EmberHope Connections has taken on the role of the new foster care contractor in Sedgwick County, replacing Saint Francis Ministries. The faith-based nonprofit has increased its staff and formed partnerships with local agencies to improve the region’s historically poor foster care metrics. President Brenda Watkins stated that despite having only four months to prepare, EmberHope has successfully transitioned into its new role.
Sedgwick County has been a challenging area for foster care, with nearly 20% of the state’s foster children residing there. Under Saint Francis Ministries, children were sleeping in offices and being bused to day centers. However, EmberHope’s focus on lowering caseloads and partnering with organizations such as the University of Kansas Child and Adolescent Psychiatry program and Comcare shows a commitment to improving the system.
Efforts to digitize paper case files, open a residential center in Goddard, and develop therapeutic family foster homes demonstrate EmberHope’s dedication to finding stable placements for foster children. Despite challenges in the foster care system, organizations like Kansas Appleseed are hopeful that EmberHope’s initiatives will lead to positive changes for the children and families in the community.
While the road to improving the foster care system in Sedgwick County is long, EmberHope’s commitment to collaboration and engagement at the community level provides hope for a better future. With support from local partners and a focus on individual needs, EmberHope aims to provide the necessary care and resources for foster children in the region.
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