DCF Announces Innovative Capacity Building Grants for Therapeutic Family Foster Homes
In response to the need to provide more Therapeutic Family Foster Homes (TFFH), the Kansas Department for Children and Families has announced that seven agencies will receive $4,765,355 in grants to build capacity through innovative approaches that will significantly increase the number of homes available and provide needed training and supportive services.
Last year, the Kansas Legislature appropriated $6 million in State General Funds to support the TFFH capacity building program. TFFH receive increased training and supportive services to provide a temporary home for youth with significant emotional, behavioral or mental health needs. The homes are part of the continuum level of care and support as a resource for children and families.
"Together, the selected agencies will grow the network of Therapeutic Family Foster Homes while providing meaningful services and supports," said DCF Secretary Laura Howard. "The approaches by the agencies span a number of thoughtful innovations with an ability to have resources customized to meet a child's or family's individualized needs."
The innovative mix of service delivery options will result in specific recruitment strategies and increased wraparound supports to resource families, biological families and youth. Some grants include collaboration with agencies who operate similar programs or support youth requiring a therapeutic level of care.
"DCF is committed to providing supports and services to all agencies sponsoring these types of homes," Howard continued.
The grants are effective March 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025 with the possibility of three one-year renewals. The remaining $1.2 million of the allocated resources will be available to provide other TFFH supports, training and services.
In the foster care area of focus, Foster Adopt Connect serving Bourbon, Crawford, Douglas, Ellis, Johnson, Leavenworth, Reno, Shawnee and Wyandotte Counties will receive an initial amount of $82,930 with the full grant amount of $189,507 for rapid expansion of a Behavioral Intervention Program.
Behavioral Intervention is an in-home support that engages both parents and children with daily management of behaviors to decrease the need for short term hospitalization and assist with crisis de-escalation, re-direction and the teaching of positive replacement behaviors to the youth. Behavioral Intervention services can follow the child and be available to support the transition to either the parents' home or an adoptive placement.
(Information courtesy DCF.)