Offices reopening based on county COVID-19 data; some offices will remain closed
Department for Children and Families Secretary Laura Howard announced today a select number of DCF offices will reopen to the public beginning Monday, June 8.
“Based on Governor Laura Kelly’s Ad Astra plan for reopening and county data, I feel it is appropriate to slowly begin to open our service centers,” Howard said. “Our reopening plan is based on data and will be done in a safe and measured fashion.”
The agency recently opened some service centers to test its readiness and ensure the safety of both clients and employees. Clients can expect to see several safety measures inside the service centers.
Those include:
- Limiting lobby capacity to ensure social distancing
- Asking COVID-19 screening questions upon entry
- Encouraging clients to wear masks
- Asking clients to limit the number of people they bring to the service center
- Making phone interviews available
- Plexiglass partitions
- Designating “phone stations” for clients
Service centers included in this initial round of openings include:
- Atchison
- Chanute
- Colby
- Columbus
- Concordia
- El Dorado 6/10
- Fort Scott
- Goodland
- Hays
- Hiawatha
- Independence
- Junction City
- Lawrence
- McPherson
- Manhattan
- Marysville
- Osawatomie
- Ottawa
- Parsons
- Phillipsburg
- Pittsburg
- Pratt
- Salina
- Topeka
- Winfield 6/10
Other ways to connect with DCF
DCF also offers other ways for clients to connect with the agency if they are concerned about entering public spaces.
Clients with general questions about assistance programs can use the agency’s statewide customer service line at 1-888-369-4777.
Kansans who have case specific questions or need to provide information or documents can email those to their local service center at DCF.(city)EES@ks.gov (Example: DCF.TopekaEES.ks.gov).
Clients who have questions about their Kansas Benefits Card can call 1-800-997-6666.
If you need to report suspect abuse or neglect call the Kansas Protection Report Center at 1-800-922-5330.
“We know the pandemic has caused additional stress to the well-being of Kansas families,” Howard said. “Our goal is to be available no matter how someone contacts the agency because we know access to our programs can provide a measure of security during these difficult times.”
DCF will make additional announcements as more offices reopen.