A pair of protesters were in Iola Tuesday morning to protest what they believe is the state’s zeal to pull children from homes in order to make money.
Don and Phyllis Porter, who live in Linn County, sat with Iolan Connie Stoldt, who has been undergoing a custody battle for her two sons for the past three years.
The Porters allege the Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services makes it too difficult for parents to reclaim their children.
This is the second time the Porters have been in Iola to protest SRS, the state and private contractors responsible for finding foster homes or other places to stay for displaced youths. They also were on the courthouse square in 2010 and have protested in several locations across eastern Kansas in recent years.
Stoldt told the Register she has been fighting to regain custody of her sons for the past three or so years after she sought shelter in a safe house because she had been abused by her ex-husband.
Her children became frightened while in the safe house and ran away, Stoldt said, which prompted a state investigation.
She acquired permanent housing on her own — a requirement by the state to retain custody of her sons, ages 13 and 15 — but missed an appointment with a local foster care agency. Stoldt said the missed appointment was due to car trouble.
“I don’t know if the missed appointment was behind it all, but I’m at a loss,” Stoldt said. “I don’t know what to do next.”
THE PORTERS’ allegations were denied by Angela de Roche, director of communications for the State SRS office in Topeka.
“As a government agency, services provided by SRS including foster care are paid for by state and federal money,” de Roche, acknowledged. “However, SRS does not control when and whether a child is removed into foster care. The Kansas Legislature has designed a careful system of checks and balances to assure children are maintained safely in their own homes if possible.”
Law enforcement agencies and SRS work in league to investigate whether children are being abused or neglected, de Roche said, while SRS is responsible for assessing whether a child needs care for other reasons, such as truancy.
Law enforcement may remove children or a court may order the child removed, she said.
“SRS staff is not authorized to remove a child unless a court has placed the child in the custody of the Secretary of SRS,” she said. “Law enforcement protective custody is limited to 72 hours exclusive of weekends and holidays and requires the officer believe the child will be harmed if left in the home.”
While SRS staff works with law enforcement and brings evidence to the court, the agency has no power to remove children.
