The Kansas Practice Model StoryAt the Kansas Department for Children and Families we believe individuals have the capacity to progress and grow, that people are the experts on their lives, and we value the communities and the people who make them unique. The Kansas Practice Model (KPM) is our guide for promoting family safety and well-being, and reflects our mission of protecting children, strengthening families, and promoting adult self-sufficiency.
The KPM was developed in 2019 and has now been implemented statewide. The model is a consistent, customized framework based on evidence-based best practices. One of those best practices is making sure the voices of everyone involved—children, families, and community members— are heard. DCF workers use a family-centered approach to find resources and expand a family’s circle of support. These strategies help families meet their needs and reach their own goals, so they are better able to meet the needs of their children.
Family Success
The Kansas Practice Model is designed to facilitate engagement, safety planning, and decision-making for families in Kansas. One of its most critical goals is to establish and support every family member feeling safe and secure. The process of achieving safety and stability is different for every family.
Under the current practice model, the agency has been able to improve outcomes for individuals and families. One example is a story that takes place in Manhattan, Kansas. A mother and child were lacking peace and stability in their family; the mother was isolated and didn’t know what to do for her child who was experiencing some extreme behaviors. A worker from the Manhattan DCF office visited with her and together they decided individual therapy would be the right approach to help her son. Based on that, the worker helped locate mental health resources and developed an immediate Safety Plan. The plan provided strategies on how to de-escalate behavior problems, which improved dynamics in the household. Not long after, the mother came into the DCF office to begin a work program and mentioned how well things were now; her son is making a lot of positive changes in therapy and the strategies from the safety plan have helped her family find balance again.
Finding these additional supports — neighbors, distant relatives, teachers, community/church groups, DCF program staff and our program partners — can make the greatest difference for families and help improve the lives of all family members.
Moving Forward
At DCF, we believe that individuals are the experts on their own lives, and have their own voices, choices, needs, and life stories. The Kansas Practice Model strives to incorporate these voices and continues to expand as we grow our practice and walk alongside the families we serve.