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Wichita –Governor Laura Kelly met with Sedgwick County-area leaders today to discuss the need for a state mental health hospital in the state. The meeting included a round table discussion and a tour of the COMCARE Crisis Centre.
“One of my priorities when I came into office was to strengthen our mental health system.”Gov. Laura Kelly said.. “Thank you to the local leaders and advocates for meeting with me today to discuss how we can improve mental health care in Wichita and the state, including supporting a new state mental health hospital.”
In addition to the importance of a regional hospital in south central Kansas, they also discussed what the Kelly administration has done to meet the mental health care needs of Kansas and how it will continue to expand access to essential services.
Since taking office, the Kelly administration has consistently worked on bipartisan solutions to expand access to mental health. Those initiatives include:
- Reform of 26 Community Mental Health Centers (CMHCs) to obtain certification Community behavioral health clinics (CCBHCs) capable of treating mental health and substance abuse through integrated physical-behavioral care.
- Expanding the capacity of the state to provide mental health services to the poor New youth resources onlineto work lifting the ban on Osawatomie; and the labor force of the regions by 24/7 payment plan.
- Investing in the Mental Health Intervention Teams Program. Governor Kelly provided $33 million in funding for the program and grew the program from 9 districts to 67 and from 1,708 students to nearly 5,000 students.
- Additional funding to address the competency assessment and rehabilitation process at Larned State Hospital and to support additional mobile competency and rehabilitation services at community mental health centers.
- Launching the 9-8-8 Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Crisis Hotline, any Kansans experiencing a mental health emergency can call 988 and get professional help.
While on a tour of the COMCARE Crisis Center, she got a glimpse of the services offered in Sedgwick County, including the operations of the 9-8-8 hotline.
“We’ve come a long way in the last four years, but I know we still have a lot to do,” she said. “My administration will continue to work with mental health leaders and the Legislature to expand access to affordable and effective mental health care.”
Among the participants in today’s roundtable are Laura Howard, Secretary of the Department of Aging and Disability Services; House Minority Leader Tom Sawyer; Sedgwick County Manager Tom Stolz; Wichita Mayor Brandon Whipple; Robin Chadwick, president of Ascension in Christ Saint Joseph; Tim Kaufman, Sedgwick County Assistant County Manager; Sedgwick County Sheriff Jeff Easter; Sedgwick County Commissioner David Dennis; Sedgwick County District Attorney Mark Bennett; and Capt. Jason Cooley of the Wichita Police Department.
Photos from today’s roundtable and tour are available for media use:
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