Missouri House of Representatives discuss solutions for the disappearance of foster kids
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Missouri's House of Representatives discussed the ongoing issue regarding Missouri's Welfare Agency not accurately reporting children missing from foster care.
According to a report by the Office of Inspector General, in 2019, 978 kids went missing from the foster care system in Missouri. The office found in most cases, Missouri's foster care rarely attempts to prevent children's risk of going missing.
In cases reviewed by the Department of Health, they found that the state hasn't made it of utmost importance to reduce children from going missing in foster care nor have they tried to prevent these issues from occurring.
However, the House of Representatives preferred not to focus on what the state hasn't done but focus on coming up with solutions on how to fix this issue rather than pointing fingers at the foster care system.
Rep. Tom Hannegan believes one way to prevent children from leaving foster homes is by extending children's visitation rights.
Hannegan said "Although the hearing today was alarming, there were some good take-aways. The most important for me is children should have as many visitation opportunities as appropriate on a case-by-case basis in the best interest of the child. Which could help an individual considering running from a foster care situation."
Brian Whitley, regional inspector general takes a different approach. Whitley said that a few ways to prevent children from going missing in foster care are to develop policies, help identify children who have a heightened risk of going missing and then provide interventions to help reduce this risk.
Additionally, Whitley said that the main reason children go missing from foster care is what he refers to as a push and pull factor.
"In terms of kind of the push factor, it might be boredom in their current placement, bullying in their current placement. There might be something not working for the child in their current placement. So that might tend to push them out," Whitley said.
The pull factor is defined by children who start to use drugs, alcohol or find a romantic partner that pulls them away from a stable home or environment.
Rep. Hannah Kelley understands this issue needs to be corrected to prevent foster kids from running away but said despite negativity thrown at the front line workers she believes they work extremely hard.
Kelley said she has yet to hear anyone say we've sat down to listen to the people that are the only content friends in these children's lives from the point they come into the system and to the point that they exit.
The House of Representatives will still accept statements regarding children missing from foster care beyond today.
