DCF

TOPEKA – Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt, in partnership with the Kansas Department for Children and Families (DCF), Kansas Children’s Service League (KCSL), Wesley Medical Center and the Wichita Police Department spoke at a “Pinwheels for Prevention” rally on Wednesday, April 12, at Wesley Medical Center’s Children’s Hospital, Wichita. The event highlighted the role mandated reporters play in the abuse prevention process, and outlined steps Kansans should take if they suspect a child is the victim of abuse and/or neglect.

“Keeping a watchful eye for the signs of child abuse can help protect our Kansas children,” Attorney General Schmidt said. “We all have a responsibility to help keep children safe.”

In FY 2016, DCF’s Child Protective Services division received 67,642 reports of abuse and/or neglect in Kansas—up 9.7 percent from FY 2015. More than 20 percent (13,609) of those reports came from Sedgwick County, more than 9 percent (6,333) from Wyandotte County and nearly 9 percent (6,064) from Shawnee County.

“Every child deserves to grow up in a safe, loving environment,” Secretary Gilmore said. “Parenting can present challenges, but we need to connect with our communities so that when we are struggling to cope, we know we’re not alone. DCF and our community partners offer many services to strengthen Kansas families, and keep children in their homes, as long as that is a safe option.”

One resource offered to families is the Parent Helpline. Sponsored by KCSL, the Parent Helpline is a free, statewide, anonymous information and referral service. Helpline advocates are trained and offer support to help with simple questions or complex situations. The Helpline is available 24/7. If you have parenting questions or need someone to talk to, please call the Parent Helpline at 1-800-CHILDREN.

Mandated reporters, such as social workers, teachers and law enforcement, are required by law to report suspected child abuse. DCF Social Worker Sarah Hoss has spent 13 years working in Wichita’s Exploited and Missing Child Unit, investigating cases of child abuse and neglect. She understands firsthand the important role both mandated and non-mandated reporters play in protecting children from dangerous situations.

“I want the public to know that it is important if you suspect, or even have a concern, of abuse or neglect that you report it,” Hoss said. “They are the voice of the children, and without them reporting it, we don’t know that it’s occurring and we can’t help the families and the children in our communities.”

As part of Wednesday’s event, local children planted pinwheels outside the hospital in flowerbeds to commemorate Child Abuse Prevention Month. The planting ceremony is part of the Pinwheels for Prevention campaign—an effort to change the way our nation thinks about prevention and how we can deliver on our commitment to Kansas children. The pinwheel serves as an uplifting reminder of childhood and the bright futures all children deserve.

If you suspect a child is being abused and/or neglected, you are urged to call the Kansas Protection Report Center at 1-800-922-5330.

KANSAS SAMPLER FOUNDATION

WINFIELD–The 28th, and final, Kansas Sampler Festival will take place May 6-7 in Winfield’s Island Park. The largest outdoor travel show in the state will once again feature what there is to see, do, hear, taste, buy and learn in Kansas. Attendance in 2016 was 8,250.

More than 130 Kansas communities will be represented by tourism exhibitors, musicians, historic performers, entrepreneurs, food vendors, and cultural heritage demonstrators.

The 2017 festival is organized by the Winfield Area Chamber of Commerce and Tourism with chamber director Sarah Werner serving as the local festival director. More than 300 volunteers, city workers, and area sponsors make the festival possible.

The primary focus of the festival is to give the public ideas for Kansas day trips. Exhibitors from across the state will set up displays in twelve tents to promote tourism. Entrepreneurs will sell their products in three tents and another tent will feature Kansas wine and beer producers. There will be four stages for musicians and a fifth for historic performers. Twenty food vendors will be found on the grounds as will a blacksmith demonstration, antique cars, Pack goats and Mammoth donkeys, and children’s activities.

This will be the final Kansas Sampler Festival before the foundation switches to a new format to educate the public about what Kansas has to see and do. The “Big Kansas Road Trip” will start in 2018 and the showcase counties for the road trip will be announced at the festival.

The festival began in 1990 as a book-signing party for Milferd and Marci Penner’s Kansas Weekend Guide book. Some of the places in the guidebook set up displays. The crowd reaction was so positive that the event was given a name, the Kansas Sampler Festival, and was held on the Penner Farm near Inman for another seven years. It then rotated on a two-year basis to the host communities of Pratt, Ottawa, Independence, Newton, Garden City, Concordia, Leavenworth, Liberal, Wamego, and Winfield.

The new 480-page Kansas Guidebook 2 for Explorers by Marci Penner and WenDee Rowe will debut at the festival and can be purchased in the Kansas Explorers Club tent.

Festival hours are Saturday, May 6 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday May 7 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for children ages 7-12. For more information go to kansassamplerfestival.com.