Join us as we work to build healthy children and families!
The Children’s Alliance drives systems-level change to strengthen children and families through advocacy, networking and education.
Education
We build child and family wellbeing by designing and delivering high-quality learning opportunities to caregivers and professionals. Our training programs include the MAPP Institute for Strong Families, as well as learning resources focused on adoption, teens, kinship care and trauma-informed care.
Advocacy
We’re working for a future where the vast majority of Kansas children at risk of removal today can remain safely with their families and give those who must be removed from their homes the support and care they need to heal and thrive.
Networking
Children’s Alliance leaders and members regularly meet with lawmakers, state agency officials, and national partners. We bring together technical expertise and adaptive leadership to discuss emerging issues, identify needs and collaborate for solutions.
The SOUL Family Permanency Option was designed by young people as a proposed new legal pathway to form families who will support them during their journey to adulthood.
The Kansas Department for Children and Families and a growing network of partners statewide are collaborating to build the understanding, resources, services and administrative and legal infrastructure needed to make SOUL Family a legal permanency option. During this journey, your support is needed.
SOUL Family was conceived by young leaders with foster care experience, with support from the Annie E. Casey Foundation and its Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative®. Kansas is the first state to pilot the SOUL Family option.
SOUL Family: Helping young people aging out of foster care
Introducing Kinship Origins and Kinship Path
A new training support for kinship caregivers
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KINSHIP ORIGINS
Kinship Origins is a free resource for kin caregivers! A kin caregiver is a family member or an important person in a child's life who takes on the full-time role of caring for a child or teen in foster care.
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WHAT IS ORIGINS?
Kinship Origins is an interactive guide for kin caregivers. You’ll find support for common caregiver questions:
“Who are all these agency people?”
“What’s happening in court?”
“How do I support my kin-child during this rough time?”
And more!
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EXPLORE ANYTIME
Explore Kinship Origins anywhere, anytime with any internet-connected device: tablet, phone or computer.
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PEOPLE ARE SAYING
“The training is very informative, thoughtful and well presented, all while addressing a wide range of highly relevant topics.”
“I hope this can be made as available as soon as possible.”
“I can't wait to be able to share this with families.”
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KINSHIP PATH
Continue on your journey of learning more about caregiving for your relative in foster care by registering for our 10-week instructor led course, Kinship Path.
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LEARN MORE
Visit our Resource Page for Kin Caregivers
The Children's Alliance offers the evidence-based Model Approach to Partnerships in Parenting preparation programs. The MAPP approach rests on four cornerstone principles to promote foster and adoptive parent readiness.
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Partnership
MAPP prepares prospective foster and adoptive parents to partner with families to offer the best possibility for family reunification and to ensure healthy family connections while children are separated from family.
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Healing
MAPP provides foster and adoptive caregivers with the knowledge and critical skills to support healing for children and youth while they are in foster care…and sometimes as an ongoing resource.
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Mutual Selection
MAPP ensures both prospective foster and adoptive parents and agency staff make a mutual decision about readiness for foster caregiving. There are multiple opportunities for consultation and self-reflection.
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Integrated Learning
MAPP combines the best of adult learning principles and child welfare content delivery. Caregivers retain important concepts and are prepared to support children in foster care.
MAPP Leaders, sign in with the token/passcode you received. If you have questions, contact us!
Kansas Training
The Children’s Alliance works with member and partner organizations to provide frequent training opportunities supporting Kansas caregivers, parents, and child welfare professionals.
Visit our Training Events page to view current training highlights and learn more.