TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The new leader at the Kansas Department for Children and Families is promising a thorough review of a state foster care system that's faced months of scrutiny.

Secretary Gina Meier-Hummel, who was hired on Dec. 1 to lead the agency following the retirement of Phyllis Gilmore, met Tuesday with a legislative task force studying weaknesses in Kansas' foster care system. The meeting touched on several issues, including how to better prevent deaths of children in contact with the agency, the Topeka Capital-Journal reported .

"I absolutely believe you have to reflect on what happ...