Earlier this week, the governor of Kansas and other top legislative leaders agreed to settle a child-death lawsuit for $75,000. The suit was originally filed in Sedgwick County District Court against the “Kansas Department for Children and Families (DCF) after the agency failed to intervene based on allegations an 18-month-old girl was physically abused and living in a drug house.”
Earlier this week, the governor of Kansas and other top legislative leaders agreed to settle a child-death lawsuit for $75,000. The suit was originally filed in Sedgwick County District Court against the “Kansas Department for Children and Families (DCF) after the agency failed to intervene based on allegations an 18-month-old girl was physically abused and living in a drug house.”
According to the child’s father, Steven Watters, the DCF, which is the “agency responsible for investigating child abuse,” was responsible for the death of his daughter, Jayla Haag. In the suit, Watters and his legal team noted that the child died “from blunt-force injuries to her head.” This resulted in “brain swelling, knocked out teeth, jaw damage and bleeding around the eyes.” It’s also important to note that the child was “living with her mother, Alyssa Haag, prior to her death,” and “tested positive for methamphetamine at birth and prior to her death.”
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According to the suit, the DCF ignored warning signs that lead to Jayla’s tragic death. Some of those alleged warning signs included ignoring “calls to a child-abuse hotline.” Additionally, the suit also claimed that a social worker with the DCF “was aware of the Alyssa’s persistent use of illegal drugs in the home.”
The lawsuit settlement was agreed to unanimously and came just in time for Gov.-elect Laura Kelly (D), to take office in January. During her campaign, Kelly vowed to reform the state’s Department for Children and Families. Even Senate President Susan Wagle, R-Wichita, said in a recent interview that the “2019 Legislature ought to closely examine DCF operations” and noted that “years of assurances from DCF turned out to be hollow.” She also chimed in on the case involving Jayla Haag and said:
“A child died. As a result of that death, DCF policy has changed. The way they handle these cases was changed. It was a horrific case. Something I’m ashamed of, but as a result, with numerous people overseeing these court actions, I believe it won’t happen again.”
Senate Minority Leader Anthony Hensley, D-Topeka, also chimed in and said that “Jayla Haag was tortured and that DCF social workers lost track of the girl within the DCF bureaucracy.” He added that “Democrats had attempted for years to bring greater scrutiny to DCF but were rebuffed by Republicans intent on shielding GOP administrations.”
Last week, a team of advocacy groups filed a separate federal lawsuit “on behalf of 7,600 Kansas foster children.” In that suit, the plaintiffs claim “state officials failed to protect children in state custody from harm.” The lawsuit also alleges that “children in the state’s foster care system faced extreme housing instability, with some moved more than 100 times, and deprived of mental health assessments and services.”
Sources:
Kansas officials approve $75,000 settlement in DCF lawsuit involving death of 18-month-old girl
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