FRANKFORT, Ky. (October 29, 2024) – Today, Auditor Ball announced that her Commonwealth Office of the Ombudsman launched an investigation into the Cabinet for Health and Family Services’ use of office buildings to house foster children.
“My office has continued to receive numerous complaints of foster children and teenagers sleeping on cots and air mattresses in office buildings, often not supervised by trained staff,” Auditor Allison Ball stated. “I have instructed the Ombudsman’s Office to investigate this issue to uncover the problems associated with this ongoing crisis. The vulnerable children of Kentucky deserve to be placed in nurturing environments where they are provided with the resources, stability, and care they need.”
This issue has persisted for years forcing hundreds of children to spend nights and in some cases weeks in CHFS office buildings. Other states, such as Tennessee, have succeeded in addressing the issue head on. Yet in Kentucky, despite public legislative testimony by Governor Beshear’s administration that it would solve the issue, that it already had the financial resources to do so, and that it would spend whatever it takes to see it done, Kentucky kids still find their way to state office housing.
The Commonwealth Office of the Ombudsman is committed to advocating for Kentuckians and working to ensure that those seeking public services from the Cabinet for Health and Family Services receive quality care.
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