Kansas Department for Children and Families

TOPEKA — Hays resident Douglas Ptacek was honored at the Statehouse in Topeka last month for having served the State’s child and family services agency for 40 years.

Governor Sam Brownback awarded an official service pin celebrating the longevity of each honoree who completed either 40 or 50 years of service during the past fiscal year. Ptacek met Brownback and Department for Children and Families Secretary Phyllis Gilmore, who thanked him for his service to the State.

“Douglas has provided exemplary public service in Economic and Employment Services in the West Region during his career,” Gilmore said. “He has held a number of different positions over the years and has brought his technical expertise to each.”

Ptacek currently works in DCF’s West Region in the Hays Office. He began his career with the State serving as an Income Maintenance Worker in Fort Scott in 1974 when the agency was known as Social and Rehabilitation Services.

Ptacek served as an Economic and Employment worker in offices in Oberlin and Stockton. In 1992, he became a Supervisor in the Hays Office, responsible for the staff that processed Elderly and Medical cases in 21 counties in the West Region.

“I’ve enjoyed the 40 years I’ve spent with the State,” Ptacek said. “I believe in the mission of the agency and its dedication to helping people to be healthy and safe and able to get the assistance they need.”

Recently, Ptacek has been instrumental in developing and implementing an interactive database called the Kansas Eligibility and Enforcement System. He recalled the many changes that have occurred in his life and within the agency over the years.

“I started work at the Fort Scott office the same month, August of 1974, that I got married. And I’ve been with that same wonderful person all these 41 years that I’ve been with the agency. When I started we didn’t have calculators. We’ve gone from doing budgets by hand to developing new operating systems.”