With the hope that children placed in foster care will eventually be given permanency, often in adoptive homes, the state of Kansas has begun a 5-year project with grants from The Children’s Bureau of the Administration for Children and Families, according to a report from the University of Kansas. The project, also known as KAPP, is focused on screening children and youth placed in foster care for trauma. With proper screening and assessment, adoption outcomes for these children and their adoptive families will be more positive.
Once children are appropriately assessed, the next step is to have a system in place to treat problems resulting from trauma. Often adoptive families believe they are on their own once the adoption is finalized. With the KAPP program in place, resources will be provided and education available for families to get the help needed for their children who have experienced trauma.
As the project progresses, programs developed will continually be evaluated and improved upon so that by the end of the 5-years, effective procedures will be in place to screen, assess, and treat children and youth in the Kansas foster care system. It is expected that KAPP will be a model for other states across America.
