foster care

Appealing placement decisions to the Kansas Court of Appeals would mark a new, controversial step.

Changes in state law should help expand mental health services, but it will take years to get everyone on board.

Rural foster parents have the same struggles all rural Kansans do, but more legal deadlines adds additional stressors in their life.

The child reportedly had a medical condition, but authorities haven't released many details.

The Department for Children and Families says it works to make sure gay, lesbian and transgender foster children end up in welcoming homes, but nothing in state law requires special consideration.

Some of the new opportunities for support expire in September. Others extend a year beyond that. People can contact DCF to inquire about their eligibility.

The private nonprofits that run foster care in the state say they've risen to the challenge of caring for children during the pandemic and meeting the terms of a class-action lawsuit settlement. But child welfare advocates say there's plenty of room for improvement.

Saint Francis Ministries is required to submit a business plan to the state by March 1 and will need to share other financial information on a regular basis.

Kinship families, who take in foster children who are related to them, are more likely to lack computers and other tools needed for online learning, say foster care agencies.

Inspectors snapped photos of boarded-up windows, beds without proper bedding and nails poking out of boards where children walk or play.