WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — The Kansas Department for Children and Families announced on Thursday that it’s awarding over $1 million to nine family resource agencies across the state.

The grants support community-based hubs designed to help families by reducing the need for out-of-home placements and promoting self-sufficiency.

“Family Resource Centers offer access to resources and assistance when families may need them most,” DCF Secretary Laura Howard said in a news release. “By connecting families to services, building resilience, and meeting needs early, we can help keep more children safely at home and continue to reduce the need for foster care.”

The department is awarding nearly $1,102,000 in grants to the following agencies:​

  • Community Children’s Center, Douglas County – $125,000
  • Goodwill Industries of Kansas, Sedgwick County – $180,714.60
  • Kansas Children’s Service League, Sedgwick County – $125,000
  • The Layne Project 4 Families, Johnson County – $125,000
  • LiveWell Northwest Kansas – $125,000
  • SENT Inc., Shawnee County – $124,999.99
  • SparkWheel Inc., USD 413 in Neosho County – $125,000
  • Turner Unified School District, Wyandotte County – $89,274.89
  • Southern Lyon County Public Schools, – $81,916

The grants — funded through the Kansas general fund — will support the agencies through June 30, 2028.

“This grant will allow us to meet families where they are and support parents as they work toward a better future for themselves and their children,” Laura Ritterbush, Goodwill Industries of Kansas president and CEO, said in a news release. “At Goodwill, we know that when parents have access to education, skills training, and workforce opportunities, the impact reaches far beyond the individual — it strengthens entire families.”