Wichita Children's Home gets a little help

By Melissa Scheffler

(WICHITA, Kan.)—

Sitting behind piles of paper work, Shauna Morris sometimes calls her job hectic.
"I feel like I'm on roller skates all the time because I'm running up and down, making sure everything is getting taken care of,” Morris said.
She's an intake case manager at the Wichita Children's Home.
"I just try to make them feel comfortable.  I know a lot of them are scared, or, some of them are so upset they don't want to talk,” Morris said.
More than 18-hundred kids have been admitted this year.  Most of them are from Sedgwick County.  But area counties use the home too.
“We've always opened our doors for any child in the state,” Director Sarah Robinson said.
Robinson said some of the state's burden could be lifted with the Sunshine Children's Home in Butler County.  Out of all the counties, Butler uses the Wichita Children's Home the most.  It sent 70 kids here this year.
"It's hard enough being taken away from their home and then having to take a long ride and come to a place they're not familiar with,” Morris said.
Robinson says the new home would also save law enforcement time travelling with the children.  And, it could save the Wichita home money.
"We have been working together with them so that we can streamline our services for economies, because it's expensive to run a shelter,” Robinson said.
Robinson says the two homes could share staff, training, and health services.  It will also leave more time for Morris to concentrate on her favorite part of the job.
"I love dealing with children period,” Morris said.
The idea for the Butler County Children's Home started in 2008.  A task force is currently raising money for the home and hopes to start building it in the near future.