Kansas Caregivers Support Network

Kansas Caregivers Support Network Our mission is to bridge the gap between Kansas Caregivers and the Child Welfare System by creating access to resources to sustain a healthy placement.

Kinship caregivers often step in because a child they love needs them - not because it was part of the plan. But that de...
09/25/2026

Kinship caregivers often step in because a child they love needs them - not because it was part of the plan. But that decision can reshape much more than the next few days or weeks.

It may mean changing work plans, stretching a fixed income, delaying retirement, finding childcare, rearranging a home, or realizing that the years ahead look very different than expected. And for younger kinship caregivers, it might mean building a career, raising their own children, or planning for their future while unexpectedly taking responsibility for another child.

Kinship families step up in incredible ways. Supporting them means recognizing that saying yes can change the course of an entire family's life - and making sure they have support for the journey that follows.

💛 Caregiver Support Spotlight: Fostering Connections of Southeast KSThis September, we’re shining a light on Fostering C...
09/25/2026

đź’› Caregiver Support Spotlight: Fostering Connections of Southeast KS
This September, we’re shining a light on Fostering Connections of Southeast KS, a nonprofit dedicated to walking alongside children, teens, young adults, and foster and adoptive families.

Their message to families is simple: You are not alone.
From practical support and resources to mentoring, life-skills opportunities, celebrations, and meaningful connections, Fostering Connections is there to support families throughout the foster care journey — including young adults transitioning into adulthood.

Two programs making a difference:
⚓ Anchor Family Program — connects young adults aging out of foster care with caring, consistent adults who commit to walking alongside them as they navigate adulthood.
🛠️ Teen Impact Events — give teens and young adults opportunities to build practical skills for independence, from budgeting and cooking to employment preparation and vehicle care.

At the heart of it all is community, connection, and belonging. Fostering Connections is committed to showing up for young people and families for the long haul.

Thank you, Fostering Connections of Southeast KS, for being part of the community that helps families feel supported every step of the way. đź’›

You can make breakfast. Get everyone out the door. Help with homework. Buy clothes. Make dinner. Comfort a child after a...
09/23/2026

You can make breakfast. Get everyone out the door. Help with homework. Buy clothes. Make dinner. Comfort a child after a hard day. And still discover that being responsible for a child doesn't automatically mean you have the authority needed to make every decision for them.

For some informal kinship caregivers, questions about school enrollment, medical care, records, benefits, consent and legal authority don't come up until they suddenly need an answer.

That's one reason supporting kinship families can't be one-size-fits-all. A caregiver's needs can look very different depending on how their family came together and what legal arrangements - if any - are in place.

Information matters. Knowing where to turn matters, too.

HELP! We're in desperate need of a volunteer photographer for tomorrow at 11 AM in the Pittsburg, KS area. If interested...
09/22/2026

HELP! We're in desperate need of a volunteer photographer for tomorrow at 11 AM in the Pittsburg, KS area. If interested, please email [email protected] for more details!

Being family can be one of the greatest strengths in kinship care. It doesn't mean the journey is simple.Kinship caregiv...
09/21/2026

Being family can be one of the greatest strengths in kinship care. It doesn't mean the journey is simple.

Kinship caregivers may already know and love the child deeply - and still find themselves navigating new parenting roles, complicated family relationships, financial pressures, legal questions, grief, trauma, and systems they've never encountered before.

Sometimes one of the most helpful things we can do for kinship families is stop assuming: "They're family. They'll figure it out."

And start asking: "What would make this easier for your family right now?"

Kinship caregiving comes with a layer that is easy to overlook: you're parenting within your own family.A grandmother ma...
09/18/2026

Kinship caregiving comes with a layer that is easy to overlook: you're parenting within your own family.

A grandmother may be raising her grandchild while still trying to maintain a relationship with her own son or daughter. An aunt may suddenly be making parenting decisions for her sister's children. An older sibling may find themselves moving from brother or sister into a parenting role.

Love, loyalty, grief, anger, worry, boundaries and hope can all exist at the same time.

Supporting kinship caregivers means making space for those complicated relationships - not expecting someone to simply set them aside because "they're family."

09/17/2026

Resources for Foster & Adoptive parents serving in rural Kansas are out there but they can be hard to find.

This year at the "...in faith" conference we hope to help parents connect with much needed and sometimes hard to find resources.

Join us for a great day of encouragement, laughter and learnng.

Register @ https://bit.ly/infaithconf2026

More Information @: https://fosterthecause.org/infaith-conference/

đź“‹âś… Imagine getting a phone call today asking if a child you love can come live with you.âť“Where will they sleep?âť“Can you ...
09/11/2026

đź“‹âś… Imagine getting a phone call today asking if a child you love can come live with you.

âť“Where will they sleep?
âť“Can you enroll them in school?
âť“Who can consent to medical care?
âť“What about childcare tomorrow morning?
âť“Do you have a car seat? Clothes? Another bed?
âť“Can you afford to miss work while you figure all of this out?

For many kinship caregivers, there aren't months of preparation before a child joins their household. Life can change very quickly - and the practical questions begin almost immediately.

Behind every "they stepped up" is often a caregiver trying to figure out a hundred things at once. Supporting kinship families means helping with what comes after the yes.

đź’™Kansas Caregivers Support Network (KCSN): Provides individualized support, advocacy, resource navigation, education, and guidance for kinship caregivers as they navigate the needs of the children in their care. Visit our Training Dashboard (https://ks-s-site-3baa.thinkific.com/) for a list of available trauma-informed trainings.

đź’™Kansas Family Advisory Network (KFAN): Provides support, education, advocacy, training, practical resources, mentorship, and encouragement to families facing difficult circumstances, including those navigating the foster care system. https://kfaninc.org/

đź’™Kansas Kinship Navigator Program: Through Kansas Children's Service League (KCSL) KFAN, and FosterAdopt Connect, Kinship Navigators help grandparents, relatives, and other kinship caregivers connect with resources and support available to their families. https://www.kcsl.org/what-we-do/family-support/ ; https://www.fosteradopt.org/kinship-navigator/

đź’™Children's Alliance of Kansas: Offers free training and resources created specifically for kinship caregivers, including Kinship Origins for families beginning their kinship journey and Kinship Path for caregivers looking for more in-depth training and connection with other kinship families. https://www.childally.org/kinship

đź’™Kansas Department for Children and Families (DCF): Kinship caregivers may be eligible for financial assistance and other benefits depending on their circumstances. DCF can help caregivers understand what assistance may be available and how to apply. https://www.dcf.ks.gov/Pages/default.aspx

Looking for More Resources?
For links to these resources and more supports available to kinship caregivers across Kansas, visit the Children's Alliance of Kansas Community Resources for Kansas Kin Caregivers page.

đź“Ł We're looking for our next KS Family Advocate!Some of the best support comes from someone who understands both the sys...
09/10/2026

đź“Ł We're looking for our next KS Family Advocate!

Some of the best support comes from someone who understands both the system and what it means to walk alongside a family through it.

Our K-PARC and KCSN programs support foster, adoptive, and kinship families across Kansas as they navigate the challenges that can come with caring for children and navigating complex systems. We're looking for someone who can meet families where they are, help them find resources and solutions, strengthen their advocacy skills, and be someone in their corner when things get hard.

Lived experience as a foster, adoptive, and/or kinship caregiver is an important part of this role, along with experience working with children and families. A degree in social work or a related field is preferred.

This statewide position offers remote/hybrid flexibility, with travel throughout Kansas and opportunities to connect with families through individual support, retreats, trainings, and outreach.

If this sounds like you, or someone you know, we'd love to hear from you!

Learn more and apply: https://fosteradopt.bamboohr.com/careers/672

09/09/2026

Join us for the Navigating Trauma with Teens virtual course on 9/14, 6- 7:30 p.m., and 9/29, 12- 1 p.m.

Parenting teenagers brings many challenges, even before you add in a history of trauma. Join us as we explore teenager basics: what is typical development vs. trauma responses, how loss & identity hit different for our teens from hard places, and a few strategies for navigating the balance between connection, boundaries, and control.

Sign up today - https://ks-s-site-3baa.thinkific.com/

Address

901 N 8th Street
Kansas City, KS
66101

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 5pm

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+19137170813

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