To the editor:

With all the recent negative comments on the Kansas Department for Children and Families’ plan to hire unlicensed workers to fill open positions, let me share some insight on why this could be the best answer to Kansas’ child welfare crisis. I currently work at DCF as a foster care surveyor. My position in the department is responsible for foster care licensing, which includes investigating complaints on foster homes. This position does not require a social work license, and I am not a social worker. Prior to working in Kansas as a surveyor, I spent several years working for the state of Texas as an investigator II, investigating allegations of child abuse and neglect. Texas and many other states do not require a license to fill this role.

A license doesn’t determine whether a person can or cannot do a job. As someone who is a trained investigator, I would like to think that I have defended many kids from abuse and neglect, and even saved a few lives. Becky Fast, of the National Association of Social Workers, recently stated that “it can mean the difference between life and death for children” when speaking about this topic. To this, I disagree. It does not take a license to save a child’s life. It takes competency, professionalism and compassion. Instead of causing a greater threat or risk to the lives of Kansas children, we may just start keeping more Kansas kids safe.