St Francis Ministries, the Kansas non-profit contracted by Nebraska to handle foster placements in the Omaha area continues to struggle financially.
The Nebraska Dept of Health and Human Services on Friday barred St Francis from taking on any new cases for 60 days because it’s struggling to fulfill the requirements of its contract.
The department also granted St Francis a probationary license as a child-placing agency.
State child welfare workers will handle new cases in Douglas and Sarpy counties during the probationary period, relying on existing staffers to manage cases and hire additional workers as needed..
St Francis won the contract by sharply under-bidding the prior contract holder, then needed a multi-million dollar bailout earlier this year from the state because its costs far exceeded the contract proceeds.