letter to kansas children and family services director teresa mcquin on child welfare fraud

7/27/2019 Letter to Kansas Children and Family Services Director Teresa McQuin on Child Welfare Fraud

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The scales of justice should be equal for everyone

Mary DeanPresident Kansas Justice Advocate(316) 371-2253

PPS Interim DirectorTeresa Mc QuinCentral OfficeKansas Department for Children & Families915 SW Harrison StreetTopeka, KS 66612(785) 221-7906

September 3, 2013

Dear Ms. Mc Quin:

We have had several telephone conversations on 8/30/13 and 9/3/13 about my concerns with

Andrea Dixons non-profit organization called Faith Builders and their negative involvement inwhere black children are being placed in foster care homes and adoptions. I am putting inwriting to you when I became concerned about Faith Builders and I hope that there are actionstaken to stop what this organization is doing to families.

Several weeks ago, I was contacted by someone to request my presence at a meeting with ayoung mother who is fighting to keep her three children. The meeting took place on Tuesday,August 13, 2013, at Burger King and Former Rep. Melody McCray Miller was present and so wasseveral case management workers and the mother. Doing the course of the mothersconversation, she kept mentioning how Andrea Dixon and her organization Faith Builders wereinvolved negatively with trying to take her three children from her. She stated that she wasdoing everything within her power to do what the court had ordered her to do in taking classes,

finding employment, and trying to find a better environment in reference to a place to live. Shestated that no matter what she did in complying with the court orders it was not good enoughfor Andrea Dixon. She stated that time and time again Ms. Dixon tried to encourage her to giveup her parental rights to her children, especially her new born child of least than a year.

During our conversations with the mother and the people attending the meeting Andrea Dixonand Faith Builders name came up a little too much for me in discussing Faith Builders role inwhere children are placed. Based on what I was hearing it would appear that Andrea Dixonbelieves that because of her friendships with people such as Sarah Robinson (Director of theWichita Childrens home), Diane Bidwell (Regional Director for Wichita DCF), and JeanetteOwens (Director of DCCCA) she is so connected that she has been given the key to the front doorto give recommendations and demands on where children (especially black children) should go

when it comes to placement. I wanted to know at the time who is Faith Builders, who are theyaccountable to and how many children have been reintegrated back into the home since theirexistence! No one could answer that question for me. I also wanted to know how in the worldcould an organization or agency have that much power that neither DCF, DCCCA, or the DAcould override what Faith Builders wanted when it came to doing what is in the best interest ofthe children. No one could answer that question for me either.

The mother was due to go to court on Monday, August 19, 2013 at 8:30 that morning. Based onwhat was told at the meeting this hearing was for terminating her parental rights. I stated to the


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mother that Kansas Justice Advocate would go to the hearing to advocate for her and herchildren, and I would write a letter to the judge. Letter is attached. It upset me to hear thatparents are still going through the same nonsense with the threat of their children being takenaway from them years after I was part of a task force created by Governor Kathleen Sebelius toget recommendations from various counties in KS about Black Children who aredisproportionately in foster care longer and not reintegrated back into the home sooner.

A little background information on why Governor Sebelius created the task force.

In July 2007, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) released its reportentitled, African American Children in Foster Care: Additional HHS AssistanceNeeded to Help States Reduce the Proportion in Care-(GAO -07-816). Among thefindings, the report reflects: African American children were over-represented infoster care nationally at a rate of more than twice their proportions in the U.S.child population. Minority children enter the system at disproportionately highrates: specifically, compared to Caucasian children, African American children arefour times more likely to be placed in the states care.

On November 25, 2008, former Governor Kathleen Sebelius announced a neweffort, under the direction of her Health and Human Services Subcabinet team, toassure racial and ethnic equity is a standard outcome across all Kansas childwelfare and juvenile justice programs. This new effort would convene ten countieswith issues of inequity into six community teams. In the spring of 2009, sixcommunity (Sedgwick County was one of the six communities) proximity teams setout to achieve the Governors charge. The final report compiled with informationfrom the six teams was issued to the Governors office in the fall of 2009 and isavailable athttp://www.srs.ks.gov/agency/cfs/Pages/CFSOutcomesandReports.aspx.

Monday, August 19, 2013, I went to the hearing as an advocate for the mother and children.

While waiting to appear before the judge, I had a conversation with the youngest childs father.This young father was concerned that Andrea Dixon and her organization (Faith Builders) wereinterfering in his and the mothers efforts to get their children reintegrated back into their home.The father stated that early on that Andrea Dixon has interfered with the process of getting theirchildren back. He stated that his mother was willing to take the children to keep them out of thesystem, but it was determined that his mothers home was not up to standards and the childrencould not go into the home with his mother. The father stated that none of his family(grandparents, aunts, uncles, or cousins) was ever considered as placement homes for the threechildren. The father was disturbed about what Andrea Dixon wanted him and the mother to doin giving up their rights as parents, telling them that it was in the best interest of the children forthem to give up their rights as parents. He also stated that Andrea Dixon should not have beenat the hearing that morning, because the court had indicated to her that Faith Builders was not

needed during the hearings. Despite that Andrea Dixon was at the hearing on Monday, August19, 2013. Thank God Judge Flaigle ordered that the hearing be continued for at least anothertwo months. That would give the mother and father more time to complete some court ordersbefore any decision is made to terminate their parental rights. After the hearing I noticed thatAndrea Dixon had approached a SRS representative and the DA representative and was engagedin a conversation with them. As I was leaving the court Andrea Dixon and the foster care parenthad surrounded the mother and later from what I understand both Dixon and the foster careparent met with the mother and told the father and the mothers St. Francis case manager thatthey were not allowed in the meeting.


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In the meantime I wanted more information about Andrea Dixon and Faith Builders.

Thursday, August 8, 2013, I contacted via email Senator Michael ODonnell, and Rep. Jim Wardabout letters written and sent to Director Susan Fout and Secretary Phyllis Gilmore on May 22,2013, on information which I was seeking on another matter and had yet to hear from them. Ialso expressed my concerns about Andrea Dixon and Faith Builders. Senator ODonnell emailedme back and stated that he had spoken to the Secretary and requested that I be provided theinformation that I had requested.

Thursday, August 22, 2013, I received a phone call from Director of DCCCA Jeanette Owens. Iwanted to know who Faith Builders were and how long had they been in existence, what agencyare they accountable to and how many children had been reintegrated back into the home sincetheir existence. Director Owens stated that Faith Builders started in 2005, and that they hadreceived their 501 c3 in 2012. Director Owens stated that Faith Builders was accountable tovarious agencies. And, I wanted to know which agencies. She wouldnt tell me which agenciesFaith Builders was accountable too. Director Owens told me how good and helpful FaithBuilders has been to families in replacing items in making a fresh start. I wanted her to be morespecific about those items and did she have records of what Faith Builders had done. Director

Owens stated that she would talk with Andrea Dixon about providing me Faith Builders annualreport and that she did not see a problem with Andrea Dixon getting the report to me. At the endof our telephone conversation, I truly believe that my concerns would be answered somewhat.On Friday, August 23, 2013, I decided to email Director Owens some questions to answer.

I would like to know who Faith Builders' is accountable to. Based on my conversationwith you, it was stated that Faith Builders is accountable to quite a few agencies. Myquestion to you is who are these agencies? It is DCCCA, DCF, who?

I want to know also how many children have been reintegrated back into the home sinceFaith Builders became a non-profit or for profit org in 2012.

I would like some of the information that you gave me about what Faith Builders havedone in helping people with articles and items to help them setup residence since FaithBuilders was organized in 2005.

Monday, August 26, 2013, Director Owens called me and stated that Andrea Dixon would notrelease Faith Builders annual report to me, because she said I was mad at her. I stated toDirector Owens that people will interpret someones statement based on what and how it suitsthem. I stated that Andrea Dixon should not get it twisted that when I talked to her at theAugust 19, 2013, hearing it was out of concern about her organization Faith Builders not out ofanger. Director Owens did not offer to answer the questions sent to her on the 23th, nor has sheresponded in writing about my questions to this date.

Wednesday, August 28, 2013, I received a phone call from Deputy Director Brian Dempsey (PPSDeputy Director) as a follow up for Secretary Phyllis Gilmore. During our conversation Idiscussed with Deputy Dempsey my concerns about Andrea Dixon and her organizationsnegative input on where children of color are being placed in foster care and adoptions. Basedon my questions about Faith Builders, Deputy Dempsey stated that: 1. DCF does not overseeFaith Builders; 2. DCF does not license or regulate Faith Builders; 3. KDHD does all licensingfor foster care homes; 4. Faith Builders is a non-profit organization, not a placement agency for


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children; 5. Faith Builders is a non-profit organization that should be working with communityorganizations to help provide services to families before they get into the system; 6. FaithBuilders is accountable to DCCCA. I discussed my dismay about Andrea Dixon believing becauseof friendships with Directors Diane Bidwell, Jeanette Owens, and Sarah Robinson, FaithBuilders has been able to override them (I believe by design) good decisions that should bemade in the best interest of children and reintegrating them back into their homes.

After, my conversation with Deputy Dempsey, I sent another email to Director Owensrequesting her to response to my request on August 23rd. The email sent is below:

On 8-28-13, Deputy Brian Dempsey Asst to Secretary Gilmore called me about myconcern with Faith Builders. Based on my conversation with Deputy Dempsey DCFis not responsible for overseeing Faith Builder's. DCF license and regulatesDCCCA.Faith Builders is a non-profit organization that is supposed to work with othercommunity org's to help families and children stay out of the system, not put themin the system. Deputy Dempsey stated that Faith Builders should not be in thebusiness of giving recommendations and/or make demands on where children

should be placed. Deputy Dempsey stated that Faith Builders is accountable toDCCCA.

Ms. Owens per my request to you 8-23-13, about information on Faith Builders, Iam requesting again that you provide me with the information requested.

Friday, August 30, 2013, I received a call from you Director Mc Quin based the conversationwhich I had with Deputy Dempsey about Faith Builders. I expressed my concerns about AndreaDixons organization interference when it comes to where children of color (especially blackchildren) are being placed in foster care and adoption. I also expressed my concerns withAndrea Dixons and her misplaced friendships that she has with several Directors, Bidwell,Owens, and Robinson where she has been given the opportunity to make decisions against

childrens and families best interest in placements and adoptions. Director Mc Quin you statedthat you were concerned and that the only way your department could become involved is thatyou needed written statements from case managers, CASA volunteers and/or community peoplein details with names and what they have actually witnessed. Director Mc Quin you stated thatyou needed more than just hear say and I stated to you that there was a meeting that I would beattending about Faith Builders and what to do and I would address what it was that you neededat this meeting. As, you know there are people who want to be more visible and vocal aboutFaith Builders, but are afraid if they do step up they would be jeopardizing their jobs.

During the meeting on Friday, August 30, 2013, Senator Oletha Faust-Goudeau received aphone call from a father that is fighting for his two year-old daughter. He is one of severalfamilies that have contacted Senator Faust-Goudeau about Faith Builders. This father was put

on speaker and he told everyone listening that Andrea Dixon and her husband Casey wantedhim to go meet with their private attorney to relinquish his parental rights from his two year-olddaughter. It was suggested to him that he not meet with Andrea Dixons private attorney that heneeded to get his own attorney. This young father stated that he was going to fight to get hisdaughter back into the home and that we lived in America and what right did Andrea Dixonhave to try to discourage a parent from fighting for their child. Senator Faust-Goudeau wasvisibly upset as were those of us in the room hearing from this young father willing to take astand and fight for his child. I stated to the father that Kansas Justice Advocate would standbeside him and help him navigate the system (I have also been a certified Parent Ally since


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June 7, 2009). Senator Faust-Goudeau stated that what Faith Builders is doing is like ModernDay Slavery in selling black babies and children to the highest bidder. Senator Faust-Goudeaustated that she has talked with Senator Forrest Knox, Rep. Gail Finney and Secretary Gilmoreabout her concerns with Faith Builders and something had to be done and soon. Senator Faust-Goudeau called your office to schedule an appointment with you, because she too wanted someanswers. Former Rep. Melody McCray-Miller agreed that she would give me a copy of therecommendations that was submitted to Governor Sebelius from the task force to be provided toyou on my trip to Topeka today, but due to circumstances I did not go. I listed where you couldreview this information earlier in my letter to you but will again provide you with theinformation on where you can go to review those reports.http://www.srs.ks.gov/agency/cfs/Pages/CFSOutcomesandReports.aspx.

In the end Director Mc Quin there are concerns about Andrea Dixons organization FaithBuilders and how they have the power to override decisions by DCCCA, DCF, and the DA whenit comes to placing children in foster care and adoptions because of her connections. I hope thatthe information I have provided to you will help DCF inquire about not only my concerns, butothers concerns also when it comes to Andrea Dixon and her organization Faith Builders andthe power that she has been allowed to use against families trying to stay out of the system and

keep their children.

Cordially,

Mary DeanPresident of Kansas Justice Advocate

CC: PPS Deputy Director Brian DempseySenator Michael ODonnellRepresentative Jim Ward

Senator Oletha Faust-GoudeauSenator Forrest KnoxRepresentative Gail FinneyRepresentative Roderick HoustonFormer Representative Melody McCray-MillerCounty Commission Richard RanzauMayor Carl BrewerCity Councilman James ClendeninWichita Eagle Deputy Editor John BoogertWichita Eagle Deputy Editor Tom ShineRita Valencia Department of Justice Conciliation SpecialistJanice Bradley of Occupy Wichita

Alice Powell of the Peace and Social Justice CenterMary Harren Women of PeaceSandra Rankin NAACP Education ChairDirector DCCCA Jeanette OwensPastor Herman Hicks (President of GWML)Pastor Lincoln Montgomery (Pastor of Tabernacle Bible ChurchPastor Carieta Grizzell (Pastor Grant Chapel)

letter to kansas children and family services director teresa mcquin on child welfare fraud

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