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AUGUST 12, 1999 - SRS sets meetings to gain input from the public as the department prepares new contracts for child welfare programs; open meeting also set
The Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services is seeking public input on child welfare issues.
In preparation for new request for proposals (RFPs) for foster care, adoption services, and family preservation, Secretary Rochelle Chronister today announced that a series of request for information (RFI) meetings will be conducted in the coming weeks. Information obtained from these meetings will be considered in formulating bid specifications for contracts on these programs. The new contracts would take effect July 1, 2000.
On September 1, Secretary Chronister, Deputy Secretary Janet Schalansky, Commissioner Joyce Allegrucci and other members of the SRS Policy Committee will listen to comments about these child welfare programs during a public meeting beginning at 1 p.m. at the Finney State Office Building, 230 E. Williams, Wichita, Room 3080. If you wish to provide comments, please contact Debra Fillman at 316-337-6300. Requests for special accommodations should be directed to Hope Burns at (785) 296-3969 at least three days before the meetings.
The public meeting will be hooked up through telephone teleconferencing at the 12 SRS Area offices across Kansas. These offices are located in Chanute, Garden City, Emporia, Hays, Topeka, Olathe, Salina, Manhattan, Hutchinson, Kansas City, Lawrence and Wichita.
Earlier in the day at the same location, SRS will hold it's quarterly Open Meeting. This meeting, which begins at 9 a.m., will provide updates from Secretary Chronister and Deputy Secretary Schalansky about goings on in the department. SRS commissions will also be on hand to talk about new developments within their commissions. This meeting will also be hooked up by teleconference to SRS Area offices across the state.
During the child welfare meeting, SRS is particularly interested in responses to the following questions:
What is it about the current Family Preservation program that you like?
What is it about the current Family Preservation program that you would change?
What is it about the current Foster Care program that you like?
What is it about the current Foster Care program that you would change?
What is it about the current Adoption program that you like?
What is it about the current Adoption program that you would change?
In addition to the statewide teleconference on September 1, directors and social service chiefs will host a series of meetings around the state in the contract regions in order to receive additional input. The public is invited to participate in either the statewide teleconference or the regional meetings. For information about the regional meetings, contact one of the 12 SRS area offices.
Written responses to the RFI also may be submitted to Laura Howard, Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services, 6th floor, Docking State Office Building, 915 Harrison, Topeka, KS 66612-1500, fax (785) 296-4685, e-mail: LKZH"srskansas.org. Please submit any written responses by September 1.
Page Last Updated: May 29, 2001