Kansas bill would add haircare plans for children in state custody

The secretary would include a haircare plan in each covered child's case plan. This applies to children alleged or found to need care who are in the secretary's custody. When age and development allow, children could help make the plan with parents, caregivers, or case managers, unless the child does not want that.

The secretary would make culturally informed haircare training available to caregivers. Training would be available to foster parents and kinship caregivers designated for a child in need of care; resources would also be developed for foster parents and other caregivers. The training is meant to help caregivers meet the haircare needs of children in the secretary's custody. Training would be made available in a timely manner after a caregiver is designated for a child. The department would develop training and resources by July 1, 2026.

The revised Kansas child welfare code would define haircare to include maintaining hair. The definition covers care such as daily upkeep, washing, cutting, styling, and dyeing hair.