Our team works hard every day to support Kansas’ children and families through family strengthening services, mental health treatment and foster care. At the heart of our foster parent support is our Child Placing Agency (CPA) department, which partners closely with foster parents, ensuring they have the resources, guidance, and encouragement they need to thrive.

Take an inside look at KVC’s CPA department and discover what makes our approach to supporting foster parents truly unique.

What is a Child Placing Agency (CPA)?

Evan Wood, LMSW, CPA Director

It’s hard to describe a typical day in the life of our Child Placing Agency (CPA) team, because no two days are the same! As Evan Wood, CPA Director for the Kansas City metro region, explains, “At the end of the day, it’s humans working with kids and with parents. There’s a lot of great things that I see day in and day out where lives are changed, and it’s worth it.”

Our CPA department’s boots-on-the-ground team members, known as Family Service Coordinators (FSC), do more than just match youth in foster care with the best possible foster parents. Their day-to-day work is filled with complexity and care. They help foster parents navigate challenges and provide ongoing, personalized foster parent support. Ultimately, the heart of the CPA team’s mission is to empower and uplift foster parents every step of the way. 

Our CPA team supports foster parents in the following ways:

• Training and licensing new foster parents
• Visiting foster homes once a month to make sure they’re in compliance with regulations
• Referring foster families to community resources like daycare, medical and mental health services, and educational support services
• Case and foster family documentation
• Ensuring foster parents and the youth in their care have what they need
• Providing guidance and support during emergency situations
• Acting as a liaison between foster parents and the case management team along with any other entities involved
• And more!

What Makes KVC’s Child Placing Agency Team Unique

At KVC Kansas, we are fiercely supportive of foster parents. We recognize them as key partners in the wellbeing of children and families experiencing foster care. Our employees frequently go above and beyond—doing whatever it takes. Even if it’s not in the official job description—because we understand the challenges foster parents face. We believe in providing the extra care and support they need to succeed. This commitment is what sets KVC apart.

“Foster parents care for children and teens day in and day out,” says Wood. “They know their needs better than most.”

We honor this expertise by building strong partnerships with our foster parents. Our Family Service Coordinators don’t just provide logistical support; they walk alongside foster parents every step of the way. Whether it’s offering encouragement, responding to urgent needs, or connecting foster parents with additional resources, our FSCs act as allies, helping foster parents navigate the complexities of foster care.

Foster parents aren’t solely caregivers—they are essential members of the support team for both the child and the child’s biological family. We actively listen to their feedback, ensuring their voices are heard and their insights shape the services we provide. This helps them support the children in their care and collaborate effectively with the child’s biological family. Ultimately this leads to stronger, more resilient families after safe reunification.

Flexible Training Options for Foster Parents

Foster parents embark on a meaningful journey of training and licensing before they are officially ready to support children in foster care and partner with biological families toward reunification. At KVC, we recognize that each individual’s path to foster parenting is unique. So, we offer a variety of training options to accommodate different schedules and circumstances.

The most common initial foster parent training option is MAPP Foundations, a comprehensive 10-week course consisting of one three-hour session each week, along with two personal visits with a trainer. Many of these classes are available virtually, providing flexibility for those with busy schedules. But if in-person is more your style, we have in-person training classes, too!

For potential foster parents with less consistent schedules, we offer Deciding Together (DT), a seven-week training program designed for greater flexibility. This option includes an independent workbook and more adaptable meeting times with a trainer.

In addition to these primary options, we also provide specialized situational training, such as programs tailored for kinship caregivers that blend online and classroom learning.

We ensure foster parents feel prepared, supported and empowered to make a lasting impact in the lives of children and families.

Coordination with Case Management Team

KVC Kansas provides foster care case management services in 11 Northeast Kansas counties. This includes cities such as Topeka, Hiawatha, Lawrence, Olathe, Shawnee and Overland Park. See the map below for a detailed view of the specific counties where we provide case management services, along with those where we train and support foster parents.

What makes KVC stand out is how closely our Child Placing Agency (CPA) department works with our foster care case management team. These teams work together every day, making communication clearer and ensuring everyone’s on the same page. This teamwork helps foster parents and the youth in their care get the support they need in a more coordinated and connected way.

Even if KVC foster parents care for children whose case management is handled by another agency, their FSC remains a vital resource for addressing any questions or concerns. Our FSCs are dedicated to supporting foster parents every step of the way, ensuring they always feel connected and supported.

How KVC’s Family Service Coordinators (FSCs) Support Foster Parents

A Family Service Coordinator’s main role is to support foster parents. They fill in any gaps where the foster care case management team might need extra help to meet everyone’s needs. FSCs are there to guide foster parents—helping with training, assessments, licensing, and providing support every step of the way. They also deeply understand foster home licensing regulations from the Kansas Department for Children and Families (DCF) and KVC Kansas. Allowing them to help foster parents stay on track and provide the best care possible.

Pam L., Family Service Coordinator

“Since Family Service Coordinators get the opportunity to work so closely with foster parents and have such frequent contact with them, we can develop deeper relationships,” said Pam L., a KVC Kansas Family Service Coordinator with more than 19 years of experience. “As we identify the strengths of the foster parents and areas that need to be developed, we can support everyone in the home with any challenges they experience and celebrate their accomplishments!”

This strong partnership not only builds a sense of community but also enhances the overall experience for foster parents, creating an environment where both caregivers and children can thrive.

An Inside Look: A Day in the Life of a Family Service Coordinator

At KVC, Family Service Coordinators (FSCs) dedicate their days and weeks to one main goal: supporting foster parents and the children in their care. Every day, FSCs work hard to be a helpful resource for foster families, ensuring they have the support they need.

“FSCs have quite a hefty role that requires a lot of energy and a lot of hard work,” says Wood. “They’re the heart of what we do.”

Members of KVC Kansas’ Topeka and Topeka Rural CPA team

While every day is different, some of the responsibilities Pam and her FSC colleagues may have in a day include:

• Finding the best possible foster parent match for youth in foster care
• Acting as a liaison between foster parents and case managers
• Coordinating and facilitating first meetings between foster parents and a member of the child’s case management team (called “Good Start” meetings)
• Supporting foster parents as they navigate various challenges that may arise
• Performing monthly in-home visits to ensure KVC-sponsored foster homes comply with DCF regulations and KVC policies
• Reviewing “on for the day” lists of youth in need of a foster home, both through KVC and through other Kansas foster care case management providers
• Completing adoption home studies
• Locating respite resources as needed
• And completing lots of paperwork!

Ultimately, an FSC’s role is to stand by foster parents, ensuring they have everything they need to create loving, stable homes for youth in foster care and safe, collaborative partnerships with the youth’s biological families. This support makes a real difference in the lives of foster parents as well as children and families experiencing foster care.

Foster parents are truly the heart of this journey, embodying resilience, love, and dedication as they create safe, nurturing environments for children in need. Their unwavering commitment, supported by a network of professionals, fosters hope and transformation, allowing families to heal and thrive.

Get Involved!

If you’re passionate about helping children and families, get involved and join our mission—whether as a member of the KVC team or as a foster parent!

Join the KVC Team

At KVC, we care about providing the highest quality support to children and families in Kansas. When you join the KVC team, you play a vital role in empowering children and families in your community. Whether as an FSC, case manager or through a different role, you can make a positive difference. Learn more about current opportunities to join the KVC team! 

Become a Foster Parent

By opening your home to a child in need, you provide a safe and loving environment during a challenging time. KVC Kansas offers foster parent training and support throughout your foster parenting journey, ensuring you have the resources you need to succeed. Learn more about becoming a foster parent.