Kansas Foster Care Resources
Kansas Foster Care Statistics
There are currently over 7,500 children in foster care in the State of Kansas.
There are approximately 2,700 foster families in the State of Kansas.
The average length of stay for a child in foster care for those adopted is 36 months, and 37 months for those who age out of the system.
The number of children living apart from their families in out-of-home care has increased by almost 39% compared to the number of children in out-of-home care in 2011.
The average foster home burns out and closes its license and home within ten months.
The majority of children who are removed from the home by the Department of Children and Family Services are placed in a foster home. Other placement options are relatives, group residential homes, independent living, and run away.
It takes about six months to a year for a foster family to become licensed. The state and private licensing agencies spend approximately $2,500 to license a home.
When homes are unavailable, children go to a group home, a mental health facility, are moved every 24-hours to a home just for the night as the state can get permission for 24 hours for a house to be over capacity, or they sleep in the KVC Kansas office.
Over the past year, children in the state’s foster care system have had to spend the night in child welfare contractors’ offices more than 100 times.
Nationally there is a crisis of foster care, with most states experiencing an increase in the number of children in care and not enough homes to help them.
On any given day, there are approximately 428,000 children in foster care.
In 2015, over 670,000 children spent time in foster care.
The average number of moves for a child in foster care is seven times.
Despite the common perception that the majority of children in foster care are very young, the average age is 9.
While most children in foster care live in family settings, a substantial number, 14%, live in institutions or group homes.
In 2015, more than 62,000 young people aged out of foster care without permanent families. Research has shown that those who leave care without being linked to forever families have a much higher likelihood than youth in the general population to experience homelessness, unemployment, and incarceration as adults.
*References include: Child Welfare Fact Sheet Sept. 2015; DCF Report 2016 and 2015; KVC Kansas; CWLA "Kansas Children 2017" at cwla.org
Kansas Foster Care Resources
Ember Hope/Youthville
Ember-Hope Youthville is a faith-based agency providing support to inspire hope in at-risk youth an families through residential, foster care, and counseling programs.
http://emberhope.org
DCCCA
DCCCA provides social and community services across Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma that improve the safety, health, and well-being of those we serve. One of the services it provides is being a child-placing agency, giving training for foster parents in the State of Kansas.
http://dccca.org
KVC Foster Parent Advisory Board
This group brainstorms new ways that KVC and foster parents can improve the foster care experience for children in care, foster families, and KVC.
https://kansas.kvc.org/services/foster-parent-resources/kvc-foster-parent-advisory-board/
YOUTHRIVE
A nonprofit organization that supports our foster youth as they transition to adulthood through a unique model.
https://www.youthrive.org
Department for Children and Families (DCF)
A resources page created "Foster Kansas Kids" sponsored by DCF
https://www.fosterkskids.org/resources/
Care Portal
Connects churches with local children and families in crisis. Support parents and children in foster care. Child welfare workers uncover the needs. CarePortal makes local churches aware, giving them a real-time opportunity to respond.
https://careportal.org
National Foster Care Communities
Across the nation there are organizations who are trying to look at this foster care crisis in a new way. Here are some examples.
Bridge Meadows
An intergenerational neighborhood for adoptive and foster parents and senior citizens in Portland Orgeon. www.bridgemeadows.org
Peppers Ranch
Foster care community with over 15 homes for foster families, and support resources and multi-purpose building and recreational activities in Guthrie, Oklahoma. Goal of keeping sibling groups together, and supporting the foster family.
www.peppersranch.org
The Treehouse Foundation
Established in 2002 in Easthampton, Massachusetts is a multigenerational community connecting foster families and senior citizens, in a community of twelve family homes and apartments.
www.refca.net
Drumm Farm
In Independence, Missouri, a community of foster homes, support services, youth aging-out programs, and farmer's market. http://www.drummfarm.org/
Hope Meadows
Formerly Generations of Hope, located in Rantoul, Illinois, with the goal of giving homes and purpose to senior citizens, as well as supporting adoptive or foster parents.
www.hopemeadows.org
Lions Meadows of Hope
Foster care community launched in August 2015 in Perkins, Oklahoma.
www.lionsmoh.org
Anna's House Foundation
Faith-based organization to provide assistance for foster families, now launching a new foster care community providing homes to foster families in Luther, Oklahoma.
www.annashousefoundation.org
New Life Village
Located in Tampa, Florida, creates a community of caring for older children and large sibling groups, with supportive seniors in the community as well.
www.newlifevillage.org
The Children's Neighborhood
Located in For Walton Beach, Florida, since 2008, providing a home to large sibling groups, with five family foster homes and an Opportunity Home with space for young adults that age out of foster care.
www.childrenincrisisfl.org
SOS Children's Village- Illinois
Children are placed in a community of homes with trained and paid foster parents, with the goal of intentional care and keeping siblings together.
www.sosillinois.org