By Devin Katayama
Louisville, KY – Lawmakers will meet in Frankfort next week to discuss Kentucky's Cabinet for Health and Family Services. The cabinet's release of over 80 child abuse records has not satisfied critics.The child welfare system was at its best when the Cabinet for Families and Children was separate from the Cabinet for Health. That's according to University of Louisville social work professor Anita Barbee.
In 2004 the agencies consolidated, and she says that's when the cabinet began to struggle. In recent months the cabinet has been criticized for lacking accountability and several key pieces of information were redacted from records a judge ordered be released.
Barbee says that doesn't help the cabinet's cause.
"If you hide the fact that there are problems and mistakes in the system that also hides the need for the resources."
Advocacy group Children's Rights has sued the child welfare systems in around 18 states. Several were mandated to make changes this usually includes adding more case workers.
Executive Director Marcia Robinson Lowery says Kentucky has been on their radar the past few years.