Dr. Linda Bass became President of KVC Kansas in January 2019. Bass, pronounced “boss,” has been with KVC for 17 years. As President, she oversees foster care case management, KVC’s network of foster and adoptive parents, and all other services.

“Linda is extremely competent, operates with strong values and morals, and always places children and families first,” said Jason Hooper. “She is exactly what we want our leaders to be in that she is a consummate professional and always working to raise the bar for service quality. She is driven by achieving outcomes for children, and as President, Linda leverages her wealth of clinical and programmatic expertise to create brighter futures for the children and families we serve.”

Prior to her current role, she served as Vice President of Clinical Services and Wellbeing, leading KVC’s foster care prevention programs (family preservation), intensive in-home services (aftercare support following each child’s safe family reunification or adoption), and outpatient behavioral healthcare.

Bass is a licensed clinical marriage and family therapist with expertise in the treatment of trauma, sibling abuse, and child behavior problems. Prior to KVC, Bass worked in child placing, kinship care and residential care. At KVC, Bass led several research-backed initiatives including the implementation of the Kansas Intensive Permanency Project (KIPP); the Kansas Adoption Permanency Project (KAPP); and the creation and growth of an Engaging Parents/Developing Leaders group for parents involved in the child welfare system. She is also a thought leader on the groundbreaking Family First Act which increases funding for foster care prevention by keeping children with their families whenever safely possible.

Bass earned her bachelor’s and master’s degree from San Diego State University and doctoral degree from Loma Linda University. She has published in the areas of sibling abuse, clinical process and practitioners’ perceptions of implementing evidence-based practices.