Three bills advance in effort to help 8,000 children in state custody
Frankfort -- Three bills moved forward Wednesday that are meant to help the roughly 8,000 children in the custody of the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services.
The House Judiciary Committee approved House Bill 123, which would set a 15-month deadline for the cabinet after it removes children from parents because of abuse or neglect. After that deadline, the cabinet either would have to reunite the children with their parents or move to terminate parental rights and begin the adoption process so the children can be placed with new families.
The bill’s sponsor, state Rep. Lynn Bechler, R-Marion, told the committee that it’s “unconscionable” that children can languish in foster care for years without any prospect of a permanent home.
Of 7,917 children in cabinet custody earlier this month, about 80 percent were in foster homes, with smaller numbers placed with relatives or living in treatment centers or detention centers, according to the cabinet.
Read more here: http://www.kentucky.com/news/politics-government/article134270664.html