The State of Kansas contracts with private not-for-profit organizations to provide case management and related services for youth and families when the child has been removed from his/her home. There are five Regions in the State served by these Reintegration/Foster Care service contractors. TFI Family Services, Inc. was the contractor for two of the five Regions (1 and 3) during State Fiscal Year 2011 and holds these contracts through Fiscal Year 2013.

On June 30, 2011, the end of Fiscal Year 2011, there were 5,190 children placed in out-of-home care throughout the State. Of these children, 796 or 15.3% had been removed from counties in Region 1. In Region 3, there were 1,228 or 23.7% of these children in out-of-home care.

 

 For more information on outcomes in the State of Kansas, please visit the SRS Website.

Children entering State custody have often already experienced abuse, neglect, and a sudden change to their world, all though no fault of their own. While in the State’s custody, it is important that children have a stable environment with minimal moves and dis-ruption while in out-of-home care, giving children a chance at a normal childhood that fosters growth and development.

TFI Family Services, Inc. continues to be a National Leader in the timely and safe reintegration of children with their families and providing stable community-based placements. Performance measures reflect the impact of efforts that have exceeded many State Averages and National Standards.

For children entering out-of-home care for the first time between January 1, 2010 and June 30, 2010, 45.7% of children in Region 1 and 39% in Region 3 were returned home to their families within 12 months of their initial removal from their home. The national standard is 39.4% and the State average is 36.9%.

39.4 36.945.7

39

0

10

20

30

40

50

Percen

tage

 of C

hildren

Children returned home within 12 months after initial removal between 

January 1, 2010 and June 30, 2010

National Standard

State Average

TFI in State Region 1

TFI in State Region 3

Barbara grew up never knowing what a nurturing home environment looked like. When she had Tyler, she vowed she would not repeat her parent’s mistakes. As a toddler, Tyler would not stop asking questions. Everything Barbara said or asked of Tyler was met by a “Why” or “What.” She did not know that young children are naturally inquisitive, and she viewed his normal behavior as defiant.

The thought of her child becoming unruly scared Barbara, and she pun-ished him for being so questioning. As Tyler’s behaviors continued and Barbara’s stress escalated, so too, did her punishments. Barbara was re-ported to the authorities for child abuse and a judge removed Tyler was her home for his safety. Devastated, Barbara realized she had crossed a line. A case worker helped Barbara, teaching her what to expect in a child’s development and what were appropriate corrective actions. After she fulfilled all the requirements set forth by the judge, Tyler and Barbara were reunited. It is now years later, and Tyler and Barbara remain a strong family. They are united, Barbara is committed, and Tyler is safe.

When a child is removed from their home for their safety, TFI works hard to help families through their crisis, getting them the help they need so that they can be reunited. Of the children who returned home during the year, 75.4% of children in Region 1 and 76.4% of children in Region 3 were in out-of-home care less than 12 months. The national standard was 69.9% while the State’s average was 69.5%.

69.9 69.5

75.476.4

66

68

70

72

74

76

78

Percen

tage

 of Ch

ildren

Out of children returned home during the year, percent who had been out‐of‐home less than 

12 months

National Standard

State Average

TFI in State Region 1

TFI in State Region 3

Caitlin’s parents were going through a family crisis. Her father was laid off, her mother worked a job that could not cover the monthly bills, and they had Caitlin’s needs weighing heavily on them. Desperate and losing hope, her parents turned to alcohol and drugs for an es-cape. Their substance use got out of control causing Caitlin to be re-moved from the home. Once they lost her, Caitlin’s parents realized that they needed to find a better way to cope so their family could be whole once again. With the help of their case workers, Caitlin’s par-ents overcame their substance abuse, her father got a steady job, and within a year, Caitlin was safely returned home. Caitlin is now able to live with her parents as a strong family unit and within a nurturing environment.

When children are released from State custody and returned home to be with their family, it is meant to be forever. Unfortunately, sometimes this doesn’t always work out if a family enters another crisis and has resumed behaviors that make it unsafe for the children to remain in the home. TFI Family Services’ works very closely with all involved so that children can have safety and a sense of permanency in their lives.

Of Children released from State custody, only 7% of children in Region 1 and 11.6% of children in Region 3 were subsequently returned to State cus-tody within 12 months of the initial release from custody. The national standard is 15% and the State average is 7.4%.

Safety first. 100% of children in Region 1 and 99.8% of children in Region 3 stayed safe while in out-of-home care. National standards are 99.68% and State average is 99.86%.

Jayden knew his home life wasn’t perfect. His friends never came home to an empty house, wondering when or if their parents would return. It didn’t bother him though. Jayden knew how survive on his own. The thought of living with a stranger, however, did bother Jayden. As they were driving to his new foster home, Jayden told his case worker about the neighbor that would feed him while his parents were away; how he could go to a friend’s for a sleep-over and shower; and that he could cook macaroni all by him-self. He knew he was only 10, but he could care for himself better than his parents ever did when they were around. He told her that he didn’t need a stranger to watch over him.

Despite his pleas, they arrived at the local foster home. At first, Jayden was scared. It took a while be-fore he would talk at the dinner table or play games with the family on Friday nights, but after a while Jayden realized he was finally safe and cared for. His foster family treated him just like their own chil-dren. He had siblings to play with, warm and filling meals, a clean and comfortable room all to himself, and a family to help him through this transition. Jayden’s parents eventually surrendered their parental rights and Jayden was put up for adoption. His foster family, who showed him what it meant to feel safe and nurtured, adopted him.

TFI Family Services, Inc. also excels when compared nationally in providing stable community-based placements. 

60.1% of children in Region 1 and 59.0% in Region 3 experienced only 1 to 2 placements while in out-of-home care between 12 and 24 months. The national standard was 59.9% and the State average was 58.8%.

83.3 83.7

89.7

83.9

80

82

84

86

88

90

92

Percen

tage

 of C

hildren

Children who did not experience more than two placements in less than 12 months

of out‐of‐home placement

National Standard

State Average

TFI in State Region 1

TFI in State Region 3

59.9

58.8

60.1

59

58

58.5

59

59.5

60

60.5Pe

rcen

tage

 of C

hildren

Children who were in out‐of‐home placement between 12 and 24 months who 

did not experience more than two placements

National Standard

State Average

TFI in State Region 1

TFI in State Region 3

89.7% of children in Region 1 and 83.9% of children in Region 3 ex-perienced only 1 to 2 placements in less than 12 months of out-of-home care. The national standard is 83.3% and the State average is 83.7%.

Being able to keep a child close to their community and school is of the utmost importance to helping them feel like something in their life is stable when all else can seem like chaos. TFI works hard to do this as well as find a relative or kinship placement for a child in out-of-home care.

In just 6 short months, Madison’s life had turned upside down. She had been removed from home because her parents were unable to properly care for her, was then placed with temporary foster home for three days, and then moved in with a nearby aunt. She was comforted by the idea of living with family, though she wasn’t sure if they would real-ly want her around.

One day, Madison walked to a park a couple blocks away to play on the equipment. When she heard her aunt calling out the front door for her, Madison panicked. She was not supposed to leave the house without permission, and she forgot to ask. Only yester-day, Madison had finally fully unpacked her few possessions. She was just starting to feel at home, just beginning to feel like she had someone she could talk to, and now she broke a rule! Madison was scared that her aunt would be mad and call the social worker to take her to a new home. She couldn’t stand the thought of moving again, adjusting to new rules, new kids, a new neighborhood.

Her aunt found Madison on a swing, crying. When Madison saw her aunt coming, she cried out, begging not to send her back. To Madison’s surprise, her aunt simply gave her a hug, and told her that she was family. Madison’s aunt promised she would continue to care for her, no matter what, until she could safely move back with her parents. Madison smiled, realizing that she was not unwanted after all.

Madison stayed with her aunt for 11 months. At that time, her parents completed the re-quirements in their case plan, and Madison was returned home. Madison was grateful that her aunt stuck with her, even in such a trying time.

When children age out of foster care, they often feel alone. It is vital that they have a positive role model in their lives to help them succeed in their new life. One hundred percent of young adults in both Region 1 and Region 3 who exited State custody identified at least one positive role model. While there is no national standard for this, the State average is 97.1%.

97.1

100 100

95

96

97

98

99

100

101

Percen

tage

 of C

hildren

Young adults who exited state custody who had at lease one identified positive role 

model

State Average

TFI in State Region 1

TFI in State Region 3

Ethan wanted to go back with his father, but his single father was unable to hold a steady job, and could not provide a safe home. Ethan spent the rest of his teenage years in a caring foster home. As he neared graduation and the transition into adulthood, Ethan thought about his future. He loved his father, but did not want to follow the same path. He looked towards his foster parents; they were kind, supportive, and lived in a modest but comfortable home. They were hard working and the kind of people you could look up to. It gave Ethan comfort to know that they would be able to offer him offer advice and guidance as he transitioned to living on his own as an adult.

Out of children who had siblings, 81.4% of children in Region 1 and 74.7% of children in Region 3 were placed with at least one sibling while in out-of-home care. A national standard is not available for this outcome, however, the State average is 77.8%.

77.8

81.4

74.7

70

72

74

76

78

80

82

Percen

tage

 of Ch

ildren

Children who were placed with at least one sibling while in out‐of‐home placement

State Average

TFI in State Region 1

TFI in State Region 3

At 4 years-old, Daniel was too young to understand everything that was going on. Sometimes his parents were nice, but other times his parents did things that scared him. Daniel had one older brother, Jake. He was someone he knew he could trust. When his parents started acting scary, Jake would always help comfort Daniel by reading him a story or singing a song he learned at school.

One day, Daniel and Jake moved out of their parents’ house. The adults helping them told them they were going to live in a foster home. The thought of living with adults he didn’t know scared Daniel. If his parents, who knew and loved him could be scary, what would adults he did not even know be like? Jake took Daniel’s hand and promised him that as long as they could stay together, he would keep him safe, read him sto-ries, and sing him songs.

Daniel and Jake were able to live in a foster home and face the challeng-es of a family crisis together. Jake helped Daniel adjust and feel safe in their new home while Daniel gave Jake a sense of purpose and responsi-bility. Together, they remained a family, small but strong.

32.1% of children in Region 1 and 33.9% of children in Region 3 were placed with a relative while in out-of-home care. A national standard is not avail-able for this outcome, however, the State average is 29.8%.

29.8

32.1

33.9

272829303132333435

Percen

tage

 of C

hildren

Children who are placed with a relative while in out‐of‐home placement

State Average

TFI in State Region 1

TFI in State Region 3

Logan knew he should tell someone. He and his sister, Hannah, had to walk over piles of garbage and dirty clothes anywhere they went in their apartment, there was rarely food in the kitchen cabinets, and young Hannah’s diaper would often go a whole day without being changed. Logan knew this wasn’t a safe way to live, but he was scared to tell. He didn’t want to be taken from their home only to live with strangers. Eventually, his rumbling stomach convinced him to share what was happening at home.

Logan talked with lots of adults after that, and one of them even came to his apartment for a visit. The day came when Logan was asked to pack his stuff. Scared, he asked where he was moving. The social worker explained to Logan that his home was not a safe place to stay, but that his grandma had offered to have both him and Hannah live with her. Relief swept over him! Grandma’s house smelled like flowers and she always had snacks and big, home-cooked meals when Logan visited. Logan knew his grandma loved him and Hannah, and that they would have a safe and caring home with her.