Members of a legislative task force charged with fixing problems in the Kansas foster care system resumed their discussion of possible solutions on Tuesday.
At one point in the all-day meeting, a social worker staffing the task force noted that family members who agree to take in a related child are paid much less than those who foster non-relatives: on average, about $3 a day.
Former child welfare official Teresa Markowitz says placing children with other family members is often a good alternative. She says the state could pay those families much more than they do now and still save money in the long run.
The task force is working on preliminary recommendations to the Legislature. Its final recommendations are due in January 2019.
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Jim McLean is managing director of KMUW's Kansas News Service, a collaboration of KMUW, Kansas Public Radio and KCUR covering health, education and politics in Kansas. Follow him on Twitter @jmcleanks.
