Success continues to build for Kansas children who need homes.

In the 20 months since the Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services (SRS) privatized the adoption program, 812 children in state custody and foster care have been adopted.

The average of 39 legalized adoption a month is well above the average of 24 finalized adoptions per month during federal fiscal year 1995, the last year the program was run by the state. The adoption program was turned over to Lutheran Social Service (LSS) of Kansas and Oklahoma on October 1, 1996.

SRS Secretary Rochelle Chronister said the privatization effort has worked, and worked well, for Kansas children.

"Kansas families are coming forward," she said. "Working in partnership with SRS and other private agencies, Lutheran Social Service has certainly strengthened the adoption process for children who need the love and stability only a family can give."

Bernice Karstensen, executive director of LSS, said there has been an ongoing effort to get information about children available for adoption to the general public. And, she said, the efforts are paying off as more families come forward.

"We have gradually been able to increase the visibility of children in the system waiting for adoption," she said. "We have been able to increase the stakeholders ... the people who care about kids."

Children are available for adoption after parental rights have been terminated by Kansas courts because of abuse, neglect or abandonment. Often, these children need ongoing counseling or therapy to help them deal with the separation from parents and the effects of abuse and neglect. Nearly 90 percent of the children have special needs, including medical, physical, mental or emotional handicaps.

But despite these needs, the rate of disrupted adoptions is at 7.1 percent, according to Karstensen. A disruption involves a family who takes a child with a plan of adoption, but the adoption plan disrupts because of many factors, sometimes including unexpected behavior problems.

The disruption rate in Kansas is less than half the national average, Karstensen said.

Of assistance in Kansas to adoptive families is an adoption subsidy. This helps families pay up-front costs of adoptions, including legal costs and any structural changes needed in the home because of a child’s disability. The adoption subsidy also helps with monthly costs for reoccurring needs and will pay for respite care for families.

LSS works with 11 subcontractors in the adoption program, who cover all areas of Kansas. One of the subcontractors is Kansas Families for Kids (KFFK), which helps run the Kansas Adoption Network.

David Scott, executive director of KFFK, said Kansas has developed a clear and consistent message about the need for Kansas families to make their "hearts and homes" available to children in need.

"This effort, hopefully, will continue to have a long-term impact," Scott said. "We need to continue to get the message out that we need your help. This is something that only Kansas families can do for Kansas kids."

Page Last Updated: May 29, 2001