Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services (SRS) Secretary Janet Schalansky announced today that contracts to provide foster care/reintegration services have been offered to private, non-profit child placement agencies in the final two regions of the state. Contracts were awarded in the other three regions of the state on Monday. Secretary Schalansky also announced the awarding of a statewide adoption contract. This completes the foster care/reintegration and adoption contract awards. Each contract is for one year, beginning July 1. Contracts are renewable annually for an additional three years.

Kaw Valley Center, Inc., of Kansas City, Kan., was awarded the foster care/reintegration contract for region two, which includes the Kansas City/Lawrence SRS areas in northeast Kansas. They are the current contractor. In region three, which includes the Topeka/Manhattan SRS areas in east and central Kansas, current contractor Kansas Children’s Service League, of Wichita, Kan., was awarded the contract.

Kansas Children’s Service League was also offered the statewide adoption contract. Lutheran Social Services of Kansas and Oklahoma, Inc., of Wichita, Kan., is the current adoption contractor in the state.

"We are pleased that this process is nearly finished," said SRS Secretary Janet Schalansky. "The team at SRS has spent many months preparing for and reviewing proposals. We are delighted to welcome some new contractors into our public/private partnership. This process will help us create an even better, more stable foster care system for Kansas children.

On Monday, foster care/reintegration contracts were awarded to the Farm, Inc, of Emporia, Kan., in region one, which includes mostly eastern and southeastern Kansas counties and covers the Olathe, Emporia, and Chanute SRS areas. The current contractor is Kaw Valley

Center. In region four, a contract was awarded to St. Francis Academy, Inc., of Salina,

Kan. Region four includes south central, southwest, and northwest Kansas counties and covers the Hutchinson, Garden City, and Hays SRS areas. United Methodist Youthville, Inc., of Newton, Kan., is the current contractor in region four. In region five, which covers Sedgwick County, current contractor United Methodist Youthville was awarded the contract.

SRS Assistant Secretary for Children and Family Policy Joyce Allegrucci said she expects continued improvement in family preservation, foster care, and adoption service in Kansas. "We look forward to working with all the partners during this transition phase. SRS and all the contractors have pledged to work together to ensure a smooth transition for children and families in Kansas," said Allegrucci.

Page Last Updated: May 29, 2001