*Photo credit: Kansas Department for Children and Families

On May 22, 2015, Governor Sam Brownback signed a proclamation in Topeka, Kan. designating June as Family Reunification Month. Due to the work of the Kansas Department for Children and Families (DCF), KVC and other partnership agencies, nearly 60 percent of children in state custody are reintegrated back with their families. According to a recent press release from DCF, this is a 7 percent increase since 2010.

In order for reunification to occur, KVC provides support and education to the parents, addressing the initial safety and stability concerns that prompted the child to be removed from the home. Once the child has been safely reintegrated back into their home, KVC provides aftercare treatment for one year in order to ensure that the family continues to succeed. More than 90 percent of children who have reunified with their families do not return to foster care within 12 months – this is dramatically higher than the national average of 67 percent, and can be attributed to the hard work and dedication of our staff and birth families! 

“Families being together, being connected is beneficial for society as a whole. We believe children grow best in families, and this is so important because they can then build connections, understanding and respect for others. When that can happen in their own homes, it promotes stability in the child’s life and eases the burden on the State to care for them.” -Marcy Scott, KVC Kansas social worker

Read the entire press release from DCF: More Families Being Reunified in Kansas Following Foster Care