Category Archives: Youth

Kansas, Youth

Youth Stable Placements, Improvement in Access to Mental Health Services

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Report Shows Kansas Foster Youth Remain in Stable Placements, Improvement in Access to Mental Health Services

Neutral party releases second McIntyre Settlement status report

 

TOPEKA – Kansas foster children have more stable placements and have quicker access to mental health services, according to the second report from the Neutral Third Party in the McIntyre class action lawsuit settlement.

“My administration continues to make progress in protecting Kansas kids in the foster care system and repairing the state’s child welfare system,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “The latest Neutral Report shows we continue to ensure kids are in stable placements and are improving how many foster youth receive necessary mental health screenings and timely access to services. But this report also makes clear that, in spite of all of our efforts, there’s much more work to be done. I am encouraged by the steps we’ve taken in 2023 to decrease temporary overnight placements and instances of kids staying in offices, but clearly the legislature and I must dig deeper, make more targeted investments, and come up with solutions that work.”

The McIntyre class action lawsuit was filed in 2018 under the Colyer Administration by Kansas Appleseed, Children’s Rights, and the National Center for Youth Law against the Governor, Kansas Department for Children and Families, Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services, and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. The Governor was later dismissed from the case.

The parties agreed to a settlement in 2020. The settlement was structured to ensure Kansas would achieve substantial progress and compliance in key performance areas over a multi-year period. Performance areas include accountability, reporting and implementation, practice improvements and outcomes. The settlement recognizes that the outcomes and practice improvements will not all be accomplished in one year. Outcome goals were set for a three-to-four-year period.

This second report covers data from calendar year 2022.

The new report shows Kansas continued to show progress in placement stability. For the second year in a row, DCF met the requirement to increase stable placements for children in custody. In a case review, the Neutral found that 91% of children and youth whose case were reviewed were in stable placements in 2022. That’s a 6% improvement over 2021.

Other highlights of the report include:

  • Nearly 98% of Family Foster Homes and nearly 100% of Non-Relative Kin and Licensed Kin homes followed licensing capacity standards in CY 2022.
  • In 2022, DCF improved the number of children and youth receiving mental health and trauma screens after initially entering care. The CY 2022 data shows 43% of case reviews showed a screening was conducted, an improvement from 34% in CY 2021.
  • Case reads also showed DCF has improved in addressing the mental and behavioral health needs of children and youth in custody. The report shows that 70% of cases reads showed children and youth receiving timely mental health services, an increase of 5% over CY 2021.

“The report affirms our commitment to the continuous improvement of the Kansas child welfare system,” DCF Secretary Laura Howard said. “Several factors including implementing a youth statewide mobile crisis service, adding therapeutic foster homes as a level of service, and working with the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services to implement Certified Community Behavioral Health Centers (CCBHCs) are responsible for the steady improvement of these mental health outcomes. We expect to see this number continue to improve as more CCBHCs come online and more families across the state become aware of the youth mobile crisis service.”

The report also found the state has more work to do to decrease both temporary overnight placements, instances of youth staying in offices, and night-to-night placements. Since the time period covered in the report, DCF has made significant strides in reducing those numbers thanks to new innovations already implemented and significant targeted investment from the governor and the Kansas legislature in this year’s budget. The agency implemented the Failure to Place network, which ensures there is a stand-by bed for youth who may otherwise be forced to stay in an office because of a lack of available placements. This has already led to a more than 50% reduction in the number of youth staying in a contractor’s office in CY 2023.

DCF is also encouraged by the recent investment of $6 million in the state’s new therapeutic foster home system, which will increase the stability of placements and improve mental health outcomes. Once fully implemented in partnership with the Children’s Alliance, children with high needs will fully realize the benefits of a therapeutic foster care option supporting families serving these youth.

The agency also notes the Neutral’s continued concerns related to data access and validation. The agency currently has a Request for Proposal for a Comprehensive Child Welfare Information System (CCWIS) in the review stage. The RFP is designed to allow for separate parts of the system to be implemented sequentially, allowing the state to realize the benefits prior to the system becoming fully operational.

Those interested in the full CY 22 report can access it via the Center for the Study of Social Policy website.

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K-State Extension, Schools, Youth

Beating the Back-to-School Blues

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Cassidy Lutz
K-State Research and Extension 
Family and Consumer Science Agent 
Southwind District 
211 W. Butler 
Yates Center, KS 66783
620-625-8620

The smell of freshly sharpened pencils, the sound of bells ringing through the halls, and the gathering of friends that you haven’t seen all summer.

I am sure we can all think back to our childhood and remember how the beginning of a new school year brought on excitement, dread, or anxiety.

 

As a parent, you can help your children get a good start to this school year and ease some of those anxious thoughts and feelings.

For many kids, one of the biggest back-to-school worries is if they will like their teacher. Breaking the ice early is one of the best ways to calm their fears. If personal contact with the teacher is not possible before school starts, try locating the teacher’s picture on a school website or in a yearbook. Helping your child put a face with a name before the first day in the classroom can help them feel more at ease and prepare them for their first interaction.

Familiarizing your child with their environment is another thing you can do to help them avoid nervous tummy aches. If your school offers a walk-through before the first day, this can be a great opportunity for you to meet the teacher, find their desk, or explore the school together. With older children, try asking them to give you a tour of the school and their classroom. Not only will this help refresh their minds, but it will give you an idea of where they will be spending the majority of their time over the next several months.

Go over class supply lists and plan a shopping trip. Having all the needed school supplies can help your child feel prepared. By taking your kids back to school shopping, they will feel supported and encouraged. Allow for a couple of splurges like a cool notebook or a backpack in their favorite color while also keeping basic needs in mind. Even a small fun purchase can make going back to school more enjoyable and give them something to look forward to.

Ease into new routines the week leading up to the first day of school. Switching from a summer schedule to a structured school schedule can be stressful for everyone in a household. Avoid mayhem on the first day of school by getting into the new routine a few days in advance. Set an alarm clock, go through your morning ritual, and make time for a healthy breakfast. Routines help children feel comfortable, and establishing one early will make the first day of school go so much smoother.

After school kicks off, take time to talk as a family about how each day went. Try asking how they like their classes, if they have made any new friends, or what they like most about school thus far. Not only will you learn more about how they are adapting to all the changes, but this will also help strengthen family relationships by bonding over shared conversations.

Don’t let the beginning of a new school year create unnecessary stress for your kids and household. By doing some of these simple things, you can help your children feel prepared and ready to tackle another great school year. For more information, contact Cassidy Lutz at [email protected] or by calling 620-625-8620.

Schools, Youth

Poverty Speaker: Solving Poverty and Healing Trauma

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ALL are invited and welcome to attend the Poverty Paradigm event this Saturday, August 12 at 4 p.m. at Fort Scott Middle  School.

The cost is $10 to participate.

If individuals want to participate, but cannot afford the $10,  contact Jennifer Michaud: phone:  785-230-7010 or email
[email protected]

The speaker is Rebecca Lewis-Pankratz.

To get a ticket, see the flyer below.

About the Speaker: Rebecca Lewis-Pankratz

Rebecca Lewis-Pankratz works with both communities and schools across the US to truly solve poverty and heal trauma, according to a press release. She does this by helping caring leaders create sustainable ecosystems of resilience through building better relationships.

Rebecca fought her way out of poverty and the trailer park in 2011 with three young sons. A local poverty resolution project found Rebecca and activated her journey. She later went to work for that non-profit and then went on to build multiple projects like it to help more families. In 2015 She started working with public education and ignited a trauma-informed schools movement in her state and beyond.

Rebecca experienced a lifetime of trauma and poverty and through access to buffering relationships she healed from both and continues to light the path for others.

Schools:

Rebecca is a Co-Founder of the ESSDACK Resilience Team. Rebecca and her team have walked alongside well over 100 Kindergarten through12th grade schools, equipping their staff as they journey toward becoming trauma-informed. The Resilience Team’s core value is that in order to create more positive outcomes for children, we must focus on transforming the adults who are important in these kids’ lives.

Communities:

Additionally, Rebecca and her team have partnered with Youth Core Ministries out of Greensburg Kansas to establish and sustain poverty resolution projects across Kansas and Illinois. Currently they are working with over 200 families who are systematically building their paths out of poverty.

Rebecca is widely known in Kansas and across the United States for her extensive work building trauma-informed schools. She is a captivating presenter and her lived experience of escaping poverty when she was 40 years old,  with three young children, invites people into her undeniable experience of healing, hope and restoration.

Rebecca has 8 ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences) which she lived out as an adult with addiction, domestic violence, poverty and pain. She captivates audiences with her ability to weave concepts in with stories and helps people understand what is typically getting in the way of adopting the movement of trauma-informed schools. More importantly, Rebecca helps participants identify where they are, where they want to go, and how they want to get there. She is a master facilitator, a generous storyteller, and has an uncanny way of helping people boil down and absorb deep concepts around the brain, behavior, and healing.

Rebecca has shown the light for hundreds of schools and thousands of teachers on the path of equipping trauma-informed cultures and frameworks. She is well known for her carefully crafted work on:

  • Behavior is a Brain Issue and Not a Character Issue
  • Unpacking Behaviorism and its devastating effects on kids and families from trauma
  • Poverty and Trauma: Brains Wired for Survival
  • Understanding the science of the brain and resilience and how the brain wants to heal and can heal at any age
  • No kid, regardless of their story is a lost cause
  • Is it really all about choices?
  • Healing a fight/flight/freeze brain into a cause and effect brain within our schools
  • How Resilience is Built: The External Requirements for Thriving, Despite Adversity
  • Truly, it IS all about the relationships
  • Punishment Versus Discipline: The Hardest Hill in Equipping Trauma-Informed Schools for Sustainability

Rebecca coined the popular Resilience phrase “I see you, I hear you, I am with you.” This is the foundation for building resilience in ALL kids and staff.

To learn more:
Bourbon County, Fort Scott, Schools, Youth

Host Families For International Students Are Needed in Bourbon County

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School is just around the corner, and I have an opportunity to make this year EXTRA SPECIAL for your family. FLAG International is seeking host families for international exchange students in Fort Scott and the surrounding area.

There are hundreds of students from counties around the world who are waiting for host families in the US to say “Yes!” to the opportunity to be their family for the 2023-2024 school year! Would YOU be a HERO for these students? They have been anxiously waiting to hear who their host family will be so they can start a connection with them before they arrive.
Not ready to host the whole school year? That’s ok! Would you consider being a welcome family for 5 weeks while we continue to seek them a permanent placement?
Find out how adding a bonus family member ​from the other side of the planet will grow your HEART and make this year EXTRA special for your family.
Let us match you with a student that shares common interests with you and your family – athletics, arts and lifestyle!

Ask me for more information! You can email me at [email protected] or call or text 620-215-5494.

Church news, Youth

Carpenters for Christ Youth Carpentry Workshop

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Carpenters for Christ Youth Carpentry
Workshop

Location: First Southern Baptist Church
1818 S Main St

August 7 th , 8 th & 9 th
10am till 11:30am

Ages: 6 th thru 8 th Grade (Boys & Girls)

Enrollment Limited to 15 youth

(Call 620-223-2986 to reserve a spot)

Workshop will include: Snacks, a Bible Lesson, and a Carpentry
Training Session

*Youth that attend at least 2 sessions will receive a free t-shirt
(t-shirts will be ordered after the end of the 2 nd workshop)

Business, Youth

Recommended Young Entrepreneurs Will Get a Grant

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Judah Whitson at the cash register at Fort Scott Farmers Market.
Judah Whitson mans the cash register at his family’s booth at the Fort Scott Farmers Market on June3, 2023. He sells homemade mini-donuts.

Following the first set of stories on young entrepreneurs in our community, an anonymous donor  wrote fortscott.biz that he wanted to grant each one of the featured youth with $50.

To view the prior story:

Young Entrepreneurs Series Spawns An Anonymous Benefactor

 

If you know of a child, under 18 years of age, that is creating products or providing services to sell to the public, please send their name and phone number to [email protected]

Fortscott.biz wants to encourage the youth who are learning business by doing it.

Bourbon County, Jobs, Schools, Youth

U235 Is Gearing Up for New School Year

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Vance Eden. From the school’s website.
This week marks the beginning of enrollment for the school year in U.S.D. 235.
Enrollment for Uniontown’s school district is two days:
  • Thursday, July 27th from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  • Friday, July 28th from noon to 7 p.m.
The district’s open house is August 15 from 4 to 6 p.m.
The first day of class for students is August 16.
New teachers in the district are Amanda Ostrander-preschool, Lakyn Rucker-first grade, Tyler Ericson-fourth grade, Jacy Walker-six grade, Alex Chesney-West Bourbon Elementary School Music, Ian Ballinger, high school social studies, Christal Martin-high school science student teacher, Abby Onelio, high school Spanish/,Multi-Tiered Systems of Support(  she will work to support students struggling academically)and Carrie Sutcliffe-high school science.
Rebecca Sutterby is the new high school digital media contact and Nick Trim is the new School Resource Officer.
A series featuring new teachers for U235 started with new junior high/senior high principal Robert Onelio on July 17. Watch for profiles of the new teachers in the coming weeks.
To view Onelio’s feature:
Improving the District
“The district continues to consider bringing a bond to the voters for consideration,” said Superintendent Vance Eden. “We will start the strategic planning with the community this fall to try to establish some short and long-term, up to five year, goals. We’ll continue to work to improve ourselves as a district and support new hires as they join our team this fall.”
In May, the following retired from the district:
Rhonda Allen-elementary music, Jeanne Camac- jr/sr high counselor, Jean Cook-jr. high English and Language Arts, Betty Dennis-nurse, Amber Ericson-fourth grade, and Bonnie Rathbun-sixth grade.
Fort Scott, Youth

Magician Jeff Quinn to Perform for Summer Reading on July 26

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Magician Jeff Quinn will travel from Nebraska to Fort Scott for the first time, to wow the community with his interactive magic show, tailored to the summer reading theme. He will perform on July 26 at 10 a.m. at Memorial Hall.

 

Library performances are free and open to the public. This event is part of the library’s summer reading program. Learn more about and register for the program at: https://forms.gle/suanVpb2pYH3PwyX8

 

This performance is made possible by the Dollar General Literacy Grant.

Kansas, Youth

Dolly Parton Coming to KS

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Header

For Immediate Release:    
July 21, 2023

Contact:    
Cassie Nichols
[email protected]

Governor Kelly to Welcome Dolly Parton to Kansas for Imagination Library of Kansas
Statewide Celebration

TOPEKA — Governor Laura Kelly announced today that on  Monday, August 14, 2023, American icon Dolly Parton will visit Kansas to celebrate the statewide success of her Imagination Library program at a closed event hosted by the Imagination Library of Kansas.

Starting today, every child in Kansas from birth to age five can receive free books every month from Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. This is made possible through increased funding provided to the Kansas Children’s Cabinet and Trust Fund by Governor Laura Kelly and the Kansas Legislature. These funds supplement local and regional resources to ensure equitable opportunity across the state. The Imagination Library has gifted over 200 million books worldwide since its launch in 1995.

“I am pleased that we have reached this amazing milestone – being able to provide the gift of reading for children and families across Kansas,” said Governor Laura Kelly. “We know that a child’s first five years are critical for health development and childhood literacy. By increasing access to the Imagination Library, we will be nurturing a love for reading and supporting the foundation of a child’s social-emotional, physical, and cognitive future. I urge all eligible Kansas families to sign their children up for the Imagination Library of Kansas.”

The early childhood period (birth to five years) is the most influential for a child’s future, providing the foundation for a child to grow, learn, and thrive. Leaders across Kansas have been focused on developing strategies to promote early literacy and support educators, parents, and families in fostering commitments to reading. Forming an Imagination Library of Kansas is a significant step towards actualizing these goals by placing books directly in the child’s home.

Pratt, Kansas, has the distinction of starting the first Imagination Library site outside Tennessee in 2005. Today, Kansas is celebrating over 52,200 children enrolled and celebrating the milestone of gifting more than 3.8 million books to children since 2005.

Inspired by her father’s inability to read and write, Dolly Parton started her Imagination Library in 1995 to foster a love of reading for the children within her home county. Today, her program mails over 2 million high-quality, age-appropriate books directly to children’s homes each month. Each child enrolled in the program receives one book per month until their fifth birthday – at no cost to families. The program’s impact has been widely researched, and results suggest positive increases in key early childhood literacy metrics. Penguin Random House is the exclusive publisher of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. For more information, please visit imaginationlibrary.com.

For more information about the Imagination Library of Kansas, visit kschildrenscabinet.org/imaginationlibrary.

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Fair, K-State Extension, Youth

Colored Ribbons at the County Fair

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Jennifer Terrell, K-State Extension Agent

 

It’s county fair time and this means that 4-H’ers have the opportunity to showcase all of their hard work learned on projects throughout the 4-H year. For many, this time of year is a highlight of the 4-H program.

Have you ever wondered what the different colored ribbons attached to exhibits mean? Well, I would like to tell you how 4-H exhibits are evaluated at the local county fair.

At the local county fair, most exhibits are judged on a conference or interview basis. This is where the judge interviews the participant as he or she evaluates the product against a set of standards rather than against other exhibits. The purpose of this judging is to determine what the 4-H’er learned while completing the project. Judges may consider skill level based on age and circumstance, and expect a higher performance from older 4-H’ers, so there is some variance within the standard. Comments are generally provided verbally and sometimes written. After the exhibit is evaluated, the judge then awards a ribbon placing to the exhibit.

In 4-H, we use the Danish Ribbon System where exhibits are placed into four different ribbon groups. A purple ribbon means outstanding on all standards, a blue ribbon exceeds the minimum standards but may have some minor flaws where improvements can be made, a red ribbon meets all minimum standards and may have some visible signs of needed improvement and finally a white ribbon fails to meet the minimum standard for the project. Of the purple ribbons, the judge can select a Champion and Reserve Champion.

In 4-H, we believe that using the Danish Ribbon System gives every 4-H member the recognition deserved for the work that was done and encourage them to follow the motto “to make the best better.” While no evaluation system is perfect, this system helps 4-H develop top quality youth instead of focusing on purple ribbon projects.

I encourage you to visit your local county fair and see all of the amazing work 4-H’ers have on display. And as you walk around, pay close attention to the different ribbon placings attached to projects. You will notice there will be any number of purples, blues, reds, or whites in each of the departments. This is the Danish Ribbon System, where 4-H’ers are encouraged to challenge themselves, set goals, and receive constructive criticism. All things to help young people build essential life skills to thrive.

For more information about 4-H Youth Development, reach out to Jennifer Terrell, District Extension Agent for K-State Research and Extension – Southwind District at [email protected] or 620-223-3720.