LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Kentucky auditor Allison Ball said she received an alarming report on foster children housed in office buildings across the state.
According to a news release, Ball received information from the Commonwealth Office of the Ombudsman on foster children housed in Cabinet for Health and Family Services office buildings.Â
"The data discovered by the Ombudsman revealed deeply concerning issues impacting foster children across Kentucky — not just in Jefferson County," Ball said in a news release. "The data reveals children, as young as one-year-old, are spending extended periods of time in CHFS offices. The systemic failures need urgent action; therefore, I advise launching a more thorough investigation to find innovative solutions to build a brighter future for foster children across the Commonwealth."
According to a news release, the preliminary investigation analyzed a sample of the 49 most recent cases involving children spending the night in state office buildings from June 10, 2024 to Oct. 29, 2024. The report included findings like:
- 49 children spent a combined 198 days in a CHFS building
- Average stay was 4.04 days
- A child spent 35 days in a CHFS building during an examination period
- Six children spent 10 or more days in a CHFS building
- Average age was 13
- Three service regions accounted for 70% of children in CHFS office buildings
- Two Rivers Service Region had the highest number of children, 13, accounting for 26% of casesÂ
- Jefferson County housed two children
To see the full report, click here.Â
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