KHI News

State officials plan a series of “listening sessions” to gather public comment on how best to promote mental health and prevent substance abuse, suicide and problem gaming throughout the state.

The 90-minute sessions are planned:

Aug. 31 — 1:30 p.m., City Limits Convention Center, 2225 S. Range, Colby.
Sept. 1 — 9 a.m., Clarion Inn, 1911 E. Kansas, Garden City.
Sept. 2 — 8:30 a.m., Wichita State University Metropolitan Complex, 5015 E. 29th, Wichita.
Sept. 2 — 2:30 p.m., Courtyard Marriott, 3020 Riffel Drive, Salina.
Sept. 3 — 1:30 p.m., Holiday Inn Express, 3411 Iowa, Lawrence.
Sept. 4 — 9 a.m., Memorial Building, Alliance Room, 101 S. Lincoln, Chanute.
Each session will include an introductory presentation on the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services plan to overhaul the state’s approach to promoting behavioral health.

“We have consolidated all of our behavioral health prevention efforts and we want to give Kansans information about how the new approach will work,” KDADS Secretary Kari Bruffett said in a prepared statement.

The new approach is being coordinated by the Center for Community Support and Research at Wichita State, which in June was awarded a $684,997 contract by KDADS.

KDADS officials have said the new approach will be more holistic, data-driven and result-oriented than previous efforts. Development of the new approach is expected to take about a year, KDADS officials have said.