Two nonprofit agencies are hosting a Parent Summit this Saturday so parents can share what they think about the child welfare system in Kansas.
The gathering, “Letting Your Voice Be Heard,” will take place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Aug. 15 at the Great Bend Public Library, 1409 Williams St. It is sponsored by the Kansas Foster & Adoptive Parent Association and by the Kansas Family Advisory Network.
Nina Shaw-Woody, executive director of KFAN, said advance registration is not required but will help sponsors know how much food to bring. There will be refreshments, giveaways and a working lunch for families.
The program is open to relatives, grandparents, foster parents, adoptive parents, birth parents and children who may have aged out of the child welfare system.
“Generally when we hold this type of meeting, families stay for the entire time as we go through a series of questions so we can receive their feedback,” Shaw-Woody said. “We then gather the information to take back to the Department for Children and Families and we help them see any disparities that may be taking place around the state, or, we may see that families are struggling with the same issues across the state.”
The summit also allows staff from Kansas Family Advisory Network and Kansas Foster and Adoptive Parent Association to share information about their organizations and to see what are the needs for this community.
To register or for more information, call or send email to Shaw-Woody at KFAN, 800-969-5764, kfaninfo@gmail.com, or to Julie Lane at KFAPA, 913-645-9126, julieelainelane@yahoo.com.