- Services
Core Services
Families First
Children and teens belong with their own families whenever possible. KVC works to safely reunify hundreds of families each year by providing parenting skills training, therapy and other support.
Caring People Needed
On any given day, KVC Kansas provides out-of-home care for thousands of children and teens. Relatives, non-related kin like teachers and neighbors, and foster parents are all critical to providing temporary care for these children and teens. See how you can make a difference as a foster parent.
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Children and Families Need You
Through KVC, you can strengthen families, prevent child abuse and neglect, and help create a bright future where every person is safe and connected to a strong family and a healthy community. Please join us today! Learn More
Help Children and Families in Need
- Explore the Best Ways to Get Involved
- Become a Foster Parent
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- Involve Your Faith Community
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Overview
Our free resources help you stay informed and educated about foster care, child welfare, adoption, mental health and childhood trauma as well as how KVC Kansas is working toward building healthier communities.
- About Us
About KVC Kansas
KVC Kansas is a private, nonprofit organization that serves over 12,000 children, teens and adults each year. Our team of caring professionals provides family strengthening and foster care prevention services, foster care case management, family reunification services, foster family recruitment and support, kinship care, adoption, aftercare, outpatient therapy and more.
We envision a world in which every person is safe and connected to a strong family and a healthy community.
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Strengthening Families Program: Free Parenting Classes
Build a Stronger, More Connected Family
The Strengthening Families Program (SFP) is a free, evidence-based parenting class that helps families with children ages 6–17 build stronger relationships, improve communication and develop practical skills to navigate everyday challenges together.
What is the Strengthening Families Program?
Designed specifically for parents and caregivers of at least one child ages 6–17, KVC Kansas’ FREE Strengthening Families Program (SFP) helps families build strong bonds in a supportive, welcoming environment. Through interactive activities and engaging facilitators, parents, caregivers and youth gain practical tools they can use right away — strengthening communication, setting healthy boundaries and building confidence as a family.
Strengthening Families Program is a widely respected, evidence-based approach that helps families thrive. Across the country, this program has reduced the trauma children experience due to a parent’s substance use and has helped families strengthen relationships and stability when traditional services weren’t as effective.
What Will Families Learn?
- Skills to clearly communicate and set healthy boundaries
- Strategies to address challenging behaviors like disrespect, tantrums and lying
- How to use behavior charts and positive reinforcement
- Ways to prevent or address substance use
- And more!
What Will Families Receive?
- 10 weeks of support, connection and interactive activities to build stronger family bonds
- A free meal each week during class
- Positive reinforcement and practical guidance
- A celebration party with surprise gifts at the end of class!
Who Qualifies for the Strengthening Families Program?
KVC’s free SFP parenting classes are available to a wide range of Kansas families — including families with no foster care involvement, families who have safely reunified and adoptive families.
To qualify, families must:
- Be currently caring for a child ages 6–17 who is not currently in foster care
- Live in Kansas
Upcoming Classes
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Virtual: Thursday, February 5 | 6:00–8:30 PM
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Virtual: Wednesday, February 18 | 6:00–8:30 PM
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Virtual: Thursday, April 16 | 6:00–8:30 PM
Sign Up or Refer a Family Today!
Program Outcomes
Strengthening Families Program participants have experienced significantly higher reunification rates than families who didn’t receive this intervention. On average, a child participating in SFP spent 190 fewer days in foster care compared to youth receiving other services. SFP has effectively been used in community settings to help stabilize families who are facing challenges by strengthening communication and connection.
Since its beginning in Kansas, SFP has helped numerous families overcome challenges and thrive. For example, when Dan found himself struggling with substance use, he knew he was becoming disconnected from his sons and putting a strain on his family. He then sought assistance and enrolled in the Strengthening Families Program. While he was anxious at first, he soon found that it was different from other rehabilitation programs in that it included role-playing and real-life interactions with his kids. The comprehensiveness of the course provided him with the knowledge and confidence to become the father he knew he was.
Dan became such a believer in Strengthening Families that he comes back to visit new SFP classes. He provides encouragement to other families who were in a similar situation to himself, reminding them, “You’re sitting now where I once was. There is a pathway forward.”
KVC Kansas is proud to be a Family First Prevention Services Act grant recipient. This funding allows KVC to provide SFP services to reunite families after foster care, keep families safely together and prevent youth from entering foster care.
How to Get Involved
Families
If you believe your family would benefit from this free program, submit a referral using the button below.
Community Partners & Agencies
If you’re a school professional, community organization, faith leader or service provider, KVC Kansas welcomes referrals and partnerships. Strengthening Families Program is offered in communities across Kansas and supports families before challenges escalate.
Contact Na’Taya Quinn at 913-249-5005 or nquinn@kvc.org to help families in your community.
Volunteers & Donors
We also encourage generous community members to help us lead this program! We need volunteers and donors to help provide childcare, meals and more.
Reach out to Na’Taya Quinn at 913-249-5005 or nquinn@kvc.org to get involved.
See How KVC’s Strengthening Families Program Impacts Lives
How the Strengthening Families Program Greatly Reduces the Need for Foster Care in Kansas
Strengthening Families Program - Exhausted Mother and Family Begin to Thrive
Strengthening Families Program - Father Overcomes Substance Use and Reconnects with Family
Strengthening Families Program - Mother Improves Communication with Her Son
Strengthening Families Program - Community Partners Come Together to Help Families in Need