Several agencies serving area counties are receiving major funding to help reduce “intergenerational” poverty.
The funding comes as the Kansas Department for Children and Families has launched 2Gen Kansas, a program led by the Aspen Institute’s Ascend wing and designed to end poverty by supporting children, parents, guardians or other care providers as a family unit as opposed to individually. DCF has picked 10 partners for the launch:
*KVC Behavioral Health, serving Coffey, Osage and Wabaunsee counties, receives $1.9 million to provide one-on-one, in-home, virtual and group interventions through essential resources and referrals.
*Mental Health Association of South Central Kansas, serving Greenwood County, receives over $409,000 for case management, mentoring, parental and family education through the Strengthening Families curriculum as well as access to mental health or substance use treatment.
*Mirror Inc, serving Osage County, receives $350,000 for healthy relationship skills training, parenting connections training, educational activities and personal/professional development courses.
*Sparkwheel, serving Lyon County, receives over $2.7 million to continue work partnering with teachers and offering supports for students.
Funding comes from DCF’s Temporary Assistance for Needy Families line item. Nearly $12 million is involved in launching 2Gen Kansas.
