"When Secretary Howard came on board in January it quickly became evident to her that the agency had been hollowed out both from a personnel and resource perspective. Rebuilding the agency and regaining the trust of all Kansans is a top priority.

The Department for Children and Families is committed to safe families and providing support to communities across Kansas. During Secretary Howard’s first three months in office she has worked diligently with Governor Kelly and the legislature to add additional child protection employees in the next calendar year. The Secretary is pleased that the legislature has chosen to fund those additions and looks forward to final passage of the budget. The additional staff will help reduce the caseloads of protection workers allowing for more time to work with families to ensure safety.

In addition, Secretary Howard has emphasized implementation of the Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA). Again, with the leadership of Governor Kelly, and working with the legislature, this effort will bring in $13 million in federal funds for child welfare system evidence-based prevention services and programs. DCF has already begun to connect with community partners from across the state to kick off these initiatives. The agency is excited at the sheer number of people who are interested in working with DCF to keep families together and children safe."