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Kansas’ child welfare system didn’t appear overnight. It’s the result of decades of policy decisions, court rulings, funding priorities, and shifting ideas about what children need to be safe and supported. Many of the challenges we see today — and many of the protections that exist — are rooted in that history.


This email kicks off a year-long Step Up for Kansas Kids series that will take a closer look at how the system works, why it’s structured the way it is, and how different issues — from racial equity and family poverty to mental health and LGBTQ+ protections — intersect with child welfare in Kansas.

We’re starting with a broad view: what the system is designed to do, where it struggles, and why simple answers rarely hold up. Over the months ahead, we’ll move deeper into specific topics, perspectives, and pathways for engagement.

P.S. Are you seeing this email because somebody shared it with you? Learn more about Step Up here, and sign up for future Step Up emails here.

Check out the Latest News & Updates From Step Up:

What Kansas Gets Wrong — and Right — About Child Welfare

Kansas’ child welfare system is often discussed in moments of crisis, but rarely with the nuance it deserves. In this conversation, veteran journalist and longtime CASA volunteer Dave Ranney steps back from the headlines to explain what the system is actually meant to do, where it consistently falls short, and why one-on-one advocacy matters so much for kids.

Drawing on decades of reporting and his own experience as a Court Appointed Special Advocate, Dave offers a clear-eyed look at common misconceptions, the role of poverty and policy decisions, and why CASA’s model — one committed adult showing up for one child — can truly change outcomes.

This Month's Easy Win

Step Up for Kansas Kids is a yearlong collective journey. Each month throughout 2026, we’ll focus on a different part of Kansas’ child welfare system — sharing stories, insights, and resources that help build a clearer, more complete picture of how the system works and how it can better support kids and families.


Creating real change takes an informed, growing community. You can help move this work forward by:

• Forwarding this email to someone who cares about kids, families, or community well-being
  
• Sharing the Step Up for Kansas Kids landing page with your networks — by email or on social media (our share toolkit makes it easy)
  
• Sign up for Kansas Child Welfare 101, an informative session on the Kansas child welfare system and the critical role of CASA volunteers. Douglas County CASA Executive Director Erick Vaughn will lead the session on Wednesday, January 14, at noon or 6:00 p.m. Learn why children enter foster care, what occurs after a case is opened, and how CASA volunteers support children throughout the process


Every new person who joins this journey helps strengthen the system of care around Kansas kids.

Additional Information on the History of Kansas' Child Welfare System

• How the Child Welfare System Works (Kansas Office of the Child Advocate) | Child welfare systems are intricate, and their specific procedures can differ significantly from one state to another. This factsheet offers a straightforward overview of how reports of abuse or neglect are managed, the roles of various agencies and courts, and the primary goals of ensuring child safety, supporting families, and achieving permanency. This page aims to help families, caregivers, and professionals understand what to expect when involved with the child welfare system.
  
• Child Welfare System Oversight in Kansas (Kansas Legislative Research Department) | A detailed overview of how Kansas has attempted to oversee its child welfare system since 2015, including legislative committees, task forces, audits, and the creation of the Joint Committee on Child Welfare System Oversight and the Division of the Child Advocate.
  
• Kansas Foster Care Historical Evaluation (1937–2015) (Special Committee on Foster Care Adequacy) | A timeline tracing how Kansas’ foster care system has evolved over nearly eight decades — from the creation of the State Board of Social Welfare to the establishment of DCF — highlighting major structural and policy shifts that shaped today’s system.
  
• Why Child Welfare Privatization Made Kansas a National Leader (KVC Kansas) | An article examining Kansas’ move to a privatized child welfare system in the mid-1990s, outlining the goals of privatization, reported improvements in outcomes, and the challenges that have emerged as system demands and workforce pressures have grown.

We're Grateful to Our Step Up Partners

Kansas’ child welfare system relies on coordination across many roles — case managers, courts, service providers, and community advocates — all working within real constraints and high-stakes situations. One organization operating at the center of that complexity is KVC Kansas, a nonprofit case management provider serving children and families involved in foster care due to abuse or neglect.


KVC case managers work directly with families to develop plans focused on safety, stability, and permanency, while collaborating with others in the system to ensure children’s needs are understood and addressed. Strong partnerships, particularly those grounded in information-sharing and trust, are essential in a system where no single role can carry the full responsibility alone.


A recent conversation between KVC social worker Megan Hosterman and Douglas County CASA reflects on what effective collaboration looks like in practice: navigating hard decisions, supporting families through crisis, and keeping the focus on what will best support a child’s long-term wellbeing.