Five members of Singapore’s delegation visited Olathe, KS on Aug. 22 and 23 to learn about best practices in the area of child welfare services from KVC Health Systems.

Their visit focused on reducing use of group home options and length of stay for children who have been removed from their families, training strategies for social work staff and parents, reintegration strategies for children and their families, specialized services for children and evidence-based tools such as Trauma Systems Therapy (TST) and issues of privatization.

On Aug. 23, the delegates toured the KVC Prairie Ridge Psychiatric Hospital and Psychiatric Residential Treatment Center, located in Kansas City, Kansas. The hospital is privately owned and provides psychiatric in-patient care for children ages 6-18 who have been diagnosed with a mental health disorder.

“Our number one aim is to reduce the time children spend in group homes, or residential care, and to offer a broader continuum of behavioral healthcare services to the children and families that need our help, said Mr. Lee, director of rehabilitation and protection group. “As a leader in outcome-based initiatives, we look to KVC to help us improve our practices.”

“We are delighted to share our experience and the results of our research with the staff from Singapore’s Ministry of Social and Family Development,” says Kelly McCauley, director of evidence informed Initiatives. “It’s gratifying to know that the work done by KVC over the past decade, particularly in the area of Trauma Systems Therapy, has the power to help children all over the globe.”

The guests included Ministry of Social and Family Development Officers Mr Lee Kim Hua, director of rehabilitation and protection group; Ms Audrie Siew, deputy director of the Children in Care Branch; Ms Tan Li Jen, senior assistant director of the Clinical and Forensic Psychology Branch; Ms Prabhavathe, assistant director of child protection service and Ms Thulasi, sector development officer of the Child in Care Branch.