Supports and Services for Expectant and Parenting Youth in Foster Care - Kansas

Date: October 2025

Youth's Parental Rights

This issue is not addressed in the laws and policies reviewed.

Placement Options
Citation: DCF Pol. & Proc. Man. § 5238

In policy:  For teen parents in foster care with their infants when the infants are not in the custody of the Department for Children and Families (DCF), the child welfare case management provider (CWCMP) shall arrange placements and coordinating services. For teen parents in foster care with their infants when the infants are not in DCF custody, the parents and their infants shall be placed together. The teen parents shall be given every opportunity to parent the infant with support from the care provider.

When both the teen parent and the infant are placed in the custody of DCF, a referral of the infant shall be made to the CWCMP. The CWCMP shall place the teen parent and infant in the same placement setting as long as there are no issues involving the safety of the infant that would preclude the placement together.

Health Services

This issue is not addressed in the laws and policies reviewed.

Parent Preparation for Expectant Youth

This issue is not addressed in the laws and policies reviewed.

Education and Services to Support Parenting Youth
Citation: DCF Pol. & Proc. Man. § 7200

The Independent Living Coordinator (ILC) shall discuss referrals to services and the benefits of such services with youth who are pregnant and/or parenting and assist them with referrals as appropriate. Services include, but are not limited to, parent skill building programs. Parent skill building programs involve community partners in assessing the needs of the child(ren). These assessments include occupational and physical therapy, speech and language development, and educational needs.

The issue of assisting parenting youth in finishing high school is not addressed in the laws and policies reviewed. For information on assisting youth participating in independent-living programs complete high school, see Educational Supports for Youth in Foster Care - Kansas | Child Welfare Information Gateway.

Economic and Concrete Supports 
Citation: DCF Pol. & Proc. Man. §§ 5238; 7200

The CWCMP shall provide necessary child care expenses for children and for the infants of teen parents when funds for child care are not available from other sources.

Parent skill building programs include infant-toddler services or home visitor programs.

Services and Supports for Parenting Youth That Promote Self-Sufficiency
Citation: DCF Pol. & Proc. Man. § 7200

The ILC shall engage youth in planning to achieve self-sufficiency by working with the youth in the Independent Living Program. The ILC will need to work with the youth in a cooperative manner to identify his or her goals and overcome barriers to success. The available services and supports include, but are not limited to, the following: 

  • Assisting youth in applying for and navigating their health benefits 
  • Facilitating need-based financial support
  • Educating or referring youth to services that assist with budgeting, money management, and daily living skills
  • Assisting youth with maintaining and developing connections for success 
  • Assisting youth with locating and maintaining housing
  • Assisting youth with career planning and accessing employment services
  • Assisting youth with secondary, postsecondary education, or certified 
  • Assisting youth to access transportation for education or employment purposes.
  • Assisting youth to access services to maintain their mental and physical well-being

Foster Care Prevention Strategy for any Child Born to the Youth
Citation: DCF Pol. & Proc. Man. § 5238

For a parenting youth in foster care whose infant is not in care, the following apply:

  • The teen parent's case plan shall reflect a need for services, goals, and objectives that will allow the infant to remain in placement with his or her parent.   
  • The youth is eligible for Family First Prevention Services. The CWCMP will include a prevention plan in the youth's permanency plan and arrange the appropriate referral to needed services.

When both the teen parent and the infant are placed in the custody DCF, the CWCMP will provide services to the teen parent to facilitate the parent's ability to provide on-going care for the infant.