Statewide Governance
Interagency and Community Advisory Board (ICAB)
The Interagency and Community Advisory Board provides statewide governance related to the state prevention service array. This board was initially convened in 2020 under the charge of DCF to support Family First implementation and ensure prevention services aligned with local needs.
The board brings together diverse organizations and leaders to provide strategic oversight and accountability toward shared goal: to help children and families in Kansas stay safe, healthy, and together. Members work together to:
- Monitor data and outcomes related to child and family well-being, child welfare system involvement and recommend improvements
- Identify service gaps
- Foster collaboration and align efforts across agencies, systems, and communities
- Share data and promising practices
- Help develop coordinated plans to strengthen the system of care
The ICAB is convened and supported by the University of Kansas Center for Public Partnerships and Research (CPPR) at who provides evaluation support to Family First, assessing how well the programs are working.
Why ICAB Matters
The ICAB ensures that Kansas’s prevention work is grounded in real-world experience and driven by communities. It gives space for both agency leaders and community members to co-create solutions, keeping family and child well-being at the center. Why it works:
- Regional input = localized solutions
- Cross-sector collaboration = stronger systems
- Community voice = more responsive services
- Data-driven feedback = continuous improvement
ICAB helps move from siloed services to a shared system that supports families before a crisis happens.
How is it Organized?
The ICAB is structured to systematically include key representatives to inform holistic decision-making. This board is made up of family leaders with lived expertise from the Family Council and Kansas leaders from sectors such as health care, child welfare, public safety, the legal system.
Membership is balanced to ensure state decision-makers, family perspectives, and local and regional service providers are equally represented. Family representatives with lived expertise comprise the largest group within the board to ensure family representation is the predominant voice in understanding family needs and building effective systems of prevention and support.
Who’s Involved?
ICAB works because of the diverse perspectives and shared commitment of its members.
- Agency leaders from DCF, KDADS, KDHE, and KDCF
- Community-based service providers from each of six regions
- Legal and judicial representatives
- Health and education leaders
- People with lived expertise based on past experiences with the child welfare or prevention services system
In addition to professional and family perspectives, the ICAB also includes voices from Tribal, rural, and urban communities in Kansas.
Key Activities and Accomplishments
- Create a cross-agency process for identifying service gaps
- Develop and advise statewide prevention policy and program improvements
- Support implementation of region‑specific Family First programs
- Elevate community and caregiver voices in decision‑making
- Facilitate training and learning exchanges across regions
ICAB members have shaped the direction of Kansas’s prevention work, making it more targeted, flexible, and family-focused.
ICAB Member Portal
ICAB members can log in to the portal to:
- Access meeting materials
- Submit insights and data
- Connect with other members
- Track deliverables and shared documents