Kansas Caregivers Support Network

Licensed Foster Families | Kinship or Relative Parents | Non-Related Kinship Families

Wichita State University’s Public Policy and Management Center has a contract with the Kansas Department for Children and Families (DCF) to develop the Kansas Caregivers Support Network to provide meaningful representation and a voice to caregivers. The Kansas Caregivers Support Network will provide for caregivers’ needs in a variety of ways, including peer to peer support and mentoring, education and training opportunities, and information and resources to assist all caregivers in feeling equipped to handle the needs of children in care. The Kansas Caregivers Support Network will provide for Kansas Foster, Non-Related Kinship and Kinship/Relative caregivers. The Kansas Caregivers Support Network will work to be a connection for caregivers, Child Welfare Case Management Providers, Child Placing Agencies and DCF. The Kansas Caregivers Support Network is excited to be one piece of the support network that surrounds the caregivers and children who are part of the Kansas Child Welfare System.

CONTACT

Wichita State University
Public Policy & Management Center

1845 Fairmount Street
Wichita, KS 67260-0211

Paula.Downs@wichita.edu

Call: (316) 978-6678

Mission

To bridge the gap between Kansas Caregivers and the Child Welfare System by creating access to resources to sustain a healthy placement.

Vision

To be recognized as the innovative, trusted and respected resource for caregivers and partners across Kansas.

Values

Collaboration with all partners and caregivers in Kansas
Innovative thinking within the development of services and supports
Intentionally being inclusive of all voices impacting the welfare of a child

Meet the Board

Aliex KofoedPresident

Aliex Kofoed

Director

Sedgwick County Department of Corrections

Glenda Martens is a graduate from Wichita State University (WSU) with Bachelors in Criminal Justice and a Master’s degree in Administration of Justice (WSU).

Glenda began working in corrections in 1994 as an adult and juvenile Court Services Officer for the 19th Judicial District in Winfield, Kansas. In 1998, she was the assigned facilitator for the 19th Judicial District Planning Team to develop and implement the Juvenile Justice Strategic Plan. In 2000, she was promoted as the Administrator for Cowley County Youth Services. She was instrumental in implementing the development of the new juvenile justice programs and overseeing all daily operations of the juvenile programs. She was appointed by Governor Graves to serve on the Kansas Advisory Group on Delinquency and Prevention for 4 years from 1999-2003.

In 2002, Glenda was hired by Wichita State University as a Research Director to manage a federal research grant on recidivism under Dr. Delores Craig-Moreland. In 2004, she managed the Sedgwick County at Judge James V. Riddel Boys Ranch (JRBR) a youth residential facility. When the facility closed in 2014, see became the Special Projects Manager/PREA Coordinator for the Dept. of Corrections. In 2016, Glenda was promoted by the County Manager to Director of the Dept. of Corrections where she has assumed responsibilities for the largest corrections agency in the state and serves as the administrative contact for Sedgwick County for the Kansas Dept. of Corrections.

Glenda resides in Derby Kansas with her husband Kim Martens. They are both avid Shocker basketball fans.

Glenda R. MartensVice-President

Glenda R. Martens

Director

Sedgwick County Department of Corrections

Glenda Martens is a graduate from Wichita State University (WSU) with Bachelors in Criminal Justice and a Master’s degree in Administration of Justice (WSU).

Glenda resides in Derby Kansas with her husband Kim Martens. They are both avid Shocker basketball fans.

Clairissa MaddySecretary

Clairissa Maddy

Post Adoption Services Coordinator,
TBRI® Practitioner

Kansas Post Adoption Resource Center (K-PARC)

Clairissa Maddy has a Bachelor in Science degree from Wichita State University. Early in her career she was in the Early Childhood field and worked for Wichita Head Start and at a couple of child care centers. She was the Director at her church nursery and operated a Parents Day Out Program. She also ran a family child care business in her home.

In 1992 she began her journey in Resource and Referral at Child Start. She was there for 20 years as she worked her way up to the supervisor position. When funding for the position was cut she went on to be the Data Coordinator at Child Care Aware of Kansas. When that funding was cut she went back to her real desire of working with and for foster and adoptive parents. She found that calling at KCSL in the K-PARC program. She joined the K-PARC team in 2016 and is a TBRI Practitioner.

Clairissa and her husband were foster and adoptive parents from 1984 to 2005. Clairissa and her husband have 3 grown children and 2 fur children.

Stephanie BirneyTreasurer

Stephanie Birney

KSW

I am currently working as a Kinship Support Worker for Saint Francis Ministries. I have been with the company for a year and a half and have gained knowledge of the professional side of child welfare through my employment. In 2014 I personally went through the process of reintegration and adoption with a child. With these experiences I have gained knowledge on both side of child welfare. I can relate so personally with the families I serve due to going through the process myself. My passion for child welfare came from seeing the changes a small child made going through the system. There is something extremely special about seeing kids come out on the other side of what can be very dark times for them.

Patrice Claassen

Director of Foster Care Homes

St. Francis Ministries

Patrice Claassen is a graduate of Bethel College, North Newton, with a Bachelors in Social Work and of the University of Kansas with a Masters in Social Work. Patrice’s career in child welfare spans over 30 years in the public and private sectors, and includes prevention, protection, reunification, adoption, and resource family development. She is currently the Director of Foster Care Homes for Saint Francis Ministries overseeing licensed foster home in Kansas, including the Therapeutic Foster Care program serving youth involved in the juvenile justice and child welfare systems. Patrice has the upmost respect for foster and kinship families who have one of the most challenging yet key roles in the child welfare system.

Lisa Milford

Director

Sedgwick County Department of Corrections

Glenda Martens is a graduate from Wichita State University (WSU) with Bachelors in Criminal Justice and a Master’s degree in Administration of Justice (WSU).

Glenda resides in Derby Kansas with her husband Kim Martens. They are both avid Shocker basketball fans.

Jessica Lea

Jessica Lea, LMSW

USD259 Foster Care Liaison

Jessica graduated from Wichita State University, earning a Master’s degree of Social Work. She has spent over 10 years working in the child welfare industry, with families and young adults experiencing homelessness, and K-12 education. Jessica is happy to be involved with any work that protects the well-being of youth, promotes positive outcomes and supports families in need. Jessica resides in Wichita, KS with her husband and two children.

Dr. Katherine Melhorn

Board-certified Pediatrician

Dr. Katherine Melhorn is a board-certified pediatrician in General Pediatrics and Child Abuse Pediatrics, a Fellow in the American Academy of Pediatrics and member of the AAP Section on Child Abuse and Neglect. In her role as a Child Abuse Pediatrician and Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Kansas School of Medicine – Wichita, Dr. Melhorn provides patient care, consultation, testimony and education throughout the state in the areas of child physical and sexual abuse and child neglect evaluation, investigation and medical management, and participates in teaching residents and medical students in the areas of child abuse and neglect. She is a member of the State Child Death Review Board and a member of the Board of Directors for the Child Advocacy Center of Sedgwick County. Her volunteer activities include providing pet therapy at Wesley Children’s Hospital with her golden retriever, Penny.

Board Documents

Board Meeting Minutes

Board Meeting Agenda 1-24-20 (MS Word)
Board Meeting Agenda 3-24-20 (MS Word)
Board Meeting Minutes 5-27-20 (MS Word)
Board Meeting Agenda 5-27-20 (002) (MS Word)

Kansas Caregivers Support Network Meeting Minutes

Kansas Caregivers Support Network Bylaws (MS Word)
CINC Caregivers Network Meeting Minutes 11-19-19 (MS Word)
Kansas Caregivers Support Network Meeting Minutes 1-24-20 (MS Word)
Kansas Caregivers Support Network Meeting Minutes 3-30-20 (MS Word)

Becoming a Foster Parent

Visit FosterKSKids and review the Frequently Asked Questions and Find Your Agency sections to assist in deciding on a Child Placing Agency to help you work through the process of obtaining or continuing your foster care license.

FosterKSKids.org

ABOUT

Kansas Caregivers Support Network

Licensed Foster Families | Kinship or Relative Parents | Non-Related Kinship Families

CONTACT

Mission

Vision

Values

Meet the Board

Board Documents

Board Meeting Minutes

Kansas Caregivers Support Network Meeting Minutes

Becoming a Foster Parent