Wichita ? Three mothers who claim their children have been abused and neglected while in state custody met District Attorney Nola Foulston, amid increasingly public frustrations over the Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services.

The meeting Wednesday followed publicity of comments by SRS Director Don Jordan that Foulston’s office “bullied” the state agency’s workers into putting information in court documents that they don’t believe to ensure children were removed from homes. Jordan has since said he had no basis to say that, but Foulston said he still did a lot of damage.

Foulston told the mothers – Vaniece Crawford, Carlene Eye and Annette Jones – that she wanted to help them and other families better understand the legal system.

Several days ago, a group of parents protested at an election campaign lunch at a local restaurant, and a month ago about 60 people protested outside Foulston’s home.

Those two meetings were badly handled by both sides, Jones said.

The mothers told Foulston on Wednesday that many parents think her office is too eager to remove children from homes.

Foulston replied: “It is not my purpose to fly over Sedgwick County on a broom, removing children from their families.”

She advised the women that the best way they can navigate through the courts is to insist that the lawyers representing their children help them. But she also conceded that her office needs to be more transparent and do a better job teaching families about the system.

She asked the mothers to help her write an information booklet. They agreed.

Foulston said she hoped their meeting would help families better deal with the system.

Jones said she hoped for the same thing, adding that they had tried for a long time to seek Foulston’s help.

Jones said Foulston did not meet the mothers until the protests outside her house and at her campaign luncheon.