1. BRINGING COMMUNITY TOGETHER TO SUPPORT FAMILIES AND THEIR REUNIFICATION FAMILY REUNIFICATION TELECONFERENCE Strong Families Make a Strong Kansas

2. FAMILY REUNIFICATION DEFINED Strong Families Make a Strong Kansas Reunification is the process of returning a child who has been in out-of-home care to the care of his/her parents.

3. REUNIFICATION PROCESS Strong Families Make a Strong Kansas Goal of Reunification The initial permanency goal for children in out-of-home placement is reintegration unless the court has ruled that no reasonable efforts to reunify are required. Case planning is directed toward addressing those concerns which led to the child being removed from his or her home. The Child Welfare Case Management Provider provides services to ensure the parents can resume responsibility for the child in the home in the shortest time possible.

4. STATUTE ON REUNIFICATION Strong Families Make a Strong Kansas Per the Kansas Code for Care of Children A child in the custody of the Secretary who has been adjudicated a Child in Need of Care cannot be returned to the home from which they were removed without providing written notice to the court at least 14 calendar days prior to the planned date of return. After reviewing the information provided to justify the child's return to a parent, if the court sets a hearing on the matter, the child may not be returned to the parent's home without written consent of the court.

5. REUNIFICATION STATISTICS Nearly 60 percent of children leaving foster care are reunified with their family. More than 70 percent of children reunited with their family are returned home within 12 months of entering foster care. More than 90 percent of children reunified with their families do not return to foster care within 12 months. Children who are reunited with their family spend an average of eight months in care.

6. SERVICE PROVIDERS St. Francis - West and Wichita Regions KVC - East and Kansas City Regions

7. REUNIFICATION SERVICES Each family receives initial and ongoing assessments. Children are placed with relatives whenever possible. Kinship families make a difference in the life of a child today and in the life of a family system forever. Each family works with a team of service providers that include a network of community supports and services.

8. REUNIFICATION SERVICES Case management In-home family therapy Child behavior management training Advocacy and support with the court system and schools Transportation 12 Month after-care services Resource and Referrals to connect to community supports such as: −Health care −Mental health −Medication management −Substance abuse −Parent education −Schools −Churches

9. RESOURCES Strong Families Make a Strong Kansas www.kvc.org www.st-francis.org (also on twitter, facebook and linkedin)

10. CHILDREN’S ALLIANCE OF KANSAS The mission of the Children’s Alliance is to support member agencies in their efforts to strengthen children and families For our members, we provide these key services: Effective advocacy Conduct comprehensive training Deliver operational support Produce relevant research Provide consultation services

11. MAPP PROGRAM Trauma-informed MAPP (TIPS-MAPP) 30-hour, 10-week group process to prepare and inform prospective foster/adoptive parents PS-Deciding Together 7-week companion program to TIPS-MAPP that is available to families who are unable to attend group meetings Caring for Our Own 27-hour, 9-week group process designed to help relative/kinship providers understand their role in supporting the children placed in their home and the role of the birth families

12. CONTACT INFORMATION Strong Families Make a Strong Kansas Bruce Linhos, Executive Director Denise Gibson, Director of National Programs (MAPP) Amy Hagen, Director of Training 785-235-5437 https://childally.org

13. KANSAS FAMILY ADVISORY NETWORK, INC. (KFAN) Strong Families Make a Strong Kansas KFAN is a non-adversarial, non-profit network of family partners, organizations, groups and agencies who have joined together in collaboration to promote and advance safety, permanency, and well- being for children and their families involved with, or at risk of becoming involved with the child welfare system by using education for children, families, policy makers and society at large. http://s514060954.initial-website.com/ kfaninfo@gmail.com 1-800-969-5764 shertomlinson@hotmail.com

14. DCF RESOURCES The following resources are available at www.dcf.ks.gov: DCF Family Handbook www.youshare.org Ideas to Support Birth Parents tip sheet Parent Ally program Family Reunification Month printables −Posters and half letters focusing on families in crisis and how to support families in crisis