[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6143529,"mediaKeyId","5535528-8e72740b622d9a8b7cc139f1e6cd85c4","parentId",5535528,"title","Accountability review: Children’s Initiative Fund programs report gains but flag workforce and mental‑health needs","audioSeconds",1514,"startMs",353000,"endMs",1867000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5535528-8e72740b622d9a8b7cc139f1e6cd85c4&start=353&end=1867","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5535528-8e72740b622d9a8b7cc139f1e6cd85c4/thumbnail_353000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6143529/Kansas/Accountability-review-Childrens-Initiative-Fund-programs-report-gains-but-flag-workforce-and-mentalhealth-needs","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6143529-1490c473daaa92079dce1f57faf8810a/orig.mp4?Expires=1770451047&Signature=YqHOwVwooVu1Fpluuv3vhrBjhuNuhg0fLs6~0gOA0h39-qhsPmB-cKnsub2I5EyTD3ioWS8EMufStvubyYe2nqeBgE3UmBvKFB~Fk14uXb3EHYxvOJympAbzsA3Sy8u37ec1FvRtJS~gufDBbmoye2l6xmCn4Cs5XUl969XuLJKAJvACleAzpv4VXUqgNaSWrd6i6Vcc7DTyNe5137-Cj6fH2CCFR~htOSATzZxlpwMGQ7Nb9uXzcYbIzrzl3JRgliIvHJbDF8W0DaKJCQnIZzw8Cv2NF4zJT007ljtMEpBYjnWl-cwAOc1gRmz8XrjVJcBODqBavoRUkxGAj7MSIQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Kansas Children's Cabinet","date","2025-06-07T04:35:21Z","article","Owen Cox, who led the Kansas Children’s Cabinet’s accountability presentation, reported on the recently completed Children’s Initiative Fund (CIF) accountability process and summarized fiscal year 2024 program outputs and early 2025 developments.

The report covers CIF‑funded programs across multiple state agencies and nonprofit partners; many of the numeric performance measures cited are drawn from fiscal year 2024 because that is the most recently completed fiscal year for which full data were available. Cox told the board the accountability review uses program reports, a CIF survey, and annual interviews with each grantee to compile program‑level service and outcome data.

Why it matters: CIF is funded from the state’s master tobacco settlement annuity (the Key Fund) and supports early childhood care, home visiting, literacy, infant‑death prevention, and other services statewide. The board will use the accountability findings when considering budget recommendations that agencies can include in FY27 state budget requests.

Key program findings and developments

- Childcare Assistance (DCF): Cox said the program targets families at or below 85% of state median income and provides subsidies to help families work, continue education or cope with emergency needs. The accountability review found that 71% of families receiving assistance who were employed saw earnings increase or remain steady at their next review, and families reported access to care they otherwise would not have had. Cox noted a recent policy change allowing differential rates for providers caring for children in the Kansas foster care system.

- Early Childhood Block Grant (ECBG): Evaluators reported that 78% of ECBG classrooms were scored as high quality in FY24, a roughly 10 percentage‑point increase over the school year, and that children showed gains on early life skills and measures of positive parenting. The Cabinet expects a more detailed evaluation presentation at a future meeting.

- Family Preservation Services: Funded in FY24 but moved off CIF in FY25, the tiered voluntary program reported strong family stability outcomes and high percentages of children avoiding foster‑care placement; staff later discontinued the tiered structure after finding families frequently migrated between tiers.

- Imagination Library of Kansas: As of June 30, 2024, the program reported 23,427 newly enrolled children and just over 17,000 children who graduated the program that year; statewide participation was reported at roughly 43% of eligible children, compared with a national benchmark the program seeks of 65%. The program distributed more than 650,000 books in the state in FY24 and said targeted outreach increased enrollment among military families.

- Kansas Early Childhood Developmental Services: The early intervention program (birth to 3) reported more than 99% of children showing increased use of knowledge and skills and 95% of families saying the program aided learning and development; staff highlighted new partnerships with the Kansas School for the Deaf and Kansas School for the Blind.

- Kansas Preschool Pilot: District‑ and community‑partnered preschool programs reported 96% of children improved in literacy and 97% improved in mathematics across the year; program staff are preparing to use a new longitudinal data system in the Kansas Department of Education to track long‑term student outcomes.

- Infant death prevention (Kids Network): In FY24 the program held 285 safe‑sleep events across 40 counties and reported increased commitment among participants to safe‑sleep and tobacco‑cessation practices and an increase in hospital/clinic safe‑sleep certifications.

- Home visiting programs (MCH home visiting and Parents as Teachers): MCH home visiting completed 8,344 individual home visits in FY24, a 105% increase from FY22 and 42% increase from FY23; Parents as Teachers reported more than 54,000 in‑person contacts and about 2,300 developmental concerns identified, with a reported 92% retention rate for families served.

- Tobacco Use Prevention: The program operates the Kansas Quitline and reported training 550 individuals in accredited tobacco‑cessation counseling; staff recently added a youth coordinator to revive youth outreach.

System and infrastructure items

- CAPE workforce registry: A statewide early childhood workforce registry (also called CAPE) soft‑launched in January 2025 and, Cox said, already had users in all 105 Kansas counties; the registry contained roughly 6,500 professionals, including 3,932 educators or direct‑care staff, and includes course offerings and professional development tracking.

- Health and Safety Grants (KDHE): Launched to help providers meet regulatory compliance costs, the FY25 program approved 211 proposals with 82% of awards to home providers and 18% to center‑based providers; grantees reported not only financial help but improved knowledge of regulatory expectations.

- Northwest Kansas Public‑Private Partnership endowment: Cox outlined a new endowment intended to sustain child‑care facilities, support wages, and expand infant and toddler care across a 26‑county Dane G. Hansen Foundation area. The initial CIF appropriation was $5,000,000; the Dane G. Hansen Foundation committed matching resources and the Patterson Family Foundation provided an initial $1,000,000. Cox said current endowment principal stood at $7,100,000 with $355,000 of spendable income for the first grant cycle (grants expected to begin August 2025). Cox noted some figures in his slides were still being finalized.

Common challenges

Cox and multiple board members highlighted recurring challenges across programs: workforce shortages that limit program reach, economic uncertainty at both program and family levels, and ongoing need for mental and behavioral‑health resources for children, families and staff.

Questions raised at the meeting

Representative Christy Williams asked whether a provider must be licensed to receive subsidies; Derek Fleurlog of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment clarified that “there is no requirement to be licensed to receive subsidy funds” but that federal rules create licensing‑equivalent requirements in some subsidy contexts and that some exemptions require separate federal approval. The transcript shows differing concerns among board members about how subsidy rules affect family choice and home‑based care.

Ending

Board members thanked grantees and staff for participating in the accountability interviews and for supplying data. The accountability materials will inform the board’s budget recommendations and discussion about the pending transition to a new Office of Early Childhood.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Kansas Children's Cabinet & Trust Fund Board Meeting June 6, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Owen Cox presented the Kansas Children’s Cabinet’s annual accountability review of Children’s Initiative Fund programs, reporting FY24 service counts and impacts and noting a January 2025 soft launch of a statewide early‑childhood workforce registry while flagging workforce shortages and unmet mental‑health needs across programs.","taxTitle","Children’s Cabinet, Governor's Boards & Commissions, Organizations, Executive, Kansas","taxId",25239,"location","Kansas","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6143524,"Children’s Cabinet adopts FY27 budget recommendations; authorizes infrastructure funds for Office of Early Childhood transition",1959,2777000,4736000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5535528-8e72740b622d9a8b7cc139f1e6cd85c4&start=2777&end=4736","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5535528-8e72740b622d9a8b7cc139f1e6cd85c4/thumbnail_2777000.jpg","/articles/6143524/Kansas/Childrens-Cabinet-adopts-FY27-budget-recommendations-authorizes-infrastructure-funds-for-Office-of-Early-Childhood-transition","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6143524-005fbaa6557a3f668ad15852f2023bd7/orig.mp4?Expires=1770451047&Signature=VfzlqdDwdsaNX0wwrbwE4yhYJ5dIgL2qzyxx-IXsso8o7mMkSKxIVTWb7b8CGg66YeWMaVUHDDvw7FIQMLRdEwai9mNpe0gx~1DxR0r5IyIGvO~71473m14dDQOLdDjLK86PaOk4aPLLTfhWrKO4vX9DrS~7WvQ8FFiXVRR~gr5xzUoQ9tJc5a4Qhh5jMasjBSSmfukdTr1bSojOa1zRg-vYYodfFumdaApWpwDu3J~NVCeNoWAgWpAHfBYGlUrHDN2gwryCmQV2dfV2zpoZ6bo-1n3AebWyxYFs87io6O8rM511EADBK41nwtp6ZVqbcTDqL0MpHjDRyTCRSbdcnA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Kansas Children’s Cabinet voted in June to adopt the Children’s Initiative Fund (CIF) budget recommendations developed by staff and to authorize limited use of CIF infrastructure funds to support the state’s transition planning for a new Office of Early Childhood.

Budget adoption and board action

At the meeting, Melissa (budget lead for the Cabinet staff) presented the FY27 budget recommendation: largely flat funding for existing CIF programs, removal of the $1.4 million infrastructure line item from the CIF budget for FY27 as a recommended cut, and a one‑time FY25 appropriation (not recommended for FY27) to support a Southwest Kansas childcare accelerator project. The staff package also reflected prior legislative additions (including a $5 million endowment appropriation for a Northwest Kansas public‑private partnership) that affected available ending balances.

After discussion, a motion to adopt the recommendations was moved and seconded and was approved by the board. Several members voiced reservations about continuing to spend above projected tobacco annuity receipts and urged future additional reductions; Representative Christy Williams said she could not support the recommendation for philosophical reasons tied to funding structure. The transcript records a vote result of 5 in favor and 2 opposed; the board chair declared the motion carried.

Board authorization to fund Office of Early Childhood transition planning

Because the 2025 legislative session passed legislation establishing an Office of Early Childhood that takes effect July 1 and will change the cabinet’s structure, staff asked the board to authorize use of CIF infrastructure funds to support third‑party planning and transition activities. The request said planning will be collaborative across agencies and that staff estimated the need in the six‑figure range; staff also reported roughly $647,000 in FY25 infrastructure funds projected for reappropriation.

A motion to approve staff authority to use infrastructure funds for the transition planning was moved, seconded and approved by a voice or roll‑call vote. Several board members asked for tighter spending visibility and suggested a not‑to‑exceed cap; the board asked staff to report back with concrete dollar requests and periodic updates as planning proceeds.

Votes at a glance

- Motion: Adopt CIF FY27 budget recommendations as presented by staff. Outcome: Approved (vote recorded in transcript as 5 yes, 2 no). Key details: flat funding for most programs; recommendation to remove the $1.4M infrastructure line item for FY27; one‑time FY25 appropriation for a Southwest Kansas accelerator noted as not recurring. Discussion: multiple members urged further reductions in future years because the Key Fund (tobacco annuity) has a persistent downward trajectory.

- Motion: Authorize use of CIF infrastructure line item funds to assist in transition planning for the Office of Early Childhood. Outcome: Approved (unanimous or near‑unanimous voice/roll‑call recorded as carried). Key details: staff estimated planning costs in the six‑figure range; staff will supply itemized requests and periodic reporting to the board.

What the votes mean

Cabinet adoption of the staff package signals support for the recommended FY27 allocations and sends fiscal guidance to partner agencies (including Kansas Department of Education and KDHE) as they prepare their agency budgets. Board approval to use infrastructure funds allows staff to begin contracting or otherwise paying for external planning support, with the expectation of later, itemized reporting to the board.

Context and next steps

Board members and staff noted larger fiscal pressures: the Key Fund annuity is on a long‑term downward trend tied to changes in consumer tobacco product use and prior budget transfers; staff said the Cabinet is seeking embedded savings and structural changes as it prepares to consolidate many CIF line items into the new Office of Early Childhood. Members asked for follow‑up briefing materials on how administrative consolidation will create efficiencies and asked staff to return with specific dollar requests and regular updates on planning expenses.

Ending

The board carried both motions and directed staff to provide additional fiscal detail on planning costs and to report on budgetary impacts as the transition to the Office of Early Childhood proceeds.","The Kansas Children’s Cabinet voted to adopt staff budget recommendations for the Children’s Initiative Fund and approved using a portion of the CIF infrastructure line item to support planning for the new Office of Early Childhood; the budget vote passed despite some members expressing philosophical objections to current funding structure.","actionData","errors"]

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Accountability review: Children’s Initiative Fund programs report gains but flag workforce and mental‑health needs

Children’s Cabinet adopts FY27 budget recommendations; authorizes infrastructure funds for Office of Early Childhood transition