TOPEKA, KAN. - More money is on the way, from DCF, to help cut the need for foster care.
St. Francis Ministries of Salina is scheduled to get nearly one million ($920-thousand) in the initiative for its Seeking Safety program and nearly five million ($4.9) for its Family Centered treatment program in fiscal year 2028.
TOPEKA – The Kansas Department for Children and Families (DCF) today announced a new set of Family First Prevention Services grants to expand programs that help keep Kansas children safely with their families as well as prevent them from entering the foster care system. The grants, which take effect in state fiscal year 2028, build on the success of Family First programs across Kansas, which have helped thousands of children remain safely at home while connecting families with mental health, kinship, parent skill building, substance use treatment and other supports they need to thrive.
In 2019, Kansas became one of the first states in the country to implement the Family First Prevention Services Act, bipartisan federal legislation that allows states to direct federal foster care funds into prevention programs focused on keeping families together.
“We are incredibly proud of the impact DCF and our partner agencies are making in the lives of Kansas children and families,” said DCF Secretary Laura Howard. “Since 2019, Family First Prevention programs have helped more than 8,300 Kansas children remain with their families and avoid entry into foster care. These outcomes demonstrate the value of investing in families and strengthening them before a crisis occurs.”
DCF awarded grants for 12 distinct Family First Prevention Services programs through 10 provider agencies. The grants will begin July 1, 2027, and include three one-year renewal options. The total budget available per state fiscal year is approximately $23 million, of which approximately $11.5 million is from State General Funds, with the remainder coming from federal matching funds. Grants were awarded to the following organizations:
Substance Use Disorder Programs
Agency
Evidence-Based Program
FY 2028
DCCCA
Sobriety Treatment and Recovery Teams
$2,285,000
Saint Francis Ministries
Seeking Safety
$920,000
Parent Skill-building
Agency
Evidence-Based Program
FY 2028
Child Advocacy and Parenting Services, Inc.
Family Check-Up & Family Mentoring Program
$144,056.37 & $301,500.54
Kansas Children's Service League
Healthy Families America
$2,703,200
FosterAdopt Connect
Parent Support and Prevention
$815,764
Kansas Parents as Teachers Association
Parents as Teachers Bright Futures Program
$975,000
Saint Francis Ministries
Family-Centered Treatment
$4,900,000
Mental Health
Agency
Evidence-Based Program
FY 2028
Community Solutions, Inc.
Multisystemic Therapy
$6,859,876
TFI Family Services
Parent Child Interaction Therapy
$1,500,000
Youth Advocate Program®
Hi Fi Wrap
$471,565
Kinship Navigation
Agency
Evidence-Based Program
FY 2028
Kansas Legal Services
Kids 2 Kin
$350,911
Primary Prevention Program
Agency
Evidence-Based Program
FY 2028
Kansas Legal Services
Parent Advocate Program
$992,824
The University of Kansas Center for Public Partnership & Research evaluates Kansas’ Family First Prevention Services Act programs. Read the most recent statewide evaluation here.