The Kansas Department for Children and Families (formerly the Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services) is a state agency in Kansas, responsible for the delivery of social services to those in need of them. Agency History - 1970's
The agency was founded in 1973, and it is currently headed by Laura Howard.
History Pre-establishment The 1859 Wyandotte Constitution mandated that the state create and support institutions for “the benefit of the insane, blind, deaf and dumb, and such other benevolent institutions as the public good may require.” Kansas Constitution, Article VII, Section I As a result, the Kansas Insane Asylum was established in 1866 in Osawatomie. Due to overcrowding, an additional asylum was approved by Governor Osborn; the Topeka State Hospital opened in 1879. Another asylum was opened in 1881, the State Asylum for Idiotic and Imbecile Youth in Lawrence which was moved to Winfield in 1887. It was renamed the State Home for the Feeble-Minded in 1909 and then renamed again to the State Training School in 1920. In 1903 the legislation to create the State Hospital for Epileptics in Parsons passed with the hospital being renamed the Parsons State Training School in 1953. The Larned State Hospital opened in 1914 which took on additional responsibilities with the opening of the State Security Hospital in 1939. In 1960 the Kansas Neurological Institute opened in Topeka and tuberculosis hospitals where opened in Norton in 1914 and Chanute in 1963. And lastly, the Rainbow Mental Health Facility was established in Osawatomie in 1973. Pre-Executive Reorganization Order 1
Prior to Executive Reorganization Order No. 1, all of these hospitals, as well as all social service programs where overseen by counties with very little state oversight. The only exception being state social security which, due to the 1937 Kansas Welfare Act had a state board oversee how to most efficiently spread federal funding. By 1949 this board became the state board for social welfare, however counties retained primary administrative control over welfare.
Establishment The agency was first established in 1973 from then-Governor Docking's Executive Reorganization Order No. 1, which created the Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services.Gov. Docking's 1973 ERO Governor Docking then appointed Dr. Robert Harder as the first secretary of the agency. In that same year, legislation was passed to transfer all social welfare programs from the various counties to the new agency. The time it took to transfer the programs to the new umbrella agency was about nine months.
Services Child support services Economic and employment services Foster care Prevention and protection services Rehabilitation services
List of secretaries
No. Name Governor(s) Term Party Notes Ref 1. Robert Harder Robert DockingRobert BennettJohn Carlin 1973-1987Democrat Received a doctorate in Theology, state representative, longest-serving cabinet secretary in Kansas history 2. Winston Barton Mike Hayden 1987-1990 Previously worked for the Health Care Finance Administration 3. Dennis Taylor Mike Hayden 1990-1991 - Robert Harder Joan Finney 1991-1991 Democrat Dr Harder briefly returned as interim Secretary 4. Donna Whiteman Joan Finney 1991-1995 5. Rochelle Chronister Bill Graves 1995-1999 Republican Former Chairwoman of the Kansas Republican Party 6. Janet Schalansky Bill GravesKathleen Sebelius 1999-2004 7. Gary Daniels Kathleen Sebelius 2004-2006 8. Don Jordan Kathleen SebeliusMark Parkinson 2006-2011 9. Rob Siedlecki Sam Brownback 2011-2011 Former chief of staff in the Florida Department of Health 10. Phyllis Gilmore Sam Brownback 2011-2017 Republican Targeted in an administrative shakeup 11. Gina Meier-Hummel Sam BrownbackJeff Colyer 2017-2019 Executive Director of various charitable organizations 12. Laura Howard Laura Kelly 2019-Present Originally interim Secretary for four months.
References
External links Department of Children and Families website Department for Children and Families publications at State Library of Kansas' KGI Online Library former Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services publications at State Library of Kansas' KGI Online Library