Kansas Department of Children and Families
Great Seal of Kansas
Department overview
Formed1973
Preceding Department
  • Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services
JurisdictionState of Kansas
Headquarters555 S. Kansas Avenue
Topeka, Kansas 66603
Employees2,500 [1]
Annual budget$684 million [2]
Department executive
  • Laura Howard[3], Secretary of Children and Families
Websitewww.dcf.ks.gov

The Kansas Department for Children and Families (formerly the Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services) is a state agency in Kansas, responsible for the delivery of social services to those in need of them.[4]

The agency was founded in 1973, and it is currently headed by Laura Howard.

History

Pre-establishment

The 1859 Wyandotte Constitution mandated that the state create and support institutions for “the benefit of the insane, blind, deaf and dumb, and such other benevolent institutions as the public good may require.”[5] As a result, the Kansas Insane Asylum was established in 1866 in Osawatomie. Due to overcrowding, an additional asylum was approved by Governor Osborn; the Topeka State Hospital opened in 1879. Another asylum was opened in 1881, the State Asylum for Idiotic and Imbecile Youth in Lawrence which was moved to Winfield in 1887. It was renamed the State Home for the Feeble-Minded in 1909 and then renamed again to the State Training School in 1920. In 1903 the legislation to create the State Hospital for Epileptics in Parsons passed with the hospital being renamed the Parsons State Training School in 1953. The Larned State Hospital opened in 1914 which took on additional responsibilities with the opening of the State Security Hospital in 1939. In 1960 the Kansas Neurological Institute opened in Topeka and tuberculosis hospitals where opened in Norton in 1914 and Chanute in 1963. And lastly, the Rainbow Mental Health Facility was established in Osawatomie in 1973.[6]

Prior to Executive Reorganization Order No. 1, all of these hospitals, as well as all social service programs where overseen by counties with very little state oversight. The only exception being state social security which, due to the 1937 Kansas Welfare Act had a state board oversee how to most efficiently spread federal funding. By 1949 this board became the state board for social welfare, however counties retained primary administrative control over welfare.[6]

Establishment

The agency was first established in 1973 from then-Governor Docking's Executive Reorganization Order No. 1, which created the Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services.[7] Governor Docking then appointed Dr. Robert Harder as the first secretary of the agency. In that same year, legislation was passed to transfer all social welfare programs from the various counties to the new agency. The time it took to transfer the programs to the new umbrella agency was about nine months.[4]

Services

  • Child support services
  • Economic and employment services
  • Foster care
  • Prevention and protection services
  • Rehabilitation services

List of secretaries

No. Name Governor(s) Term Party Notes Ref
1. Robert Harder Robert Docking
Robert Bennett
John Carlin		 1973-1987 Democrat Received a doctorate in Theology, state representative, longest-serving cabinet secretary in Kansas history [8]
2. Winston Barton Mike Hayden 1987-1990 Previously worked for the Health Care Finance Administration [9]
3. Dennis Taylor Mike Hayden 1990-1991 [10]
- Robert Harder Joan Finney 1991-1991 Democrat Dr Harder briefly returned as interim Secretary [10]
4. Donna Whiteman Joan Finney 1991-1995 [10]
5. Rochelle Chronister Bill Graves 1995-1999 Republican Former Chairwoman of the Kansas Republican Party [11]
6. Janet Schalansky Bill Graves
Kathleen Sebelius		 1999-2004 [10]
7. Gary Daniels Kathleen Sebelius 2004-2006 [12]
8. Don Jordan Kathleen Sebelius
Mark Parkinson		 2006-2011 [12]
9. Rob Siedlecki Sam Brownback 2011-2011 Former chief of staff in the Florida Department of Health [13]
10. Phyllis Gilmore Sam Brownback 2011-2017 Republican Targeted in an administrative shakeup [13]
11. Gina Meier-Hummel Sam Brownback
Jeff Colyer		 2017-2019 Executive Director of various charitable organizations [13]
12. Laura Howard Laura Kelly 2019-Present Originally interim Secretary for four months. [13]

References

  1. ↑ DCF's Budget pg.2
  2. ↑ Kansas Budget pg. 238–241
  3. ↑ "'A true public servant': New Kansas child welfare leader vows openness, more resources". Kansas City Star. Kansas City Star
  4. 1 2 "Agency History - 1970's". Kansas Department of Children and Families. Agency History - 1970's
  5. ↑ "Wyandotte Constitution". Kansas Memory. Kansas Constitution, Article VII, Section I
  6. 1 2 "Agency History - Pre-Executive Reorganization Order 1". Kansas Department of Children and Families. Pre-Executive Reorganization Order 1
  7. ↑ Gov. Docking's 1973 ERO
  8. ↑ Smith, Eric (April 13, 2014). "Robert Harder, longest-serving Cabinet secretary in state history, dies at 84". The Topeka Capital-Journal. Retrieved May 27, 2018.
  9. ↑ "Agency History - 1980's". www.dcf.ks.gov. Retrieved March 7, 2023.
  10. 1 2 3 4 "Agency History - 1990s". www.dcf.ks.gov. Retrieved March 7, 2023.
  11. ↑ "Kansas Task Force Hears That Some Issues With Foster Care System Aren't New". KUCR. NPR. Retrieved March 7, 2023.
  12. 1 2 "Agency History - 2000s". www.dcf.ks.gov. Retrieved March 7, 2023.
  13. 1 2 3 4 "Agency History - Present". www.dcf.ks.gov. Retrieved March 7, 2023.
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