Kansas Department for Children and Families (DCF) Market Research Report

Background

The Kansas Department for Children and Families (DCF) is a state agency established in 1973 to oversee the delivery of social services and care to vulnerable populations in Kansas. Its mission is to protect children, strengthen families, and promote adult self-sufficiency. DCF serves over 500,000 Kansans annually, providing a wide range of support services, including child support, economic and employment services, foster care, and rehabilitation services.

Key Strategic Focus

DCF's strategic focus encompasses several core objectives:

• Child Welfare Services: Ensuring the safety and well-being of children through foster care, adoption services, and child protection programs.

• Economic and Employment Services: Assisting individuals and families in achieving self-sufficiency by providing food assistance, child care support, and employment education and training.

• Rehabilitation Services: Offering support for individuals with disabilities to achieve independence and integration into the community.

• Child Support Services: Facilitating the establishment and enforcement of child support obligations to ensure financial support for children.

Key technologies utilized by DCF include modern case management systems and data analytics tools to enhance service delivery and operational efficiency. The primary markets targeted are Kansas residents in need of social services, including children, families, and adults facing economic hardships or requiring protective services.

Financials and Funding

As a state agency, DCF's funding primarily comes from state appropriations and federal grants. In fiscal year 2024, DCF's budget was approximately $428.5 million, reflecting a 30.8% decrease from the previous year. This reduction may be attributed to various factors, including changes in federal funding and program expenditures. DCF collaborates with nonprofit organizations to administer certain services, such as foster care case management, which are funded through grants from DCF.

Pipeline Development

DCF's pipeline development focuses on enhancing and modernizing its service delivery systems. Notable initiatives include:

• Comprehensive Child Welfare Information System (CCWIS): In July 2025, DCF awarded contracts to modernize its child welfare information systems, aiming to consolidate multiple legacy systems into a single, integrated solution. This project is expected to cost $100 million over an estimated four-year development period.

Technological Platform and Innovation

DCF is committed to technological innovation to improve service delivery:

• Case Management Systems: DCF has undertaken significant efforts to modernize its case management systems, including the migration of its child support case management system to a web-based application running in the Azure Cloud platform.

Leadership Team

The leadership team at DCF includes:

• Laura Howard: Secretary of Children and Families. Appointed in 2019, Howard has been instrumental in leading DCF's modernization efforts and strategic initiatives.

Market Insights and Competitor Dynamics

The social services sector in Kansas is characterized by a mix of public agencies and private nonprofit organizations. DCF collaborates with various nonprofit partners to deliver services, such as KVC Health Systems, which has been a foster care case management provider for over 25 years.

Key competitors and partners include:

• KVC Health Systems: A private, nonprofit child welfare and behavioral healthcare organization providing foster care case management services in Kansas.

• Kansas Children's Service League (KCSL): A nonprofit organization offering child abuse prevention, foster care, and adoption services.

Strategic Collaborations and Partnerships

DCF collaborates with several organizations to enhance service delivery:

• KVC Health Systems: Provides foster care case management services in various counties, funded by grants from DCF.

• Conduent Incorporated: In August 2021, DCF selected Conduent to upgrade its child support case management system, transitioning from an aging mainframe to a modern, web-based application.

Operational Insights

DCF's strategic considerations include:

• Service Delivery: Ensuring efficient and effective delivery of services to meet the needs of Kansas residents.

• System Modernization: Continuously updating and improving technological platforms to enhance service delivery and operational efficiency.

• Collaboration: Partnering with nonprofit organizations and other agencies to expand service reach and effectiveness.

Strategic Opportunities and Future Directions

DCF's strategic roadmap includes:

• System Modernization: Completing the CCWIS project to integrate and modernize child welfare information systems.

• Service Expansion: Enhancing and expanding services to meet the evolving needs of Kansas residents.

• Policy Advocacy: Engaging in policy development to strengthen social services and support vulnerable populations in Kansas.

Contact Information

• Website: Kansas Department for Children and Families

• Social Media: LinkedIn

Note: Specific contact details such as email addresses and phone numbers have been omitted as per the user's instructions.