The Kansas Department of Children & Family Services has been under fire over the past few months, related to the nature of their staffing and whether or not they place children based on discriminatory practices. With Kansas Judges calling the practices of the department a reminder of witch hunts, it is obviously important that Kansas DCF Maintain their position as being seen as not only being not guided by discriminatory practices, but above reproach in their handling of the ethics in this area.
With that in mind, it comes as a bit of a surprise that Bill Gale, regional director for Kansas DCF would make his first stop at not just a party event, but at a right-wing party function hosted by a group who lists as a top goal the denial of rights for LGBT Kansans.
Kansas Republican Assembly
www.KansasRepublicanAssembly.org
PO Box 16514 Wichita, KS 67216-3631
President Secretary Treasurer
Mark S. Gietzen Debbie Baker Troy Newman
For Immediate Release on Tuesday, January 25, 2016
NEWS RELEASE
Kansas Department for Children and Families (DCF) Regional Director,
Bill Gale
to speak at the KRA Meeting on Thursday
On Thursday evening, January 28th, DCF Regional Director, Bill Gale, will continue a conversation that was started two years ago, when in February of 2014, the then newly appointed Regional Director of the Department for Children and Families first came to speak at a KRA meeting.
At that time, the Kansas DCF was under heavy criticism. Now, Bill is keeping his commitment to come back and tell KRA Members, and the general public, what he has done to fix the many problems of the past. The most pressing concern was, and possibly still is, the high percentage of Kansas children that are permanently separated from their parents.
This meeting is an opportunity for the public to hear 1st hand, answers to questions about what has happened during the past two years in the DCF. HOWEVER, this meeting is not a good place to bring individual case matters, unless that case is used solely as an example to highlight systemic problems within the department.
THE GENERAL PUBLIC, regardless of party affiliation, is ALWAYS INVITED to attend KRA meetings and forums, but only current KRA members may cast a vote.
KRA Meetings are held in the meeting room at the GOLDEN CORRAL-WEST, at 616 South Ridge Road in Wichita (near the Eisenhower Airport, but North of Kellogg), always starting at 7:00 PM, with a social “Meet & Greet” starting half an hour prior at 6:30 pm (some show up earlier.)
All KRA meeting attendees, members and non-members alike, may take advantage of FREE DRINKS and a DISCOUNTED meal by telling the receptionist that you are there for the KRA meeting. The adult discount is equal to the senior rate, $11.79, and is less for children. However, there is no requirement to order a meal.
The generous FREE DRINKS offer is IN ADDITION TO the discounted meal, and applies to ALL KRA meeting attendees, both those purchasing a meal and to those not purchasing a meal!
The Kansas KRA is headed up by a unique group. Notably, Troy Newman, who sits not only on the board of KRA, but also the board of a small group you may know well — one which became famous this year for doctoring videos to put pressure on Planned Parenthood.
The KRA’s tactics may not always sink to the depths that Troy Newman charts, but their work to stop LGBT rights and women’s rights in Kansas has a long, long history. A mover behind the Kansas constitutional amendment against gay marriage, they proudly proclaim on their website in form of principles:
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Family: We believe that the traditional American family, consisting of persons related by blood or adoption through the marriage of one man and one woman, is the cornerstone of our American society, and the government is duty-bound to protect the integrity of the family unit through legislation and tax policies.
In order to make sure that Kansas has the kind of families that KRA believes should exist, they moved last year to support legislation designed to end no-fault divorce in the state; a move which would force individuals going through a court to attest to specific reasons why a divorce was needed.
Despite notes that such a practice would be detrimental to children and harmful for women in abusive situations, it remained the KRA’s position, and remains listed at their website.
For the Kansas Department of Children & Family Services, the decision to have staff speak at not only a partisan event, but a partisan organization committed to the issues Kansas DCF contends they “do not take part in” sends a very mixed signal to the public.
The Kansas Legislature refused to commission a panel to discover whether or not discriminatory practices happened in DCF, despite numerous concerns from house & senate Democrats.
Knowing that a Kansas DCF regional director took time to meet with the leader of a listed hate group before the general public or legislature is aware of how we improve Children & Family Services is certainly troubling for those who want answers.
Unfortunately, meetings like this one may provide them the answer — even if it isn’t under oath.
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