By KARI BLURTON
Hays Post

Hundreds of people from across the state will be attending the fourth annual “Confronting Violence in Our Community,” Summit and Forensic Symposium Tuesday and Wednesday at Hays Medical Center from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. both days.

The event is co-hosted by Jana’s Campaign, Options Domestic and Sexual Violence and Hays Medical Center.

Day one will explore how gender-based violence and human trafficking are connected. The second day will focus on the forensics protocol when victims of human trafficking and sexual violence seek medical attention.

The annual summit was started by Options and Jana’s Campaign, co-founded by Curt and Christie Brungardt of Hays, whose daughter Jana Mackey was murdered by her ex-boyfriend in 2008 in Lawrence.

Christie Brungardt said she’d never considered how closely linked gender-based violence and human trafficking are until attending a conference last year in Wichita.

“Even though human trafficking has always been something I thought that happens a long ways away,  as it ends up it is happening right here in Kansas, and in fact, right here in rural Kansas,” Brungardt said.

“It’s just that none of us know what to look for, we don’t know the signs (of human trafficking), we don’t know what that looks like in the community, and we certainly don’t know how to to respond and most of us have never really considered that intersection of gender-based violence and sexual assault,” Brungardt said.

The summit includes speakers from Wichita’s Center for Combating Human Trafficking and the Kansas Attorney General’s office with topics such as spotting the signs of human trafficking,  law enforcement protocol, community outreach services and more.

Brungardt said the summit is for anyone who is interested in preventing gender-based violence and human trafficking such as teachers, parents, healthcare professionals, law enforcement, social workers and counselors.

To register or receive more information call HMC at (785)-623-5500 or visit the website HERE.

 

 

The office of Kansas Governor

Kansas Governor Sam Brownback has awarded more than $1 million in grants for the 2015 Federal Family Violence Prevention and Services Act (FVPSA) grant program. The FVPSA grants provide funds to domestic violence programs that ensure services are available 24 hours per day and are free to domestic violence victims and their children. Many programs provide outreach, shelter, support groups, crisis intervention, advocacy in obtaining protection from abuse orders, court accompaniment, transportation, and prevention education in schools and communities.

2015 domestic violence and sexual assault services grant awards

​County Organization Award
Allen Hope Unlimited $36,856

Butler Family Life Center $39,856

Cowley Safe Homes $41,945

Crawford Safehouse Crisis Center $63,424

Douglas The Willow Domestic Violence Center $57,141

Ellis Options: Domestic & Sexual Violence
Services $61,483
Finney Family Crisis Services $40,049

Ford Crisis Center of Dodge City $40,644

Harvey Harvey Co. Domestic Violence
Sexual Assault Task Force $34,429

Johnson SAFEHOME $117,540

Leavenworth Alliance Against Family Violence $30,991

Lyon SOS $44,995

Reno Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence
Center $53,079

Riley Crisis Center $64,351

Saline Domestic Violence Association of
Central Kansas $53,770

Sedgwick Catholic Charities, Harbor House $67,422

Sedgwick YWCA of Wichita $67,793

Seward Liberal Area Rape Crisis/Domestic
Violence Services $39,432

Shawnee YWCA Center for Safety
& Empowerment $60,913

Wyandotte Friends of Yates $52,916

TOTAL $1,068,999

Hays Medical Center

GREAT BEND – Centura Health and Hays Medical Center have signed a letter of intent to become co-owners of St. Rose Ambulatory & Surgery Center. The two organizations share a common vision of providing a high level of quality care for residents living in Great Bend and surrounding communities. Through easily accessible, affordable and coordinated care, the two organizations are working to optimize health value and support population health management.

When the agreement is finalized this winter, the name will change to St. Rose Health Center. Construction will also begin to renovate the current medical office building as well as expand and modernize the health campus to offer residents greater access and convenience. The organizations are committed to developing customized services to support optimal health at every stage of life.

“St. Rose has a significant medical history in the Great Bend area and is synonymous with the quality health care started by the Dominican Sisters,” said John H. Jeter, M.D., HaysMed president and chief executive officer. “We are committed to serving the needs of the residents by dedicating our efforts to provide a positive patient experience, along with keeping care local through coordinated care between primary care and specialty physicians. We see tremendous opportunities with this partnership for central Kansas.”

Both organizations strongly believe in long-term collaboration to promote sharing of best practices amongst clinical professionals including education, development and overall talent management.

Centura Health and HaysMed are working together to add additional physicians to the organization. The staff at St. Rose will be employed and managed by HaysMed. The St. Rose Health Center Board will select an administrator and there will be equal representation by both Centura Health and HaysMed on the board of directors.

Scott Taylor, president and CEO of St. Rose, said he is excited about the new possibilities for current and additional services. “St. Rose, Centura Health and HaysMed are high-quality and well-respected names in health care. Our relationship signifies a quantum leap forward in outpatient care for central Kansans, and the state-of-the-art facility will offer added convenience and value for patients, and create operational efficiencies for staff.”

By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT
Hays Post

The Ellis County Commission will vote on whether to finalize the construction contract for planned courthouse/Law Enforcement Center renovations at Monday night’s meeting.

In September, commissioners voted to accept Kansas City-based MV Builders’ $7.169 million bid. The bid included deadline of 325 days to complete the project once the contract is signed.

The commission will also discuss two bids to replace the south portion of the roof at the 718 Main Administrative Center.

The county received two bids, one from High Plains Roofing of Hays for $70,475 and another for $87,500 from Roofmasters Roofing and Sheet Metal Co. of Hays.

The meeting is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. Monday at the courthouse.