Washburn Family & Human Services Works to Bring “Family Impact Lens” to Kansas

     Topeka, Kan. –  The Washburn University Family & Human Services Department hosted the “Workforce Policy Across the Lifespan: Kansas' First Family Impact Seminar” for those interested in the impact of policy and practice on Kansas families in April 2026. This inaugural seminar brought together 33 policymakers, administrators, researchers, community leaders and professionals from across various sectors, as well as students to explore how workforce experiences intersect with family life across the lifespan. The briefing report from this event "How Workforce Realities Impact Family Well-being Across the Lifespan" and a companion brief, "Introduction: What is the Family Impact Lens and How Can You Use It?" can be found at Kansas Family Impact Seminar #1 - Evidence-to-Impact Collaborative. This resource can be shared with decision-makers looking to ensure workforce policies are supportive of family health and well-being across the lifespan.

     To expand the Family Impact Seminar model in Kansas, collaborators from Washburn University’s Family & Human Services Department, Washburn University’s Social Work Department, and the University of Kansas Center for Public Partnerships and Research are working to establish the Future Family Impact approach in Kansas—an integrated approach that uses transdisciplinary collaboration, systems thinking, strategic foresight and family impact principles to anticipate emerging challenges and create policies, programs and conditions that strengthen families. To continue building this work, the group is facilitating two conference sessions in September and October and forming a Future Family Impact Advisory Group to help shape the approach and guide its future development.

Governor’s Conference on Aging
September 29–30
Lawrence, Kansas

They will facilitate “The Future of Aging: Making Kansas the Best Place to Grow Older,” using a family impact lens and futures thinking to explore what Kansas needs to do to become the best place to grow older. They will draw on real Kansans’ stories related to workforce and aging to ground the conversation in lived experience.

Learn more and register here: 2026 Governor's Conference on Aging | Department for Aging and Disability Services

Kansas Governor’s Conference for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect
October 20–22
Wichita, Kansas

They will facilitate a joint workshop and institute, “From Foresight to Impact: Using a Family Impact Lens to Strengthen Prevention.” They will introduce an integrated approach that combines futures thinking with a family impact lens to explore its utility for prevention and engage participants in a second Family Impact Seminar focused on permanency, child welfare policy and child and family development outcomes.

Learn more and register here: Governor's Conference - Kansas Children’s Service League, Inc.

Join a Future Family Impact Advisory Group

Washburn University is also looking for community leaders, researchers, professionals, educators and policymakers who are interested in helping shape the future of Family Impact work in Kansas. They are beginning to form a Future Family Impact Advisory Group and would love to connect with those who want to learn more.

Interested individuals should email Dr. Jessie L. Piper at jessie.piper@washburn.edu. There is no commitment - just an opportunity to learn more and see whether it might be a good fit.

        “Kansas families are navigating complex decisions about work, education, caregiving and well-being,” said Piper. “These experiences shape not only individual lives but also the effectiveness of the policies, programs and professionals, families rely on for support. Multiple challenges affect families directly and influence the capacity of the systems that serve them.”

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