No rights

Posted on Fri, May. 28, 2010
Letter from Wendell Turner to the Wichita Eagle Editor

Wendell Turner, Grandparent in Sedgwick County, Has No Rights To His Grandchildren

I was astounded to read the commentary by Shelley Duncan, president and CEO of Youthville, about the wonders of foster care ("Foster parents are the unsung heroes of kids," May 16 Opinion) and the article about the murder of little Brooklyn Coons ("SRS: Social worker not at fault," May 16 Local & State).

Like most states, Kansas doesn't recognize grandparents as having any rights to their grandchildren. When a child-in-need-of-care case comes up in court, grandparents have to register as interested parties to even be allowed to attend. If they register, they are allowed to attend but must not speak. At the first case-plan meeting, which is usually conducted by a Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services contractor, the first thing the grandparents are told is that they don't have rights. That is the law, but exceptions can be made if the grandparents have enough money for the best lawyers or know the right people. How do I know this? I was there.

WENDELL TURNER

Wichita



Read more: http://www.kansas.com/2010/05/28/1333908/letters-to-the-editor-on-memorial.html#ixzz0pEaoLc6K