Department for Children and Families
TOPEKA, Kan. — The Kansas Department for Children and Families (DCF) on Tuesday announced a new approach to improving the health, social, and economic outcomes of the next generation. By utilizing $11.5 million of the agency’s Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funding, DCF is launching 2Gen Kansas.
The two-generation (2Gen Approach), led by Ascend at the Aspen Institute, works to end intergenerational poverty by supporting children and their parents or care providers – as a family unit – to move the whole family forward. Ten organizations will receive funding.
“We believe this approach will build family well-being by intentionally and simultaneously working with children and the adults in their lives,” said DCF Secretary Laura Howard. “This support will increase opportunities for families to become stable, connected and empower them to progress towards their personal, educational and career goals.”
The agencies will serve as an access point by assisting families in applying for programs such as Food Assistance, also known as SNAP, USDA Commodity Programs, Child Care Assistance, Low Income Energy Assistance Program, and Vocational Rehabilitation Services. They will be required to participate in ongoing training and collaborative meetings and recommend one parent being served by their organizations to serve on a statewide 2Gen parent advisory council.
“It will result in coordinated access to systems and structures that are necessary for families to thrive economically and socially,” she continued.
“Kansas DCF joins a growing number of state agencies implementing 2Gen approaches to unlock the potential of children and their families together,” said Marjorie Sims, Managing Director of Ascend at the Aspen Institute. “Adopting this family-centered mindset not only boosts the well-being of children and their parents, but it also offers a model to better integrate the systems of support for these communities. We are energized by DCF’s investment in families, which is a culmination of years of work from family-serving organizations across the state and country.”
The 10 contracts will be in place from July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2026, with an optional renewal of one additional two-year grant. DCF received 24 proposals and the two Hutch Post area awardees are Mental Health Association of South-Central Kansas, Inc. for $409,053.04 and the Kansas Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs for $3,487,725.00.
Details of the projects are below:
Mental Health Association of South Central Kansas, Inc: Service provisions will include familial case management, family mentoring, parental and familial education utilizing the Strengthening Families curriculum, and access to mental health/or substance use treatment. The organization will track outcomes for children and caregivers simultaneously, as well as goals focusing on the entire family; to offer comprehensive wrap-around services designed to empower families to make progress towards eliminating the cycle of poverty. Youth will receive mentoring and leadership skills training to propel them forward, while parents will receive parent training, prosocial skills, and assistance with job seeking. The entire family will receive mental health services, education in communication and boundaries, and mentoring support.
Kansas Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs, BGC Statewide 2Gen Project: The Alliance will provide subgrants to 13 partner Boys & Girls Clubs who will, together with 27 partner organizations, expand opportunities for low-income children and families to increase their economic stability, make progress on their educational goals, deepen their social connections, and improve their health and well-being. The Alliance will focus on the Child-Parent approach. Performance measures for youth include on-time grade progression, career exploration, financial literacy, improved social adjustment, and social-emotional skills. Performance measures for adults include increased knowledge of strategies to support their children’s learning, increased economic stability, increased confidence in raising healthy children, and increased knowledge of how to access health insurance for themselves and their children.
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