01/25/2023 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 01/25/2023 15:23
"If we can help build the skills necessary for families to succeed, we can prevent the need for families to have contact with DCF, especially the child welfare system," Secretary Laura Howard said. "These centers will focus on parent resilience, social connections and important parent and child development skills which we believe will result in fewer youth in the foster care system."
The centers will serve as community hubs with sole purpose of supporting families in their own neighborhoods. Parents will have easier access to programs and services like job skills training, early childhood programs and nutrition services.
DCF awarded grants to:
Listing of key staffAgency | Counties Served | Award Amount |
Community Children's Center | Douglas County | $208,300 |
Kansas Family Advisory Network SE | Allen, Bourbon, Chautauqua, Cherokee, Crawford, Labette, Linn, Montgomery, Neosho, Osage, and Wilson Counties | $208,300 |
Kansas Family Advisory Network SW | Barton, Comanche, Edwards, Finney, Ford, Gray, Greeley, Harvey, Lyon, Marion, McPherson, Meade, Pawnee, Reno, Rice, Seward, and Stafford Counties | $208,300 |
Kansas Children's Service League | Sedgwick County | $208,333 |
KU Project Eagle | Wyandotte County | $208,095 |
Live Well NWKS | Cheyenne, Rawlins, Decatur, Norton, Sherman, Thomas, Sheridan, Graham, Wallace, Logan, Gove, and Trego Counties | $208,300 |
Pony Express | Marshall and Washington Counties | $197,443 |
Turner USD 202 | Wyandotte County; USD 202 | $84,000 |
Urban League of Kansas | 67214 zip code in Sedgwick County | $124,999 |
USD 252 Lyon Co. | Lyon County communities of Neosho Rapids, Harford and Olpe | $106,142 |
Total awarded: $1,762,212
DCF partners with the Kansas Children's Service League (KCSL) to administer the Family Resource Center network. KCSL will work with the communities to design and create their center. As the lead operator of the Parent Helpline, 1-800-Children, KCSL offers important insights on parenting and caregiver resources that will help ensure the success of each Family Resource Center.
Family Resource Centers are designed for all families with services at no or low cost for participants.