July/18/2012 - Kansas House District 94 Reports

Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services, Department on Aging, the Disability and Behavioral Health Services Division at SRS, and parts of the Health Occupations Credentialing Division Reorganization:
The Kansas Department for Children and Families (DCF) and the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS) were commissioned as part of Governor Brownback’s ongoing reorganization efforts. The governor’s goal is to increase efficiency among state agencies and to improve services and programs. The two agencies will focus on protecting Kansas children, families and its most vulnerable residents.

DCF replaces the Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services as the agency responsible for protecting children and promoting healthy families. The responsibilities of DCF include children and adult protective services, adoption services, foster care support, child support services, welfare and food assistance programs, and services dedicated to vocational rehabilitation.

Four existing major client services have been renamed as part of the transition. Children and family services is now Prevention and Protection Services; Child Support Enforcement has been renamed Child Support Services; Economic and Employment Support is now Economic and Employment Services; and Rehabilitation Services has been renamed Vocational Rehabilitation Services.

DCF has a new website, www.dcf.ks.gov. Customer service can be contacted at (888) 369-4777. The Agency will remain at the same address in the Docking State Office Building, 915 SW Harrison in Topeka. All 39 Kansas service centers will also remain at their existing locations.

KDADS merges the former Department on Aging, the Disability and Behavioral Health Services Division at SRS and parts of the Health Occupations Credentialing Division. The agency will administer services to older adults; Mental Health, Addiction and Prevention Programs; State Hospitals and Institutions; Home and Community based service waiver programs; and some health occupation credentialing. KDADS is now the second largest agency in state government with a budget of $1.7 billion in FY 2013, including $154.9 million for state hospitals. The core goals of KDADS are to keep older adults and the disabled at home and independent for as long as possible.

KDADS also has a new website, www.kdads.ks.gov. All aging programs will remain in their current location at the New England Building, 503 S. Kansas Avenue in Topeka. Disability services will remain in the Docking State Office Building, 915 SW Harrison in Topeka for the time being.