MqBcHKSbAHFKd9gyfafRctJvGPDWzZ0UleloUNBNy2YxEt8wKkrdHTF5rEyLppDZ8sd2XWJDPsdVZEC2csz41D5z-7Z97TKfNHq2D38z0PY3Eti0k7wIIqL31uHu9ud1Ey2WAKBLnYxgfUrkZhXrZE5q3sjtGsPYqZENUfIk5tJJaoqI5iG~ilk5tWyWYcbiFs8B6DeKcJgu~fxTizCcRS81OZKHL06ksWN2D1KqQZVZVIxmLm7-qZxDIi33JQQLb8iCDPhAlKsHlEi4nuki~Vp3MrALZgrULD0H~QuGKON2z~Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate Families and Children Committee approved an administrative amendment from the Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS) to remove references to \"civil determinations\" from foster-parent background-check regulations.

CHFS staff said the cabinet's new background-check system cannot search civil determination records, and those references remained in the rule in a second location after an earlier filing. \"We actually do not have the capabilities to search civil determinations,\" a CHFS presenter said during the committee's hybrid meeting, and staff asked the committee to remove that language so the regulation matches current system capabilities.

Sen. Herron asked for clarification on the meaning of \"civil determination.\" The CHFS presenter said civil determinations could refer to court findings such as custody rulings, but those cases are now typically handled within the child-abuse and neglect registry and are rarely present in court rulings under the current system.

Committee members moved to accept the agency amendment and passed it by voice vote. The committee found the administrative regulations to be reviewed and approved the agency's requested change.

No fiscal note or vote tally by name was recorded in the transcript; the motion carried by voice vote.","The Senate Families and Children Committee approved an agency amendment from CHFS to remove 'civil determinations' from foster-parent background-check language after staff said their system cannot search those records.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6340267,"Senate committee fast-tracks transfer of state ombudsman to auditor, designates emergency",881,119000,1000000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2259720-3ccfd41ad3e3e55db8a128c42fa15076&start=119&end=1000","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2259720-3ccfd41ad3e3e55db8a128c42fa15076/thumbnail_119000.jpg","/articles/6340267/Kentucky/Senate-committee-fast-tracks-transfer-of-state-ombudsman-to-auditor-designates-emergency","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6340267-f0a78bc0f5d5e67ed39557bc95d0ec88/orig.mp4?Expires=1771108723&Signature=QNH6hl0wEvVqD18UE1IBGVWtf-adHLRiPkayqunVy0L2aXqLigYzhXn0I1xrFd7Pj2hhDSEHM5YqDh-DJro20bJLkKjdTzDzApNHh4ZnEKJHEQzpDpCKu9FbFe9UYBbxcrzVm23aTI5C09NHL4cU3Y1Wfr38gEASOyu4qS-z9ppcIqD~7~4W5iXnDffLBn0ekkYU71oasXGLzHty7JT4NeXwmkfAlV9MLT7QNGk-NCOxEsQwYRfSI41e8NGPg6NcNNYfir1~1SomBLWEvBytt5DKi5Hpcqg5nM3f0YTu5Nkca-aqVRwkFAIgrejLtv43aUqkwz2B3aM9GeSoMGtMUQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senate Bill 85, which completes the transfer of the state Office of the Ombudsman from the Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS) to the State Auditor's Office and codifies the office's access to case records, received a favorable report from the Kentucky Senate Standing Committee on Families and Children by a recorded voice vote of 10-0.

The bill, presented by state Sen. Steve Meredith, advances statutory language to resolve disputes about the Auditor's access to the child abuse and adult abuse database and to clarify how complaints and confidentiality protections are handled after the transfer. \"Can't do the work without it,\" Auditor Allison Ball said of access to the case database, describing earlier legal disputes and the mediation that led to interim access.

The nut graf: committee members said the bill aims to finish a multi-year transition begun after an interim task force recommended moving the ombudsman to the auditor to preserve independence and to remove a perceived conflict when the office remained within the cabinet. Committee members and the auditor said the measure clarifies record access and complaint handling so the ombudsman can function independently.

Ball told the committee the auditor's office previously encountered delays obtaining access to the iTWIS case database and that a Franklin Circuit mediation produced interim access. She asked the committee to codify those access arrangements and to add a confidentiality provision to protect whistleblowers and allow redaction of identifying information where appropriate.

Senators asked how the ombudsman would investigate and follow up on individual cases. Ball said the bill provides a more structured timeline and process similar to the auditor's internal procedures, including notification and response deadlines, and said the change will reduce the risk that complaints are lost when the cabinet previously acted as a handoff point.

The committee heard that the ombudsman move stems from recommendations made by a 2022 interim task force and earlier legislation. Sen. Meredith and Auditor Ball thanked CHFS staff and ombudsman personnel for working through implementation problems and for agreeing that the bill's language reflected the mediation outcome.

The committee recorded a unanimous favorable report, 10-0. The chair announced the bill \"passes with favorable expression\" after the roll call recorded aye votes and several members offered brief remarks of support that emphasized independence, streamlining, and monitoring implementation.

The bill will proceed to the full Senate for further consideration.

Votes at a glance: Senate Bill 85 — favorable report by the Senate Families and Children Committee; recorded tally announced as 10-0 in favor. No roll-call mover or seconder was specified on the transcript; the committee voice/statements recorded individual ayes and explanations for yes votes.","The Senate Families and Children Committee approved Senate Bill 85 to complete the transfer of the Office of the Ombudsman from the Cabinet for Health and Family Services to the State Auditor's Office and codify access to the child-abuse database; the committee gave the bill a favorable report, 10-0.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Ombudsman, Cabinet and providers outline scope of children placed in DCBS offices and gaps in placements

Committee approves CHFS amendment to foster-parent background-check rule

Senate committee fast-tracks transfer of state ombudsman to auditor, designates emergency