June 26, 2001 - Review of Kansas child welfare systems shows significant progress; areas to improve

Topeka--The Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services (SRS) recently completed the first phase of a review of the Kansas child welfare system. The Federal Child and Family Services Review (CFSR) is a comprehensive review by the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). HHS is in the process of reviewing all state child welfare systems to see how well states are complying with the Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997.

SRS Secretary Janet Schalansky said, "This review is another tool for us to use as we strive towards continuous improvement of the child welfare system. I think it shows Kansas is moving in the right direction on child welfare issues."

The review focused on seven systemic areas including: statewide information system capacity; case review system; quality assurance system; staff and provider training; service array and resource development; agency responsiveness to the community; and foster and adoptive home licensing, approval, and recruitment. The review also comments on child safety, permanency, and child and family well-being.

Strengths of the Kansas child welfare system show:

• Kansas collects extensive data on children and families involved in the child welfare system.
• Staff training is available across the state, at both the state and local levels.
• Kansas is a leader in the development of safety and permanency outcomes for children in the foster care system.
• The array of services offered and the delivery of services has improved over the last five years.
• Over 90 percent of case files reviewed showed that the case plan was followed.
• SRS engages in on-going consultation and collaboration with child welfare partners and allies statewide.
• Eighty-five percent of children in foster care are placed in family foster homes rather than institutions or group homes.
• There are many opportunities available for foster parent training.

Areas that need improvement include:

• Data on children and families needs to be more accessible and user-friendly.
• Additional staff training and development is needed, especially for entry level social workers.
• Foster parents should be included more in case planning.
• More short-term, up-front services need to be offered to families, such as short-term respite care.
• More racially and ethnically diverse foster parents need to be recruited.
• SRS and KDHE need to work together to improve the processes around foster home licensing and investigations.
• Foster parents need additional training to deal with difficult child behaviors.
• FBI background checks need to be completed, in addition to KBI checks that are already in place.

Outcomes about child safety, permanency, and well-being were reviewed as well, using nationwide Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS) and National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System data from 1997-1999.

This review showed that Kansas has fewer incidences of recurrence of maltreatment than the national standard; more adoptions are complete in under 24 months in Kansas than in other states; and children in foster care re-enter the system less often in Kansas than in other states.

The results of this review show that incidences of abuse and neglect while in foster care is slightly above the national standard; children are moved more often while in foster care in Kansas than the national standard; and Kansas is below the national standard in achieving permanency within 12 months.

"Kansas has many checks and balances in place to monitor the issues covered by this review. While we are pleased with the results, many states and national advocacy organizations have expressed concern about the integrity of the national data on the child safety, permanency, and well-being portion of the review," said Assistant Secretary Joyce Allegrucci. "Kansas has made great strides in the past few years. This review validates the hard work of child welfare partners all across the state."

Download copy of the complete report: CFSR Review (wordperfect format) - (word format)