Mental Health Association of South Central Kansas, Inc., which serves Cowley and surrounding counties, was recently awarded over $400,000 through the Kansas Department for Children and Families via federal TANF funding.
TANF stands for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families and is under the umbrella of the United States Department of Health and Human Services.
According to a news release from the Kansas Department for Children and Families, it has announced a new approach to improving the health, social, and economic outcomes of the next generation. By utilizing $11.5 million of the agency’s TANF funding, DCF is launching 2Gen Kansas.
Led by Ascend at the Aspen Institute, DCF says 2Gen Kansas works to end intergenerational poverty by supporting children and their parents or care providers – as a family unit – to move the whole family forward.
Ten organizations will receive funding from the $11.5 million.
“We believe this approach will build family well-being by intentionally and simultaneously working with children and the adults in their lives,” Kansas DCF Secretary Laura Howard said. “This support will increase opportunities for families to become stable, connected and empower them to progress towards their personal, educational and career goals.”
DCF says the agencies will serve as an access point by assisting families in applying for programs such as Food Assistance, also known as SNAP, USDA Commodity Programs, Child Care Assistance, Low Income Energy Assistance Program, and Vocational Rehabilitation Services.
They will be required to participate in ongoing training and collaborative meetings and recommend one parent being served by their organizations to serve on a statewide 2Gen parent advisory council, the news release added.
“It will result in coordinated access to systems and structures that are necessary for families to thrive economically and socially,” Howard said.
Marjorie Sims, Managing Director of Ascend at the Aspen Institute, said the she’s confident in the sunflower’s states implementation of 2Gen.
“Kansas DCF joins a growing number of state agencies implementing 2Gen approaches to unlock the potential of children and their families together,” Sims said “Adopting this family-centered mindset not only boosts the well-being of children and their parents, but it also offers a model to better integrate the systems of support for these communities.
“We are energized by DCF’s investment in families, which is a culmination of years of work from family-serving organizations across the state and country.”
The 10 contracts will be in place from July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2026, with an optional renewal of one additional two-year grant. DCF received 24 proposals and has awarded the grants to the following community partners:
