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Supporting Care Providers of Kansas pilot targets family‑friend‑and‑neighbor caregivers; program to expand after multi‑year sustainability planning
Summary
Program director Becky Stewart described a pilot of Supporting Care Providers of Kansas for family, friend and neighbor and licensed‑exempt providers in Johnson and Wyandotte counties, offering two‑year customized visits, training and safety supports and a planned expansion during 2027–2029.
Becky Stewart, program director for Supporting Care Providers of Kansas, said the program delivers customized in‑home supports to family, friend and neighbor and licensed‑exempt providers, with visits that "every provider in our program receives customized visits for a minimum of 2 years." Stewart said the model uses Parents as Teachers curriculum, trains providers on ASQ‑3 and ASQ‑SE screenings, supplies safety items when needed and connects providers to health and social services.
Stewart told attendees the program currently operates in Johnson and Wyandotte counties, provides services in English and Spanish, and is guided by an advisory council working on a three‑year sustainability plan to finalize expansion plans. The advisory council’s plan, Stewart said, aims for strategic expansion into additional Kansas counties during the 2027 through 2029 program years.
Stewart also referenced state legislative language when explaining who is considered a licensed‑exempt provider. The webinar included an excerpt citing House Bill 2045’s licensure definition and related rulemaking authority; the panel presented that language as the state standard shaping which providers are eligible for the program.
Maria Rios, who works with family, friend and neighbor providers in the field, said the work is rooted in relationship building and practical coaching: "Most of our caseload ... are grandparents or family related that trust their friends to take care of their kiddos," and she described small, concrete examples—using a stuffed animal to practice speech sounds—that illustrate how providers can scaffold children's learning.
Stewart said the program’s sustainability plan will be finalized by the end of the program year and that, if fully implemented, services would expand beyond the current pilot counties over the next several program years. The webinar did not present specific budget figures or final county rollout dates; Stewart cited timelines and program goals but did not provide dollar amounts.
