Religious Rights of Youth in Out-of-Home Care - Kansas
Youths' Religious Rights
Citation: Ann. Stat. § 38-2201a
A child in need of care shall have the right to live in a safe, comfortable placement with a relative, kinship care placement, or someone from such child's community with similar religious beliefs or ethnic heritage.
Agency Responsibilities
Citation: Ann. Stat. § 38-2201a; DCF Pol. & Proc. Man. § 5230
Foster parents and kinship caregivers shall have the right to continue their own family values and beliefs with consideration given to the special needs of children who have experienced trauma and separation from their birth families if the values and beliefs of the child and the birth family are respected and not infringed upon.
The secretary of the Department for Children and Families (DCF) shall provide written and oral notification to foster youth, foster parents, and kinship caregivers of the rights created under this section and information for filing complaints. The DCF secretary shall make a list of the rights created under this section digitally available on the DCF website. Each child welfare management provider shall make physical and digital copies of the list of the rights created under this section available.
In policy: While the child is in out-of-home placement, their connection to family members remains of crucial importance. Placement considerations are to preserve the child's racial, cultural, ethnic, and religious background.
Addressing Grievances
Citation: Ann. Stat. § 38-2201a
A child in need of care shall have the right to report a violation of this section without fear of punishment, interference, coercion, or retaliation.
This section shall not be construed to create a private right of action independent of the revised Kansas code for care of children but may be enforced through equitable relief as a part of the corresponding case under the revised Kansas code for care of children.