DCF Announces More Than $20 Million in Grants to Help Kansas Families Stay Together, Prevent Entry into Foster Care
~~Grants will Fund Mental Health, Parent and Caregiver Skill-Building, Kinship, and Substance Use Disorder Programs~~
October 27, 2026
Topeka, Kan. – 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.
###
The Kansas Department for Children and Families’ (DCF) mission is to protect children, strengthen families and promote adult self-sufficiency. DCF’s 35 service centers across the state offer a wide range of support services, including food, utility, child care assistance, child support services and employment education and training. DCF also partners with grantees to provide foster care services to children, including case planning, placement, life skills and foster parent recruitment and training. DCF partners with organizations, communities, and other agencies to support families, children, and vulnerable adults, connecting them with resources, supports and networks in their home communities.