LINCOLN- Saint Francis Ministries provided an alternate description of its departure from Nebraska, where multiple investigations sounded alarms about the organization’s ability to comply with state law while providing foster care services for the Omaha area.

This week, State Senator Machaela Cavanaugh sent a letter to Nebraska Attorney General Doug Peterson in response to an Aug. 11 story about federal authorities moving to seize $10 million from the former Saint Francis IT director.

Alison Kossover, chief administration officer for Saint Francis, said in a 300-word response that the story leads readers to “an inaccurate understanding of the situation.”

The letter asks the attorney general to launch an investigation into Nebraska’s dealings with Saint Francis and its former leaders and to compel the parties to preserve any evidence relating to the contract with Nebraska.

In December, the organization announced it would leave Nebraska after investigations by the state’s inspector general and an oversight committee both concluded the state should end its relationship with Saint Francis.

“There was this picture of systematic failure on the part of Saint Francis Ministries to do what was statutorily required in child welfare in Nebraska,” Cavanaugh said.

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