Get free, confidential support and find helpful resources near you! Visit 1800childrenks.org or call 1-800-CHILDREN. Learn more HERE.

Adopt Kansas Kids is the Adoption Exchange for Kansas. The program raises awareness about the need for adoptive families for children who currently are in foster care. Children who are featured on Adopt Kansas Kids do not have an adoptive resource and are waiting for a “no matter what” family. Awareness is accomplished through our website and matching database, child profiles in the media and community events and activities

If you have any questions please call (877) 530-5275.

Note: KCSL does not release any identifying information about the adopted child, birth parents or adoptive parents without that person’s written permission to do so. Unless the person was born before 1910 and we can presume he/she has passed away. KCSL’s adult adoptees, birth parents and adoptive parents are encouraged to keep their name and address updated along with their desire of whether or not they would like their information shared with family members who may inquire.

Kansas Law states that most professionals who work with children are “mandated reporters”, meaning they are required by law to report suspicion of child abuse or neglect. Kansas Children’s Service League has developed several training options to help mandated reporters understand signs of child abuse and neglect and the process for making a report.

KCSL offers a statewide network of support groups for resource families, parents, grandparents and other caregivers raising children. These support groups are designed to connect families with the support and resources they need to succeed.

The Community Resource Library offers a wide variety of child and family-related information including parent tip cards and other materials. This information is available to professionals, parents and caregivers. There is no charge for printed CRL materials. To order materials from the CRL email us.

In Wichita, KCSL offers Crisis Nursery, short-term care services for children when parents are experiencing a crisis or extreme stress. Crisis Nursery can assist your family with emergency childcare when unexpected situations occur including parental or sibling illness or death; lack of utilities, food or shelter; domestic violence; the need for drug alcohol treatment; or other emergency situations which jeopardize the safety and well-being of the child.

Stewards of Children® is an evidence-informed prevention training program that teaches adults how to prevent, recognize and react responsibly to child sexual abuse. It offers practical prevention training with a conversational, real-world approach.

Early Head Start is a weekly home visitation program that works with expectant parents and parents of children under the age of three. Sponsored by KCSL, the program focuses on children’s health; safety and development; and assists parents in adjusting to their new role. Services are provided at no-cost to the family. KCSL's Early Head Start program is offered in Finney, Grant and Seward Counties.

Learn more about KCSL's child abuse and neglect prevention efforts.

Foster parents, also referred to as resource families, provide temporary care for children who cannot remain in their home due to neglect, abuse or poor parental choices. Children requiring foster care range in age from infancy to 18 and come from a variety of ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds. Some have special needs. Besides providing the daily basics of food, shelter and clothing, foster parents provide the care, stability and guidance all children need.

To learn more, or get started, contact a Family Service Representative through email or toll free at 877-530-5275.

The Head Start program works with young children and their parents. The program, sponsored by the Kansas Children’s Service League, focuses on children’s health, nutrition, education and social development. Head Start helps children get a healthy start to learning.

Raising a child can be a challenge, especially for parents who are experiencing pressures such as unemployment, illness or limited parenting skills. Although many parents get the help they need, too many young families have nowhere to turn for support. KCSL offers Healthy Families America® (HFA) programs in 30 Kansas counties.

Healthy Families Kansas™ is a voluntary program that assists new parents who are overburdened by stress factors. Staff meet with the family regularly, usually once each week. This process begins during pregnancy and continues until the child is 3 to 5 years old.

Modeled after a program in Hawaii, this service has been proven successful in promoting healthy child development, parent/child interaction, preventing child abuse and neglect and helping families link with necessary community resources. Studies show families who participate in such programs are less likely to require the intervention of social services later in a child's life.

Whether you are facing an unplanned pregnancy and considering adoption, or hoping to adopt the baby of your dreams, From Heart to Home can help! If after reviewing the information on this site you have more questions or would like to talk with one of our professional staff, please call us:

• For birth parents: call toll-free 877-581-5437 to speak with a birth parent counselor.
• For prospective adoptive parents: call toll-free 877-530-5275 to speak with a customer care coordinator.

Information for Birth Parents
Information for Prospective Adoptive Parents

KCSL’s Juvenile Intake and Assessment staff assist law enforcement with youth taken into custody, including juvenile offenders and children in need of care, and coordinate information gathering and assessment services in Shawnee County (District 3).

See what other parent leadership opportunities KCSL offers.

K-PARC provides no-cost services to:

• Families who have adopted from public child welfare in Kansas
• Kinship families (adoption or guardianship) who reside in Kansas
• Any family who has adopted a child from any state’s child welfare system and resides in Kansas

The Kinship Navigator Program can assist grandparents or relatives in Sedgwick County raising children in navigating and overcoming the issues and barriers they may face when parenting the second time around. This program provides a case manager dedicated to supplying kinship caregivers with the services and benefits needed to care for the children in their home.

Children, Youth and Family Counseling helps families build upon their strengths and discover alternative ways to manage family living. The Counseling department provides short-term therapy for children and families in Sedgwick county. Targeted Early Childhood Mental Health Services are also available.

Counseling services are for families with children and youth pre-birth to age 18. In order to keep services affordable, fees are adjusted for uninsured in accordance with the size and income level of the family.

The goals of Oasis are to:

• Prevent out-of-home placement;
• Improve family and youth functioning;
• Provide crisis intervention case management services;
• Decrease truant behavior; and
• Locate needed resources for families.

KCSL's Parent-Child Assistance Program (P-CAP) provides voluntary, intensive in-home case management services for pregnant women and families who have children under the age of 1, reside in Shawnee County and are currently using or have recently used substances.

See what other parent leadership services KCSL offers.

Public and private partners are coming together quickly to make this project a priority because it is an evidenced-based, strengths-based approach to support families. Funding for The Period of PURPLE Crying® is provided by the Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitations Services through a Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) grant; and the Kansas Children’s Cabinet and Trust Fund through Community Based Child Abuse Prevention (CBCAP) funds and the Early Childhood Block Grant. Additional support has been secured from the Kansas Health Foundation, the Junior League of Wichita, the Topeka Community Foundation, Early Head Start ARRA (American Recovery and Reinvestment Act), and numerous hospital foundations.

The Center for Restorative Education provides an avenue for credit recovery and case management services for at-risk and suspended/expelled students in Shawnee County. Students must be referred from a participating school due to a long term suspension or other reason as determined by the school.

KCSL coordinates the Wichita Coalition for Child Abuse Prevention (CCAP), formerly known as the Wichita Child Abuse Fatalities Community Response Team. CCAP formed to implement prevention initiatives as a community response to the cluster of eight child abuse fatalities in 2008 and prevent fewer future deaths with funding from KCSL’s Statewide Community Based Child Abuse Prevention grant dollars. The mission of CCAP is to empower organizations in Wichita to create effective systems to prevent child abuse and neglect. Work groups formed to develop strategies related to the attributes identified in data received by Wichita Police Department.