Kansas Department for Children and Families

TOPEKA–In a recent report released by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, Kansas ranks fifth in the nation for ensuring that children who come into foster care are placed with a family instead of in a group home setting.

“While there are certainly times when it is appropriate for a child to be placed in a group home, in most situations, a family setting is the least restrictive and less traumatic environment for a child following removal,” Kansas Department for Children and Families (DCF) Secretary Phyllis Gilmore said. “It is always our priority to keep children in their own homes when it’s a safe option.”

In the past two decades, Kansas has reduced group home placements from 30 percent to 5 percent. In Kansas, of the 6,492 children in foster care (May 2015), 338 are in a group home setting.

Kansas foster care services are provided by two contractors, KVC Kansas in DCF’s East and KC regions and St. Francis Community Services in DCF’s West and Wichita regions.

Research cited by the Annie E. Casey Foundation shows that there are developmental benefits to children living in a family setting as opposed to a group home. Children placed in family settings tend to have more positive outcomes. The family setting is also the less expensive option. Group home placements are seven to 10 times more costly for states.

DCF is actively working to recruit more foster families in the state. The agency has partnered with many faith-based and community groups to raise awareness of this need.

The “Every Kid Needs a Family” policy report published by Anne E. Casey Foundation can be viewed at http://www.aecf.org/m/resourcedoc/aecf-EveryKidNeedsAFamily-2015.pdf. The report reflects 2013 data.