Tickets for the second annual Brews on the Bricks sold out last month in 11 minutes — but there is another chance to get in on the fun!
The Furniture Look and Diamond R Jewelry in downtown Hays are partnering with Eagle Communications to give away two sets of two VIP tickets and two sets of two general admission tickets.
To enter for a chance to win, click HERE or visit Diamond R Jewelry, 807 Main, and fill out an entry form.
The winners will be announced on Facebook Live via Hays Post on Friday, March 31. Brews on the Bricks will be April 8 in downtown Hays at 10th and Main.
HAYS, Kan. – Coming off a third-straight trip to the NCAA Division II national quarterfinals, Fort Hays State head men’s soccer coach Brett Parker has announced his 2017 signing class. The Tigers have signed eight individuals that will join the team for the fall season.
“We had very specific goals with this class,” said Parker. “We feel like we have addressed the holes created by our graduating class. The players coming in should add to our returning group to give us the talent necessary to keep progressing as a team.”
The class includes six freshman and a pair of junior college transfers. Parker added, “This group of incoming players certainly raises our talent level and gives us depth at almost every position for 2017 and beyond.”
Santiago Agudelo | Frisco, Texas • Richland College • 6-2 • 190 • Forward
Santiago Agudelo comes to Hays from Richland College as a junior transfer. The forward scored 31 goals and made 12 assists in just 25 career games for the ThunderDucks. Agudelo previously played for the USSDA FC Dallas Academy. “Santy is one of the best goal scorers in the country and should be a big addition to our attack this fall,” said Parker. “With our losses to graduation, we knew that adding a proven goal scorer was a major priority and Santy is exactly the type of player we wanted to help take our program to the next level.”
Ross Boyd | Topeka, Kan. • Washburn Rural HS • 5-8 • 145 • Midfielder
Ross Boyd joins the Tigers after earning first team all-state honors as a senior at Washburn Rural High School. A four-year letterwinner for the Blues, Boyd also earned first team all-league and all-city honors while named Centennial League Player of the Year in 2016. He picked up all-state second team accolades as a junior. The midfielder was an alternate for the 2016 High School All-America game. He finished his high school career with 28 goals and a school-record 46 assists. “Ross is a player that we’ve wanted at FHSU for a few years and one of the top players in the state of Kansas,” said Parker. “He has the technical ability, athleticism and competitiveness to be a big time player in our program.”
Abdoulaye Cisse | Dallas, Texas • Eastern Florida State • 5-11 • 170 • Forward
Abdoulaye “Yaya” Cisse joins the squad after playing two seasons at Eastern Florida State College, helping the Titans to the 2015 NJCAA national semifinal. The forward netted nine goals and added nine assists in 35 games at EFSC. He has also played club soccer for both FC Dallas and Pride FC. “Yaya is a player that we recruited out of high school and we’re very excited to finally have him at FHSU after playing for a great program and coach at EFSC for the last two years,” said Parker. “He is a very dynamic and versatile attacking player that can play a number of roles. Adding Yaya to our roster is another major step forward for our program.”
Jared Crist | Overland Park, Kan. • Blue Valley Northwest HS • 6-0 • 175 • Defender
Jared Crist comes to FHSU from Blue Valley Northwest High School, earning two letters for the Huskies. The defender competed for the USSDA Sporting Kansas City Academy for two seasons of his high school tenure, also playing for Sporting Blue Valley 99. “Jared has all of the tools to be a big time central defender,” said Parker. “He has great experience from his time with Sporting KC Academy and Sporting Blue Valley. He is already physically ready to compete at the college level and we expect him to come in and compete for playing time as a freshman.”
Antonio De La Torre | Dodge City, Kan. • Dodge City HS • 6-3 • 165 • Forward
Antonio De La Torre joins the three-time Central Region champions after earning three letters at Dodge City High School. He was an all-state selection in 2016, helping the Demons to an undefeated state championship season. “Antonio is a very crafty player with a unique skill set for his height,” said Parker. “He is very good one-on-one, regularly beating defenders in space with his skill and athleticism. He comes from a championship program at DCHS and we feel his best days are ahead of him.”
Caden Frank | Omaha, Neb. • Millard West HS • 6-3 • 190 • Forward
Caden Frank signed with the Tigers after playing at Millard West High School for four seasons. The forward heads into his senior season after earning a pair of honorable mention all-state awards, helping Millard West to the state championship as a sophomore. He won a pair of Nebraska State Cup championships with his club team, Sporting Omaha FC 98 Elite. “Caden is the type of forward we’ve lacked in our program for several years,” said Parker. “At 6’3″, he has the potential to be a physically dominant player at our level. His potential is unlimited and we are looking forward to him developing in our program.”
Benjermin Granillo | Garland, Texas • Lone Star HS • 5-7 • 150 • Defender
Benjermin Granillo joins the Tiger family after playing for two-time USSDA national champion FC Dallas Academy. He made seven starts while playing in 19 games in 2015-16 and has appeared in 12 matches so far this season. “Benji comes from the best youth academy in the country where he has been a member of two national championship teams,” said Parker. “He has a winning mentality and professional approach that will make for a seamless transition to the college game. Benji is a very tenacious and attack-minded defender that will fit into our system very well at FHSU.”
Noah Harris | Broken Arrow, Okla. • Broken Arrow HS • 5-10 • 160 • Midfielder
Noah Harris will play for the Tigers after a four-year career at Broken Arrow High School. He was team captain his senior season, helping the Tigers to a pair of state quarterfinal appearances and one semifinal run. He was also team captain for TSC Porto and coach Christian Porto. “Noah is a player who we became familiar with through our camps here at Fort Hays State,” said Parker. “We are very excited to have him join our program. He is an extremely hard-working individual that has the ability to play several positions at our level. We look forward to seeing him develop in the years to come.
PITTSBURG, Kan. (AP) — Pittsburg residents have approved a $31 million bond issue that will be used to expand the district’s six schools.
Unofficial results show the bond issued passed Tuesday in a special election by a 1,542-641 margin.
Funds from the bond will be used for projects such as heating and air conditioning and renovating the cafeteria and band rooms at Pittsburg High School. Several science classrooms at the high school will be upgraded.
Other projects include adding rooms at elementary schools and expanding the gymnasium at the middle school. All of the additions will also be storm shelters.
Superintendent Destry Brown says heating and air conditioning work will begin this summer, while planning and construction on other projects could take up to three years to complete.
The theme for Homecoming 2017 at Fort Hays State University has been selected through a survey of students, faculty, staff and community members, and the winner is: “Tigers Through the Decades.”
“The theme was selected to commemorate the history of the university and honor alumni and friends,” said Brittney Squire, coordinator of student involvement at FHSU and chair of the Homecoming Coordinating Committee.
An inspirational theme is selected each year for Homecoming, but this year’s theme was the first to be selected based on a survey. Squire said the survey, conducted by the committee annually after Homecoming, is sent to students, faculty, staff and community members with the intention of improving the slate of Homecoming activities.
But this year, survey participants also had the opportunity to select one theme from a list of 10 options which they believed best conveyed Tiger spirit.
Homecoming 2017 is Thursday, Oct. 5, through Sunday, Oct. 8.
The schedule for the key, perennial events of Homecoming Weekend:
• Thursday Oct. 5 — Tiger Bonfire, sponsored by Fraternity and Sorority Life, and Tigers forever
• Friday, Oct. 6 — Oktoberfest, hosted by the Volga-German Society
• Saturday, Oct. 7 — 5K Tiger Run/Walk hosted by the Alumni Association
• Saturday, Oct. 7 — Homecoming Parade
• Saturday, Oct. 7 — FHSU football and the coronation of Homecoming royalty
Student competitions, alumni reunions and other athletic events are hosted throughout the week. For more information, visit the official Homecoming website at https://www.fhsu.edu/homecoming/.
The Homecoming Coordinating Committee coordinates, promotes and evaluates all activities associated with Homecoming. Representatives are included from the Center for Student Involvement; the student body; the Department of Music and Theatre; University Relations and Marketing; the FHSU Alumni Association; athletics; the Office of the President; and the Hays community.
For more information, please contact Squire at (7850 628-4664 or at [email protected].
BARTON COUNTY – A Kansas man was injured in an accident just after 6p.m. on Monday in Barton County.
A 2010 Ford F250 driven by Marcel Pete, 27, rural Ellinwood, was eastbound on Northeast 10 Road just northwest of Ellinwood, according to a media release from the Barton County Sheriff’s Department.
The driver lost control of the vehicle at the crest of a hill. The truck went into a skid, entered the east ditch rolled and the driver was ejected
Eagle Med transported Pete to a hospital for treatment of serious injuries, according to the Sheriff’s Department.
The Ellis Co. fire as seen from a nearby farm yard March 7.
KAG
TOPEKA–State agencies, insurance underwriters, social service and other organizations have compiled a recovery reference guide to assist Kansans who have suffered loss as a result of the recent grassfires.
In the impacted areas fees are being waived for driver’s license/ID cards, car titles, copy of tax returns, and refund on vehicle tags, some property tax abatements are possible (through the county appraisers office), and waiving filing fees for businesses impacted in the area.
· Contact the Kansas Department of Agriculture with questions about agricultural or food-related businesses, including dairies, restaurants, food processing companies, pesticide and fertilizer companies. KDA can be reached at 785-564-6700 or go to www.agriculture.ks.gov for specific program area contact information. KDA would encourage farmers and ranchers to communicate with Kansas Farm Bureau at www.kfb.org/firerelief and Kansas Livestock Association at www.kla.org for specific agricultural assistance, including hay, feed, fencing supplies and other needs. The KDA website has current details on all agricultural assistance, including continuing updates on federal program assistance, https://www.agriculture.ks.gov/wildfire. Contact your local USDA-FSA office for details on federal assistance, https://www.fsa.usda.gov/state-offices/Kansas/index or please contact KDA if you need help navigating these federal programs or if you run into other challenges.
· It is the policy of the state of Kansas to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act, which prohibits discrimination against qualified individuals with disabilities on the basis of their disability. The ADA provides, in part, that qualified individuals with disabilities shall not be excluded from participating in, or be denied the benefits of any program, service or activity offered by the State of Kansas. More information is available at https://admin.ks.gov/offices/personnel-services/policies-and-programs/ada. For assistance or information, please contact the state ADA coordinator at (785) 296-1389 or [email protected].
· Kansas Attorney GeneralDerek Schmidt is urging residents in areas damaged by recent wildfires to use caution during the cleanup and rebuilding to avoid scams by transient contractors or price gouging. Consumers should be on the lookout for price gouging in the wake of a disaster. Kansas law prohibits unjustifiably increasing the price of any necessary property or service, including gasoline, during a time of disaster. A disaster includes severe storms, tornado, earthquake, flood, fires or any extraordinary act. Any Kansans who have problems with contractors or other companies that follow storms or disasters may file a request for the attorney general’s Consumer Protection Division to investigate at (800) 432-2310 or www.InYourCornerKansas.org.
· The Kansas Department for Children and Families provides food, cash, child care and vocational rehabilitation assistance for individuals meeting specific income guidelines. We also provide child and adult protective services, along with child support services. The DCF website provides additional information about agency services. The web address is www.dcf.ks.gov.
o The Hutchinson DCF Office serves the citizens of Reno County. The Dodge City DCF Office serves the citizens of both Clark and Comanche County. DCF office hours in both offices are Monday – Friday 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
· The Kansas Corporation Commission and SafeDig wants to remind their members to call 811 to get utility lines flagged before digging to start work on restoration projects. For more information call 811 or visit https://www.kansasonecall.com/.
· The Kansas Insurance Department can assist with information about insurance coverage or if a person is having problems with their insurance company.
o Contact the Consumer Assistance Hotline 1-800-432-2484 Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-5 p.m.\
o Live chat on the Kansas Insurance Department website (www.ksinsurance.org) Monday-Friday 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
o The department will need the insurance company name, policy number or agent’s name
o The individual needs to have their contact information.
· The Kansas Department of Revenue advises people who have lost or destroyed driver’s licenses or ID cards to replace them at their local driver licensing office or county treasurer’s office, if it provides that service. The department also advises:
o Those who need to replace vehicle titles lost in the storms can get a free replacement by visiting their local county treasurer’s office.
o If people need replacement copies of their tax returns, they can call (785) 296-3081, and the department will provide a copy for free.
o For those who lost vehicles in the fires, they can bring in insurance claims to their local county treasurer’s office and apply for a refund for the vehicle’s tags.
o Homeowners may be eligible for a property tax abatement on destroyed or substantially destroyed dwellings due to fire. Contact your county appraiser’s office for details.
o For businesses affected by the fires, which are busy trying to reopen, the department will waive any late filing fees they incur if they file those taxes late. The owner should call (785) 368-8222 to coordinate with the department.
· Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration -The Disaster Distress Helpline is a national hotline dedicated to providing year-round immediate crisis counseling for people who are experiencing emotional distress related to any natural or human-caused disaster. This toll-free, multilingual, and confidential crisis support service is available to all residents in the United States and its territories. Stress, anxiety, and other depression-like symptoms are common reactions after a disaster. Call 1-800-985-5990 or text TalkWithUs to 66746 to connect with a trained crisis counselor.
WICHITA – Girl Scouts of Kansas Heartland is extending its annual cookie sale by one week, giving cookie lovers a chance to support local girls and stock up on their favorite Girl Scout Cookies before it’s too late.
The annual Girl Scout Cookie Sale will now conclude March 26 instead of March 19. The additional week gives Kansas Girl Scouts more time to reach their goals and deplete their cookie inventory following product delays from the baker earlier in the sale.
There is still time for the public to try the new Girl Scout S’mores Cookie or, at the same $4 per package, purchase a Girl Scout Cookie Share. Through Girl Scouts of Kansas Heartland’s Cookie Share Program, customers can donate Girl Scout Cookies to members of the military and their families or to local charities like the Kansas Food Bank. Last year, Kansas Girl Scouts sold more than 23,000 Cookie Shares — more than $92,000 worth of Girl Scout Cookies – benefiting servicemen and women, and local charities.
This is the 100th year of Girl Scout cookie sales.
Although there are Girl Scout Cookie lookalikes out there, the proceeds from those cookies are not supporting local girls across the great state of Kansas. Proceeds from the annual Girl Scout Cookie Sale – every penny after paying the baker – stay in Kansas to support Girl Scouting and power future girl-led adventures. During the annual Girl Scout Cookie Sale, girls also learn essential life skills – goal-setting, decision-making, money management, people skills and business ethics – that set them up for success.
Those who haven’t been contacted by a local Girl Scout can find the nearest cookie booth by entering their zip code at kansasgirlscouts.org, calling 888-686-MINT, or downloading the free, official Girl Scout Cookie Finder app for iOS and Android mobile devices. Go to kansasgirlscouts.org to learn more.
About Girl Scouts of Kansas Heartland
Girl Scouts of Kansas Heartland serves more than 14,500 girls and adults in 80 Kansas counties through its operational headquarters in Wichita, Kan., and regional offices in Salina, Hays, Emporia and Garden City. Founded in 1912, Girl Scouts is the leading authority on girls’ healthy development and is the pre-eminent leadership development organization for girls. Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence and character who make the world a better place.
Susan Lewis is president of the Kansas Mental Health Coalition, Topeka.
KMHC
TOPEKA–More than 300 mental health advocates from across Kansas will arrive in Topeka today, Wed., March 15, to urge state lawmakers to build a stronger mental health system.
“The state’s mental health system continues to be overextended and underfunded. As a result, people with mental illness are not getting the treatment and support they need to recover, or even to weather periods of acute crisis” says Susan Crain Lewis, president of the Kansas Mental Health Coalition, organizer of the event.
“Demand for services continues to increase, and our community mental health centers are asked to serve more people with fewer resources. This poses a huge challenge given their statutory obligation to serve everyone regardless of ability to pay. Despite herculean efforts, many people who could be helped before they reach crisis cannot be seen in a timely fashion, and therefore end up in hospital emergency room hallways, jails, or worse.”
“The pressure on all parts of the system, community mental health centers, providers, hospitals, safety net medical clinics, law enforcement officers, emergency responders, advocacy and social service organizations, friends and family, and most importantly, the persons with mental illness themselves is extraordinary, unnecessary and unfair. Mental illness is highly treatable, and the only category of illness in which we deprive people of access to needed treatment until they reach ‘stage 4’- crisis. This is costly and inhumane, and unacceptable in our state.”
Advocates will gather for a rally at 10:30 a.m. on the south apron of the Capitol. Legislative District Advocates will meet with Legislators during a lunch at noon inside the Capitol. Those scheduled to speak at the rally include Secretary Tim Keck, who heads the Department for Aging and Disability Services, Representative Louis Ruiz, Co-Chair of the Mental Health Caucus, and Representative Joy Koesten, a newly elected advocate for persons with mental illness and Co-Chair of the Caucus.
Throughout the day advocates will also meet with their legislators, drawing attention to these priority issues:
Outpatient Mental Health Services: The coalition supports Mental Health 2020 and urges the Legislature to restore mental health reform grant funding for the state’s 26 Community Mental Health Centers so they can provide the important array of services required to serve Kansans with mental illness, including the specialized services important to children and families. Legislation to improve workforce training and increase the number of clinical professionals should be supported. The Legislature must restore the four percent cuts to Medicaid reimbursement and improve the overall KanCare program to improve timely eligibility approval, incentivize important community based treatment through new reimbursement codes, and reduce burdensome administrative requirements.
Inpatient Psychiatric Services – State Hospitals Crisis: The Coalition recommends the Kansas Legislature fully fund high-quality psychiatric inpatient services to meet the needs of all Kansans who require this care. The current moratorium on admissions at Osawatomie State Hospital is placing people and communities at risk. Specifically, the Legislature should: 1) Restore the 206 beds at Osawatomie State Hospital and end the moratorium on admissions, 2) Pursue re-certification as soon as possible, 3) Provide ongoing funding and support to replicate throughout the state the crisis stabilization services established recently at the former Rainbow Mental Health Facility serving Wyandotte and Johnson Counties and fund them into the future, 4) Empower the Kansas Department on Aging and Disability Services to produce a long-term plan to implement the recommendations of the Adult Continuum of Care Committee, and 5) Provide for continued public/ private partnerships for local psychiatric inpatient beds to alleviate the growing demand for state psychiatric hospital beds. The Coalition does not currently support the RFP to privatize Osawatomie State Hospital because of the lack of information regarding the current proposal.
Medicaid Medication and “Step Therapy”: The Kansas Legislature should protect patient access to mental health medications in the Medicaid program by requiring transparent, effective and research-informed prior authorization policy development by the Mental Health Medication Advisory Committee and careful oversight by the Kansas Dept. of Health and Environment over the implementation by managed care organizations. There should be no step therapy for mental health medications.
Expand Medicaid: The Coalition supports the expansion of KanCare, a move that would make the state’s Medicaid plan eligible to adults with an income at or below 138% of federal poverty guidelines. The federal government will pay between 90% and 95% of the costs. Kansans have difficulty accessing important behavioral health programs in many areas of the state. Expanding Medicaid is one of the best options available to close some of the gaps in our behavioral health continuum of care. Inpatient beds, transition programs, and community based crisis centers struggle to sustain services for a largely uninsured population. These programs also face a workforce shortage. The Bridge to a Healthy Kansas plan expands the number of Kansans with access to quality healthcare, and gives our state a greater share of federal funding to support the programs that provide the care.
Children and Families: The Kansas Legislature should support in its budget services for ALL children who need health, mental health, and substance use treatment. Whether it is inpatient or outpatient, Medicaid or private pay, parents must be able to access the services they need at times and locations that work for families. This is imperative in order to keep children at home and in school, which reduces the need for expensive out-of-home placements – but most importantly, keeps families together while improving the opportunity for growing up healthy. When the adults in the family are able to access housing and employment as well as health care and substance use treatment needs, children are less likely to need long term interventions.
Mental Health and Criminal Justice: The Kansas Legislature must adopt public policy that focuses on: (1) Mental health diversion programs that connect youth and adults with serious mental illness with treatment resources that keep them out of the criminal justice system, including a long-term commitment to Juvenile Justice System Reform passed in 2016; (2) Therapeutic care for offenders who are living with mental illness; and (3) Effective discharge planning to ensure that individuals with serious mental illnesses receive community-based services upon their release.
The Kansas Mental Health Coalition (KMHC) is a collaborative organization of numerous non-profit organizations, agencies and individuals representing individuals with mental illness or lived experience, families, and providers dedicated to improving the lives of Kansans with mental illness.
The Norton Blue Jays place two players on the All Mid-Continent First Team for the 2016-2017 season announced this week.
Seniors Tyus Henson and Landon Porter are joined by fellow seniors Zech Wilson of Hill City and Ellis’ Easton Smith. Trey Sides of Phillipsburg was the lone underclassmen selected to the First Team as a sophomore.
Wilson was also a First Team selection last season.
TMP’s Creighton Renz was a Second Team selection as a junior. Fellow juniors Jace Ruder of Norton and Phillipsburg’s Trey Thompson were also named to the Second Team. Seniors Emmitt Owens of Trego Hayden Friend of Plainville were also Second Team selections.
David McFarland, TMP junior was an Honorable Mention selection.
TMP won their second straight MCL regular season title this past season
Susan Lewis is president of the Kansas Mental Health Coalition, Topeka.
More than 300 mental health advocates from across Kansas will arrive in Topeka today, Wed., March 15, to urge state lawmakers to build a stronger mental health system.
The state’s mental health system continues to be overextended and underfunded. As a result, people with mental illness are not getting the treatment and support they need to recover, or even to weather periods of acute crisis.
Demand for services continues to increase, and our community mental health centers are asked to serve more people with fewer resources. This poses a huge challenge given their statutory obligation to serve everyone regardless of ability to pay. Despite herculean efforts, many people who could be helped before they reach crisis cannot be seen in a timely fashion, and therefore end up in hospital emergency room hallways, jails, or worse.
The pressure on all parts of the system, community mental health centers, providers, hospitals, safety net medical clinics, law enforcement officers, emergency responders, advocacy and social service organizations, friends and family, and most importantly, the persons with mental illness themselves is extraordinary, unnecessary and unfair. Mental illness is highly treatable, and the only category of illness in which we deprive people of access to needed treatment until they reach ‘stage 4’- crisis. This is costly and inhumane, and unacceptable in our state.
Advocates will gather for a rally at 10:30 a.m. on the south apron of the Capitol. Legislative District Advocates will meet with Legislators during a lunch at noon inside the Capitol. Those scheduled to speak at the rally include Secretary Tim Keck, who heads the Department for Aging and Disability Services, Representative Louis Ruiz, Co-Chair of the Mental Health Caucus, and Representative Joy Koesten, a newly elected advocate for persons with mental illness and Co-Chair of the Caucus.
Throughout the day advocates will also meet with their legislators, drawing attention to these priority issues:
Outpatient Mental Health Services: The coalition supports Mental Health 2020 and urges the Legislature to restore mental health reform grant funding for the state’s 26 Community Mental Health Centers so they can provide the important array of services required to serve Kansans with mental illness, including the specialized services important to children and families. Legislation to improve workforce training and increase the number of clinical professionals should be supported. The Legislature must restore the four percent cuts to Medicaid reimbursement and improve the overall KanCare program to improve timely eligibility approval, incentivize important community based treatment through new reimbursement codes, and reduce burdensome administrative requirements.
Inpatient Psychiatric Services – State Hospitals Crisis: The Coalition recommends the Kansas Legislature fully fund high-quality psychiatric inpatient services to meet the needs of all Kansans who require this care. The current moratorium on admissions at Osawatomie State Hospital is placing people and communities at risk. Specifically, the Legislature should: 1) Restore the 206 beds at Osawatomie State Hospital and end the moratorium on admissions, 2) Pursue re-certification as soon as possible, 3) Provide ongoing funding and support to replicate throughout the state the crisis stabilization services established recently at the former Rainbow Mental Health Facility serving Wyandotte and Johnson Counties and fund them into the future, 4) Empower the Kansas Department on Aging and Disability Services to produce a long-term plan to implement the recommendations of the Adult Continuum of Care Committee, and 5) Provide for continued public/ private partnerships for local psychiatric inpatient beds to alleviate the growing demand for state psychiatric hospital beds. The Coalition does not currently support the RFP to privatize Osawatomie State Hospital because of the lack of information regarding the current proposal.
Medicaid Medication and “Step Therapy”: The Kansas Legislature should protect patient access to mental health medications in the Medicaid program by requiring transparent, effective and research-informed prior authorization policy development by the Mental Health Medication Advisory Committee and careful oversight by the Kansas Dept. of Health and Environment over the implementation by managed care organizations. There should be no step therapy for mental health medications.
Expand Medicaid: The Coalition supports the expansion of KanCare, a move that would make the state’s Medicaid plan eligible to adults with an income at or below 138% of federal poverty guidelines. The federal government will pay between 90% and 95% of the costs. Kansans have difficulty accessing important behavioral health programs in many areas of the state. Expanding Medicaid is one of the best options available to close some of the gaps in our behavioral health continuum of care. Inpatient beds, transition programs, and community based crisis centers struggle to sustain services for a largely uninsured population. These programs also face a workforce shortage. The Bridge to a Healthy Kansas plan expands the number of Kansans with access to quality healthcare, and gives our state a greater share of federal funding to support the programs that provide the care.
Children and Families: The Kansas Legislature should support in its budget services for ALL children who need health, mental health, and substance use treatment. Whether it is inpatient or outpatient, Medicaid or private pay, parents must be able to access the services they need at times and locations that work for families. This is imperative in order to keep children at home and in school, which reduces the need for expensive out-of-home placements – but most importantly, keeps families together while improving the opportunity for growing up healthy. When the adults in the family are able to access housing and employment as well as health care and substance use treatment needs, children are less likely to need long term interventions.
Mental Health and Criminal Justice: The Kansas Legislature must adopt public policy that focuses on: (1) Mental health diversion programs that connect youth and adults with serious mental illness with treatment resources that keep them out of the criminal justice system, including a long-term commitment to Juvenile Justice System Reform passed in 2016; (2) Therapeutic care for offenders who are living with mental illness; and (3) Effective discharge planning to ensure that individuals with serious mental illnesses receive community-based services upon their release.
The Kansas Mental Health Coalition (KMHC) is a collaborative organization of numerous non-profit organizations, agencies and individuals representing individuals with mental illness or lived experience, families, and providers dedicated to improving the lives of Kansans with mental illness.
The TMP Lady Monarchs had three named to the 2016-2017 All Mid-Continent League basketball team announced this week.
Seniors Madyson Koerner and Megan Koenigsman were joined on the first team by junior Kayla Vitztum. Vitztum and Koenigsman were both First-Team selections last season. Koenigsman is a three-time First Team Selection.
TMP won their second regular season league title in three year’s this past season.
They are joined on the First-Team by junior’s Conner Keith from Hill City and Haven Hamilton of Stockton. Keith was also a First-Team selection last season.
Hamilton is now a two-time First Team Selection.
Plainville Freshman Aubrey Dewey is joined on the second team by follow Freshmen Jill Stephens of Stockton. Ellis’ Kaylyn Fosters, a junior, was also a second team selection with seniors Jenna Zimmerman of Oakley and Norton’s Caitlyn Cox.
