Foster Care Provider Fired Employee Who Falsified 165 Reports Of Visits With Children, Parents

By Sherman Smith, the Kansas Reflector

December 11, 2020

TOPEKA — A Saint Francis Ministries investigation revealed 165 falsified reports about service provided to children and families led to the firing of two employees, officials said Friday.

Laura Howard, secretary for the Kansas Department for Children and Families, said her agency was moving quickly to address concerns about the falsified documents, as well as the financial stability of the state’s largest foster care provider.

Information about falsified reports came to light in mid-November as Saint Francis was separately investigating whistleblower reports alleging financial mismanagement by its leadership. Kansas Reflector reported last week on the allegations within the whistleblower reports, which prompted the departure from the organization of president and CEO Robert Smith and chief operating officer Tom Blythe.

Read the whistleblower report made by an anonymous employee to DCF in November 2019

As part of the internal investigation into falsified reports, Saint Francis concluded an employee had documented 165 contacts with children and their caretakers between February and October that never occurred. The false reports reference 28 children who were living with 11 different foster care providers.

Saint Francis fired that employee, as well as another employee who was accused of failing to meet with foster care providers.

“The falsification of records is absolutely unacceptable, and Saint Francis Ministries is committed to taking quick, decisive action any time we learn of such a situation,” said William Clark, interim CEO. “We are working closely with the Kansas Department for Children and Families to evaluate processes and take proactive steps to ensure such a situation doesn’t occur or, if it does, that we discover it and act quickly.”

Saint Francis also conducted a survey in response to the allegations of falsified reports. Survey results showed 69% of children, 78% of fathers and 86% of mothers reported they have seen a Saint Francis case worker on a monthly basis, as is required.

Howard said DCF is asking Saint Francis to to provide more information about the methods of the survey. Additionally, DCF wants access to all internal reports and investigation findings regarding the organization’s financial stability.

“My agency will not rest until we are assured that Kansas taxpayer funds have been properly spent by SFM,” Howard said. “We know SFM to be good partners and we look forward to full transparency as it relates to both their fiscal affairs and documentation issues.”

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