Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services Secretary Janet Schalansky today announced that DCCCA Inc., based in Lawrence, and St. Francis Academy Inc., based in Salina, have been awarded contracts to provide family preservation services across Kansas. St. Francis and DCCCA are both not-for-profit child welfare agencies.

The four year annually renewable contracts begin July 1.

Kansas is divided into five regions for the family preservation contracts.

DCCCA, which for the last four years has operated the family preservation program under contract with SRS in the Wichita area, won contracts to provide the same services in four regions of the state. The regions include region one, the Kansas City area, region two, southeast Kansas, region three, the Manhattan and Topeka area of the state, and region five, Wichita. St. Francis, which operates the state's family preservation program in region four, western Kansas, will continue operating the program in that area of the state.

Secretary Schalansky said DCCCA and St. Francis provided the best program proposals at the most cost effective price. But she said the awarding of the new contracts should in no way be regarded as a reflection of past performance by current contractors. All five current contractors have done an excellent job and have exceeded outcomes set for the program, she said. "The proposals by DCCCA and St. Francies do reflect extraordinary strength for serving families with substance abuse issues and for connecting families to needed community services so the families will be able to sustain their well-being after family preservation ends," Secretary Schalansky said.

Under the program, family preservation teams provide intensive, short-term assistance to families in crisis with a child or children in danger of being removed from the home because of abuse or neglect. Most often, referrals to family preservation come from SRS Protective Services after abuse or neglect reports. Families referred to the program must agree to join the Family Preservation Program before services are provided.

Family Preservation is among the most successful child welfare programs. The program has exceeded performance outcome measures over the last four years. These performance measures include the safety of children during program participation and for six months after participation and children not requiring out of home placement during and after program participation.

SRS Assistant Secretary for Children and Family Policy Joyce Allegrucci said she was pleased with both the program descriptions and the cost proposals from both DCCCA and St. Francis. She said the selection process was difficult because the agency received many excellent bids.

"The selection process was the result of a well-structured effort and should be viewed as a progression in the state's effort to establish a partnership focused on the best interests of children and families in Kansas," Assistant Secretary Allegrucci said.

Page Last Updated: May 29, 2001