This National Foster Care Month, nearly 6,000 children across Kansas are living in an out-of-home placement due to abuse, neglect, or other circumstances prompting state intervention. These placements range from independent living arrangements to group residential settings, with family foster homes making up the largest majority at almost 50%.
At the heart of a child’s ability to thrive is stability. Qualified family foster homes exist to meet children’s major developmental, physical, and emotional needs during some of the most difficult times in their lives. This month, we are excited to recognize and uplift the essential roles family foster care providers play in helping children be safe, supported, and valued.
Defining Family Foster Care
According to the Kansas Department for Children and Families, a family foster home provides “twenty-four-hour family care for one to four children between the ages of infancy to 16 years of age.” Foster parents must complete background checks, training, and a home assessment to become licensed, and they must meet state requirements and ongoing training requirements.
But family foster care is much more than temporary residence and supervision. These homes often become anchors of stability in a child’s tumultuous journey through the child welfare system. With the average time in Kansas foster care exceeding 2 years, these placements play a key role in a child’s ongoing development and well-being.
Types and Goals of Family Foster Homes
The primary goal of foster care is reintegration, helping children safely return to their families whenever possible. Because of this, an ideal family foster home is made up of a child’s kin – biological relatives or chosen family, trusted family friends. These placements help minimize disruption and preserve important connections as the child is removed from their home.
When kinship placement is not possible, non-relative (or non-kinship) family foster homes provide the next best option. These families play a critical role by offering consistency, support, care, and connection, while working alongside case workers, CASA volunteers, treatment providers, and biological families to support the child’s best interest.
Providers and Resources
In Kansas, Child Placing Agencies (CPAs) recruit, train, and support foster families. One such organization, DCCCA, supports a range of family foster homes, offering specialized programs and resources ranging in topics from respite (short-term) care to therapeutic family foster care (supporting children with complex needs). DCCCA helps address barriers for foster youth and families through programs like We Kan Drive, offering educational and financial support for youth seeking driver’s licenses.
Another key organization is Foster Village Northeast Kansas, founded by foster parents with first-hand knowledge of foster family needs. Their mission is to build community and provide practical support beyond the formal system. Foster Village meets immediate, material needs with free clothing, beds, car seats, and toiletries, alongside toys, art supplies, and sports equipment that support children’s ability to thrive.
Just as importantly, they connect families–building a network of support that reduces isolation and strengthens caregiving.
Foster Care Outcomes and Family Support
In Kansas, about 50% of children exiting foster care are reunited with their families, reflecting the system’s primary goal. The next most common outcome is adoption, accounting for approximately totalling 28%. In many cases, family foster care providers often become adoptive resources when reintegration is no longer a viable goal.
However, about 15% of youth exit foster care in Kansas through emancipation, meaning they age out of the system into adulthood. This rate is significantly higher than the national average of 6%, and is often associated with increased challenges related to employment, housing, income, and mental health – largely due to lack of lasting connections and supports or services.
Family foster homes can play a critical role in changing this trajectory, helping youth build life skills and connections and plan for transitional supports if and when emancipation is in their best interest.
Supporting Family Foster Care This Month and Beyond
Family foster homes provide more than a bed or shelter- they offer safety, stability, and a sense of belonging during times of uncertainty. In many ways, their role mirrors that of a CASA volunteer, as both advocate for the well-being of children in the system. However, family foster homes also provide the day-to-day care that supports a child’s immediate safety and long-term growth and well-being.
Together, CASA volunteers and family foster homes with case managers form a powerful support system for vulnerable children navigating difficult circumstances. Their combined efforts help ensure that children are not alone–and that they have the opportunity to grow up in safe, nurturing environments.
To all foster families-and to those who support them- thank you. Your commitment is helping build a future where every child has the chance to thrive in a safe, stable, and permanent home!
