About KVC Kansas

Dear Friends & Partners,

Dr. Linda Bass

Thank you for your interest in strengthening Kansas children and families. My name is Linda Bass (“boss”) and I am honored to serve as President of KVC Kansas.

KVC Kansas (legal name KVC Behavioral Healthcare) is a private, nonprofit organization that serves over 15,000 children and adults each year. You can read about our annual impact here. Our team of professionals provides family strengthening and preventative services, parent training, foster care case management, family reunification services, foster family recruitment and support, adoption, aftercare, outpatient therapy and more. Our legal name is KVC Behavioral Healthcare and our parent organization is KVC Health Systems.

My priorities are (1) expanding our prevention work in order to reach more families and provide critical support before children are at risk for separation, and (2) increasing support for our dedicated caregivers and staff.

We exist to serve Kansas children and families in need because we all need connection. The families we serve face serious challenges including mental illness, addiction, economic stress, family discord, child abuse and neglect, divorce, domestic violence, parental incarceration, the loss of loved ones, and ultimately, isolation. Our staff come alongside them with professional expertise and compassion. They help them come up with a personalized plan to achieve their goals and become the parents they have dreamed of becoming. We help stop the cycle of childhood adversity.

As a child and family serving organization, KVC commits to treating every person with compassion and respect. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender identity, gender expression, age, national origin, disability, marital status, sexual orientation or military status.

What unites us is a set of core values, such as: The heart of our work is helping people. Our character is built on authenticity and compassion. Family connection drives our culture. Learn more about our team’s passion through the 90-second Heart of KVC video below, and please join us in supporting and advocating for families!

Sincerely,

Linda Bass, PhD, LCMFT
President, KVC Kansas

The Heart of KVC

50 Years of Child Welfare Leadership

We are very grateful and proud to have partnered with the Kansas Department for Children and Families since the agency first decided to use public/private partnerships in the late 1990s – over 20 years now. Read the remarkable story of about how private partners like KVC helped Kansas become a national child welfare leader. While our state is in a challenging time right now with a higher number of children in foster care, we know that capacity-building, prevention and additional funding will help Kansas become a national child welfare leader once again.

A group of women volunteers founded what is now over KVC 50 years ago in Kansas City, KS. Learn more about our history or read about KVC’s partners and affiliations here.

From Foster Care to Mental Health Support: Explore 10 KVC Kansas Programs

KVC Kansas Exceeding Federal Performance Standards

We are exceeding federal outcome standards set by the federal Child and Family Services Review (CFSR) in some of the most important areas such as safety in foster care, placement of children with relatives, or placement of children in family-like settings rather than group homes. Read more here: Performance Matters: How KVC Kansas Is Doing on Federal Foster Care Standards

Also check out this recent article from Dr. Linda Bass: How to strengthen Kansas foster care and help children and families thrive.

We are working hard to exceed all other outcomes. KVC is accredited by The Joint Commission, considered the gold standard in healthcare.

Click here to contact the Joint Commission about KVC.

Our Differentiators

Our Priorities

We believe that capacity-building, prevention and funding are the keys to strengthening the child welfare system. The cost savings and improved outcomes related to prevention services are clear. High quality prevention services cost on average $5,000-10,000 per family compared to $78,000 per family for one year of foster care (assuming three children average). KVC Kansas is focused on leading prevention efforts in Kansas through our current contracts and expanding services to prevent additional children to remain safe at home through Family First Prevention Services Act funded preventions services.

What is KVC’s Vision, Mission & Values?

Our Vision: A world in which every person is safe and connected to a strong family and a healthy community.

Our Mission: To enrich and enhance the lives of children and families by providing medical and behavioral healthcare, social services and education.

What We Value:

  • The heart of our work is helping people.
  • Our character is built on authenticity and compassion.
  • Family connection drives our culture.
  • Collaboration fuels our improvement.
  • Urgency and innovation mark our approach.
  • Diverse perspectives are key to our progress.

Meet Our Leadership Team        See Our Legislative Updates

Licensure and Accreditation

Accreditation

KVC Kansas (KVC Behavioral Healthcare) is accredited by The Joint Commission and is considered the gold standard in healthcare.

Licensure

KVC Kansas Child Placing Agency
Kansas Department for Children and Families
Effective August 21, 2023

KVC Kansas Qualified Residential Treatment Program
Kansas Department for Children and Families
Effective January 1, 2019

KVC Kansas Substance Use Disorder Treatment – Olathe
Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services
Effective January 1, 2023

KVC Kansas Substance Use Disorder Treatment – Topeka
Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services
Effective January 1, 2023