Travis Kelce wins Athlete of the Year at 2024 People’s Choice Awards
19 February 2024
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — On Monday, the Kansas Department for Children and Families announced which organizations got contracts to be Case Management Providers for foster care in Kansas, and Sedgwick County is getting a new CMP.
DCF says TFI, KVC Kansas, Cornerstones of Care, and Saint Francis Ministries will continue their work in their existing areas across the state, except for the Wichita area. EmberHope will replace Saint Francis Ministries.
DCF expects the five CMP partners to ensure families get timely and effective service and interventions. They are also supposed to ensure foster placement minimizes trauma. If possible, children will be placed with relatives or non-related kin. Also, if possible, siblings will get to stay together.
“During the bidding process, we were focused on the organizations’ commitment to enhancing the quality of foster care, reintegration, adoption, ICPC, and independent living services to Kansas children,” DCF Secretary Laura Howard said in a news release. “We believe our contracted partners are committed to a practice model that guides team members to engage families and create lifetime support networks.”
The CMP contracts will be in place from this July through June 2028, with an optional renewal for four additional 12-month periods.
Currently, Kansas has 5,895 children in foster care. DCF says that is the lowest number since January 2014.
Sedgwick County accounts for 20% of the state’s foster care children. DCF says EmberHope will enhance the services provided for the county’s children and families.
Adjusted caseload standards:
Howard said families remain at the center of the foster care process.
DCF says the new contracts adjust the caseload standards for case managers, aligning them with the Council on Accreditation Standards. The 2022 edition established the following caseloads:
12-15 children in foster care or kinship care and their families; and
8 children in treatment foster care and their families.
When workers manage a blend of case types, caseloads should be weighted and adjusted accordingly.
Caseloads may be higher when organizations are faced with temporary staff vacancies.
New personnel should not carry independent caseloads prior to the completion of training.