Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 652 Wichita, Kansas 1365 N. Custer • P.O. Box 517 • Wichita, KS 67201 Giving Kids Our Best. For Over 100 Years. PREVENTION & EDUCATION ADVOCACY FOSTER CARE ADOPTION 1890 1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2003 Annual Report 1 Our History’s Been About Kids’ Futures. ometimes you just need to write into their homes, and then think before abuse begins. In serving families that have Kansas Children’s Service League Values things down and that is what we about what having a permanent been identified as being at risk for child abuse now, have done. In 2003, the League home means in the lives of these we reduce the number of children that later need to Children are our passion. We protect their safety, enhance their strengths and are successful identified the core values that form children. This is very good news be removed from their homes. We also know the when they live in a healthy family environment. the foundation for our work with and a major accomplishment best way to serve the child is to serve the entire We are an agency of integrity. children and their families. for our dedicated staff. family. Our Head Start services in 13 western Kansas We do what is right. The eight value statements that Always working to be better counties do just that by connecting parents to resources Relationships are key to all we do. you see in the sidebar represent the combined tomorrow than we are today, better enabling them to address the early education, We respect our children, our families, our community partners Sthinking of staff, volunteers and foster parents about we have engaged Dr. Marianne health and development needs of their child. and each other. the characteristics of the League that serve as our Berry of the KU School of Social In 2004, we look forward to building on the We are trustworthy stewards. touchstones. These values are the basis upon which Work to conduct ongoing successes of the past year. Whatever the future holds We use our and your resources wisely. we conduct our work and evaluate ourselves. They research and evaluation of our services. We want to for the League, we know that our values will play a We take our work seriously, but not ourselves too seriously. guide us in our resolve to give children our best. be sure that the service models we use are the best fundamental role in our approach to serving children We encourage diversity, spontaneity and joy. Children are our passion, and 2003 was a year of that have been identified to produce positive and families. We hope these values resonate with you. Our impact is now and tomorrow. accomplishment for our staff working in the areas of outcomes for the children and families we serve. On behalf of the children and families we serve, Children and families will remember us five, fifteen and fifty years foster care, adoption and the prevention of child Making an impact now and tomorrow, a goal of thank you for your support of the work of the Kansas from now for the great work we do today. abuse and neglect. There is one accomplishment we the League is to increase the child abuse prevention Children’s Service League. Throughout the League family, we expect competence, confidence and courage. would like to highlight. Last year, there were 580 services that we deliver. Through our experience with Within our agency, our professions and our communities finalized adoptions, a record for Kansas. Think about our Healthy Families programs, we know these efforts we will lead the way. Bette M. Morris, Ph.D. Wm. Clark Luster the compassionate parents who brought 580 children work best when offered early in a child’s life and Board Chair President/CEO We are committed to being better tomorrow than we are today. 1 Our History’s Been About Kids’ Futures. ometimes you just need to write into their homes, and then think before abuse begins. In serving families that have Kansas Children’s Service League Values things down and that is what we about what having a permanent been identified as being at risk for child abuse now, have done. In 2003, the League home means in the lives of these we reduce the number of children that later need to Children are our passion. We protect their safety, enhance their strengths and are successful identified the core values that form children. This is very good news be removed from their homes. We also know the when they live in a healthy family environment. the foundation for our work with and a major accomplishment best way to serve the child is to serve the entire We are an agency of integrity. children and their families. for our dedicated staff. family. Our Head Start services in 13 western Kansas We do what is right. The eight value statements that Always working to be better counties do just that by connecting parents to resources Relationships are key to all we do. you see in the sidebar represent the combined tomorrow than we are today, better enabling them to address the early education, We respect our children, our families, our community partners Sthinking of staff, volunteers and foster parents about we have engaged Dr. Marianne health and development needs of their child. and each other. the characteristics of the League that serve as our Berry of the KU School of Social In 2004, we look forward to building on the We are trustworthy stewards. touchstones. These values are the basis upon which Work to conduct ongoing successes of the past year. Whatever the future holds We use our and your resources wisely. we conduct our work and evaluate ourselves. They research and evaluation of our services. We want to for the League, we know that our values will play a We take our work seriously, but not ourselves too seriously. guide us in our resolve to give children our best. be sure that the service models we use are the best fundamental role in our approach to serving children We encourage diversity, spontaneity and joy. Children are our passion, and 2003 was a year of that have been identified to produce positive and families. We hope these values resonate with you. Our impact is now and tomorrow. accomplishment for our staff working in the areas of outcomes for the children and families we serve. On behalf of the children and families we serve, Children and families will remember us five, fifteen and fifty years foster care, adoption and the prevention of child Making an impact now and tomorrow, a goal of thank you for your support of the work of the Kansas from now for the great work we do today. abuse and neglect. There is one accomplishment we the League is to increase the child abuse prevention Children’s Service League. Throughout the League family, we expect competence, confidence and courage. would like to highlight. Last year, there were 580 services that we deliver. Through our experience with Within our agency, our professions and our communities finalized adoptions, a record for Kansas. Think about our Healthy Families programs, we know these efforts we will lead the way. Bette M. Morris, Ph.D. Wm. Clark Luster the compassionate parents who brought 580 children work best when offered early in a child’s life and Board Chair President/CEO We are committed to being better tomorrow than we are today. 2 3 ”The Children’s Home Society stands first, for the child, and our actions are determined in every instance by what will be for the best interest of the child.“ — Rev. O.S. Morrow, Superintendent, Every Child Deserves a Home Kansas Children’s Home Society, 1909 inding homes and families for kids Through the years we’ve also added new thought decision to foster or adopt a child. has been a central part of our work to our forefathers’ belief. We know that properly Best illustrating our commitment since 1893. Through droughts and a preparing foster and adoptive parents for their role to readying families is our Great Depression, wars on foreign soil is paramount to their success, and in turn that of the adoption disillusion rate of one and social battles at home, the once children they care for. Family recruiters of yesteryear percent, far below other states radical belief that kids grow best in family homes engaged community leaders, the press and local who average 10 to 15 percent. has stood the test of time – and is now churches in search of good families willing to open What that means is once our kids considered best practice. their homes to children. Once found, children were are adopted they stay adopted. Monthly publication While our belief that families are best for kids has quickly placed with little They achieve permanency – for life. from December1914. Fnever changed, through the years our services have. or no preparation. Today, Like the founders of the League, we are also The receiving homes of the early 1900s are today League while the tactics to find committed to improving services to kids and families. foster homes. In the 1940s, 50s and 60s the League families are very similar, In 2003 we were asked by the Kansas Department of specialized in infant adoption, finalizing more than 200 the process to bring a Social and Rehabilitation Services to participate in a adoptions in 1968. In 2003 we finalized 580 adoptions. child into a home is much pilot project that potentially could impact the way According to our 1894 Annual Report, 26 children were more rigorous.