KDWPT

PRATT– According to the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (WAWFA), aerial surveys for lesser prairie chickens will begin Thu.,  March 17. The surveys, which will continue through mid-May, will be conducted by helicopter throughout the five-state lesser prairie chicken range. The surveys are conducted annually by WAFWA to ascertain population trends and how the bird is responding to management strategies identified in the Lesser Prairie Chicken Range-wide Conservation Plan.

The range-wide plan is a collaborative effort of WAFWA and the state wildlife agencies of Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Kansas and Colorado. It was developed to ensure conservation of the lesser prairie chicken with voluntary cooperation from landowners and industry. This plan allows agriculture producers and industry to continue operations while reducing impacts to the species and its grassland habitat.

“Working with the wildlife agencies of each of these five states, we’ve established a consistent methodology to conduct these aerial surveys,” explained Bill Van Pelt, WAFWA’s grassland coordinator. “This allows us to get the most accurate information possible so we can see how various management strategies for the bird are working on the ground.”

In previous years, some of the fly paths prompted calls, which is why WAFWA is getting the word out about the start of aerial survey work.

Last year’s aerial surveys brought good news: an abundance of spring rainfall in 2015, along with ongoing efforts associated with the range-wide plan and other conservation initiatives, helped increase the lesser prairie chicken population by approximately 25 percent from 2014 to 2015. Results from this year’s surveys will be available on July 1.

Despite last year’s encouraging news, the population is still low compared to historical numbers, and concern for the lesser prairie chicken and its habitat still exist. WAFWA is committed to continued successful implementation of the range-wide plan and the long-term recovery of this iconic grassland bird.

For more information about the lesser prairie chicken and the conservation work being done to support it, see the Lesser Prairie Chicken Range-wide Plan at www.wafwa.org.

DCF

TOPEKA–The critical service provided by social work professionals, including the protection of vulnerable children and adults from abuse and neglect, will be highlighted this month, thanks to special recognition from Governor Sam Brownback and the Kansas Department for Children and Families (DCF).

Governor Sam Brownback has designated March as Social Worker Month, a time to recognize the tireless commitment of those who take on this challenging occupation. It’s a time also to call attention to the need to retain and recruit social workers to serve the State of Kansas.

“As a licensed social worker, I know the many difficulties and rewards that come with this line of work,” DCF Secretary Phyllis Gilmore said. “We are working hard to attract more caring and compassionate social workers to join our Prevention and Protection Services team.”

DCF, along with its contracted providers, employs nearly 1,000 social workers statewide. There remains, however, a persistent need for more.

DCF typically has approximately 50 vacant social worker positions, which it struggles to fill. Some of the most challenging areas to fully staff include the agency’s Wichita and West regions. DCF uses a wide range of recruitment strategies to attract social workers, including partnerships with Kansas colleges. The agency also has a Recruitment and Retention Workgroup that is tasked with helping solve social worker staffing needs.

DCF Social Worker Amber Rufener, Topeka, recognizes that social work is often thankless and rarely easy.

“It’s a challenge, because people don’t always want to work with you,” said Rufener, a social work specialist in the Topeka Service Center. “They need help, but often they don’t want it. Social workers have to give them the resources to be successful. We serve as a bridge to the help in many cases.”

Rufener began work as a certified nursing assistant while in college. It was then that she took an interest in the social side of human services. To prepare for a career as a social worker, she earned a bachelor’s degree in Human Services, then a master’s degree in Social Work from Washburn University.

“I went into social work because I wanted to protect those who are vulnerable, who maybe don’t have a voice for themselves,” said Rufener, who participated in the signing of the Social Work Month proclamation.

Rufener emphasized that the ability to work with clients who suffer from mental health issues is essential. She recognizes that there is always a need for new people in the social work field, and said while it’s not for everyone, she believes many caring individuals would find it rewarding.

“You have to be in it because you have a heart for helping people,” she said. “You don’t always get rewards or praise. But it’s rewarding when you can see that you made a difference in someone’s life.”

To become a social worker, individuals must graduate from an accredited university with at least a bachelor’s degree in social welfare. They must also pass a licensure exam and maintain the license with 40 hours of continuing education, every two years.

DCF recently added four categories of professionals who now can fill the same role as social workers within the agency’s Prevention and Protection Services division. Individuals with education backgrounds that now may, with certain qualifications, serve as DCF social workers are Bachelor’s in Social Work, Master’s in Psychology, Master’s in Professional Counseling and Masters in Marriage and Family Therapy.

By LISA JONES
KHI

TOPEKA–The Brookings Institution has released a report on six states—including Kansas—which evaluated the competitiveness of the health insurance marketplaces created by the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Kansas was chosen for the study because it managed to attract four insurance companies in 2014 to compete in the marketplace, even though it is a mostly rural state.

The Kansas Health Institute (KHI) conducted the field research for the Kansas portion of the study, which included interviewing stakeholders involved in the ACA marketplace in Kansas, including health care providers, health insurance agents and former insurance regulators. KHI is a member of a network of health policy and public management experts coordinated by the Rockefeller Institute of Government and the Brookings Institution to study the ongoing implementation of the ACA at the state level. A previous report by KHI described the early implementation process in Kansas.

The report was requested by the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The purpose of the study was to focus on states that had one or more potential indicators of “insufficient competition”—such as few insurers offering plans, low enrollment, high premiums, inadequately informed consumers or sparsely populated rural areas—and to understand how competition was working in these markets and what might make it work better.

Although the insurance markets vary among the six states (Alaska, Florida, Kansas, North Carolina, Ohio and Texas), some common themes emerged, including:

• Despite education and outreach efforts by insurance agents, navigators and health policy experts, many consumers lack a good understanding of health insurance and how plan provider networks and premiums are related to out-of-pocket costs such as deductibles, co-payments and co-insurance.
• The size of the population in a state’s insurance market is an important determinant of insurer participation.
  The ability of insurers to negotiate favorable contracts with health care providers is key to their success and interest in participating in an insurance market.
• Enrollment in marketplace plans is generally driven by low premiums, which has implications for consumers who purchase lower-cost plans that may not meet their health care or financial needs.

The report includes recommendations to improve competition, including:

• Encourage insurers to co-brand and risk-share with established health care provider systems as a way to obtain price concessions for their marketplace plans.
• Have navigator/assistor organizations provide culturally and linguistically sensitive, simple explanations of health insurance that also remind people of the need to have coverage to protect themselves and their families.
• Stress the emphasis on available subsidies and rising penalties.
• Provide larger fees or commissions for agents/brokers to motivate them to assist and enroll eligible participants through the marketplace.

Download the Report: Early Assessment of Competition in the Health Insurance Marketplace.

The Kansas Health Institute delivers credible information and research enabling policy leaders to make informed health policy decisions that enhance their effectiveness as champions for a healthier Kansas. The Kansas Health Institute is a nonprofit, nonpartisan health policy and research organization based in Topeka, established in 1995 with a multi-year grant from the Kansas Health Foundation.

OSFM

TOPEKA–State Fire Marshal Doug Jorgensen and his staff remind all Kansans this Sunday, March 13, is the day to “Change Your Clocks, Change Your Batteries.”

By routinely changing the batteries in smoke detectors at the same time they adjust their clocks for daylight savings time, Kansans can safeguard the lives of their loved ones. To be even safer, the Office of the State Fire Marshal recommends installing smoke alarms powered by long-life sealed lithium batteries.

“Your risk of dying in a fire is greatly reduced when your home is equipped with working smoke alarms,” said Jorgensen. “Having smoke detectors with dead batteries is no different than having no smoke detectors at all. When you change your clocks, take the time to protect your family by changing the batteries on your smoke detectors and testing them to make sure they are in proper working order.”

According to data collected through the Kansas Fire Incident Reporting System (KFIRS), over the past five years 39% of structure fire deaths resulted from fires in properties without working smoke alarms. A working smoke alarm significantly OKincreases your chances of surviving a deadly home fire.

To protect your home, follow these smoke alarm safety tips:

• Install smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside each sleeping area and on every level of your home, including in the basement.
• Smoke alarms with non-replaceable (long-life) batteries are designed to remain effective for up to 10 years. If the alarm chirps, warning that the battery is low, replace the entire smoke alarm right away.
• For smoke alarms with any other type of battery, replace batteries at least once a year. If that alarm chirps, replace only the battery. Date each unit when they are installed and replace them after ten years – or sooner if they don’t successfully pass the test by sounding the alarm when the Test button is pressed.

In addition to changing smoke alarm batteries, it is also a good idea to practice a family escape plan:

• Plan and practice two escape routes out of every room in your house.
• Designate an outside meeting place.
• In case of fire, call 9-1-1 once you are safely outside your home.
• Once outside, stay outside and don’t return for anything – not even a pet.

KDI

TOPEKA–Life insurance protection is one of the most considerate acts that a person can do for his family, according to Ken Selzer, CPA, Kansas Commissioner of Insurance. Over the course of a lifetime, it can have great significance.

“Knowing what a life policy can do for your loved ones, and how to protect it for their future use, can be two important factors in your financial planning,” Commissioner Selzer said. “Talking over your life insurance needs with qualified insurance professionals is a good first step toward assuring your assets are used by your family.”

Commissioner Selzer emphasizes these life policy considerations.

• What kind of life insurance do you need? Term and whole life insurance are the two most common types of plans. However, there are many variations of each type, and there are a number of special-purpose policies that combine the basic policies with other elements. Talk to your insurance agent about what type works for you.

• Who is your beneficiary going to be? If you die without naming a beneficiary or beneficiaries of your policy, the benefits would be paid into your estate and then paid out according to your will or through state laws. This delays payment and could create a financial hardship for your heirs.

• How much coverage do you need? You and your agent should do a careful evaluation of your coverage needs, but a general rule of thumb is to buy life insurance that is equal to 5-7 times your annual take-home pay.

• Will I have any tax consequences? Your beneficiary(ies) will receive your insurance benefits tax free. With named beneficiary(ies), life insurance benefits do not have to go through probate or other legal delays involved in the settlement of an estate.

• Where should I keep my policy? Keep your policy in a safe place. However, do not use any place where the policy might not be readily available. Record the basic information — such as company, policy type, policy number, insured’s and beneficiaries’ names — in a separate place. Let your beneficiary(ies) know the kind of insurance policy you have, any changes you make, and where you keep the policy.

• What happens if I lose my policy? Loss of a life insurance policy will not affect your protection in any way. If a policy is lost, accidentally destroyed or stolen, ask your agent or write the company directly to obtain a duplicate.

• Do life insurance proceeds affect my family’s Social Security benefits? According to law, monthly life insurance payments will not disqualify the beneficiary from receiving full Social Security payments. Monthly life insurance benefits do not count as earned income, regardless of how much is paid each month through a policy.

• What happens when my family needs to file a claim? Family members, preferably with policy in hand, will need to notify the life insurance company in the event of a death of an insured person. Your local insurance agent should be able to discuss the steps needed to make sure the policy is paid out as quickly as possible.

• Filing a life claim. Your beneficiary will need to notify the life insurance company of your death. Again, that’s why it is important for your beneficiary to be able to locate your policy. Companies require a certified death certificate or other legal proof of death, and they may ask for the policy. The life insurance company will pay the proceeds of the policy to your beneficiary(ies) after receiving proper notification of death.

The Kansas Insurance Department now has a Life Insurance Locator Service in place for those who need assistance in locating life insurance and annuity benefits they may be owed. Those submitting a request will need to do the following:

• Complete a form you can download off our website, http://www.ksinsurance.org/healthlife/life/life-policy-search.php .
• Have the form notarized.
• Attach a copy of the certified death certificate of the policyholder.
• Send all information to the insurance department address listed on the form.

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) also has information on how life insurance can affect your different life stages. Go to http://www.naic.org/Releases/2016_docs/consumer_alert_life_insurance_roadmap.htm to read more.

KDWPT

PRATT–Every angler is searching for that secret lure that will catch more fish than all the others. However, if they exist, they’re expensive and don’t come with a guarantee. Fortunately, there are a few tools designed to help you catch more fish and they are free. The 2016 Kansas Fishing Regulations Summary, 2016 Fishing Atlas, and the 2016 Fishing Forecast are available online and wherever licenses are sold.

To catch fish, you have to be in the right spot with the right equipment at the right time. And to ensure your fishing days are enjoyable, you need to know the regulations. These three publications produced by the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism will help you find the right spot and know the regulations.

The 2016 Kansas Fishing Regulations Summary includes critical information about license requirements and fees, creel and length limits, special fishing programs, and color illustrations for fish identification. The pamphlet has a complete listing of public waters in the state, including locations and any special regulation. Special fishing programs, such as the trout program and urban fishing program, are highlighted with locations and stocking schedules.

The 2016 Fishing Atlas is an 80-page color publication with maps showing all public fishing areas, including state and federal waters and the Fishing Impoundments and Stream Habitats program (F.I.S.H.) waters. The F.I.S.H. program leases private ponds and stream and river access and opens them up to public fishing. In recent years, the program has opened more than 1,900 acres of private ponds and more than 70 miles of streams to anglers. Most areas are open from March 1-Oct. 31, but some are open to angling year-round. Lease dates, special regulations, and boating restrictions are also designated for each leased tract in the atlas.

The final piece of the angler’s arsenal is the 2016 Fishing Forecast, which is available as a printed brochure, can be downloaded from www.ksoutdoors.com and is included in the March/April issue of Kansas Wildlife & Parks magazine. The forecast summarizes data collected by fisheries biologists throughout the year to help anglers find the best fishing spots statewide. The forecast includes Density, Preferred, and Lunker ratings for 17 species of sport fish in more than 200 state fishing lakes, community lakes and reservoirs. Anglers can use the forecast to find a lake that has a good population of the species they like to catch. For example, if you like to catch white bass, you’ll see that Pomona Reservoir has the No. 1 Density Rating, which refers to the number of white bass that were 9 inches long or longer the biologists caught per unit of sampling effort. Pomona also has the highest Preferred Rating of 11.58, which means that of the fish sampled almost half were longer than 12 inches. However, if you’re interested in large white bass, you might want to try Cedar Bluff Reservoir, which had the No. 1 Lunker Rating, which refers to white bass in the samples longer than 15 inches. Lengths for the various ratings are different for each species, and there are also categories for the biggest fish caught during sampling and the biologist’s ranking. Ratings are separated among reservoirs, lakes and ponds, so anglers can also select the size of the water they prefer to fish.

These three tools, along with the Weekly Fishing Reports at www.ksoutdoors.com, will help you catch more fish this season, guaranteed. Don’t get caught on the water without them.

WASHINGTON – On Monday, Feb. 29, U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) led a congressional visit with U.S. Senator Cory Gardner (R-Colo.) and U.S. Senator Steve Daines (R-Mont.) to the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

“The visit to Guantanamo Bay was an important opportunity to speak with our military leaders and gain a better understanding of detention facility operations – their mission is difficult as they safeguard our nation from those who wish to do us harm,” Sen. Moran said. “The impressive men and women of the Joint Task Force Guantanamo are fully committed to serving and protecting our country. Unfortunately, the president is spending more energy fulfilling a campaign promise than focusing on the serious national security threats we face across the globe. I will continue to oppose the administration’s plan to move detainees to the United States.”

“My visit to Guantanamo Bay reaffirmed what Coloradans and Americans across the country already know: the detainees belong in Guantanamo Bay, a facility tailor-made for terrorists,” Sen. Gardner said. “In addition to the illegality of transferring Guantanamo Bay detainees to U.S. soil through executive order, the President should recognize that moving dangerous terrorists to our backyard at a time when our country is facing emerging security challenges is both irresponsible and dangerous. I’ll continue to work to ensure that Guantanamo Bay detainees remain where they belong.”

“Visiting Guantanamo Bay was a humble reminder of the services our military provides overseas to get these terrorists off the battlefield and ensure we don’t have to bring them to Americans’ backyards,” Sen. Daines said. “The fact remains clear, President Obama signed multiple pieces of legislation into law that explicitly prohibits the transfer of enemy combatants from Guantanamo Bay to our shores. I’m exceedingly proud of our men and women serving at Guantanamo Bay and will continue working tirelessly to prohibit the transfer of these detainees to America.”

Sen. Moran has long advocated against relocating Guantanamo Bay detainees. Sen. Moran and Sen. Daines sponsor legislation (S.2559) to prevent President Obama from giving the GITMO back to Cuba without proper Congressional approval.

Sen. Moran also sponsors the Detaining Terrorists to Protect America Act (S. 165), which prohibits the transfer to the United States of detainees designated medium- or high-risk for two years. S. 165 would also ban transfers to Yemen, where dozens of the remaining Guantanamo detainees are from.

KDCF

TOPEKA—The first group of volunteers for a mentoring initiative aimed at helping low-income Kansans escape poverty received training last week in Topeka, to put the program in motion.

HOPE Mentoring, an initiative launched in January, by Governor Sam Brownback and the Kansas Department for Children and Families (DCF), will help Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) clients to become self-reliant.

Among the mentors trained at the DCF Service Center was First Lady Mary Brownback, the program’s ceremonial “First Volunteer,” who enlisted at the launch of the initiative on Jan. 6.

“This is a wonderful opportunity to help individuals achieve their personal and professional goals,” the First Lady said. “I’ve learned a great deal through the training, and I look forward to putting my new skills to use. I encourage others who have time and interest in helping people in need to volunteer as mentors.”

DCF has set a goal of matching 1,100 volunteer mentors with 1,100 existing TANF clients. As mentors complete the day-long training, DCF will begin pairing them with mentees.

“Many Kansans face serious struggles in their lives, and they need the support and guidance of someone who can walk with them as they pursue a better life,” said Governor Brownback. “Simply having that strong support system can make the difference.”

The initial training session, which was open to media, was a four-hour introduction to materials produced by DCF, as well as a discussion of what makes for an effective mentor/mentee relationship. HOPE Mentoring Program Director Jim Echols said the first training event was successful, and will provide guidance for future training sessions.

“It was great to see our volunteers engaged in the instruction,” Echols said. “They’re eager to get started, and I can’t wait to see how their guidance will have a positive impact on our clients.”

Mentor Coordinators are now actively recruiting mentors throughout the state, in DCF’s four regions. The Mentor Coordinators include: Milcah Lewis, Kansas City Region; Mike Siebert, East Region; Celina Porter Wichita Region; Julio Victorio, West Region.

DCF plans a second phase of HOPE Mentoring, to kick off in July, aimed at youth preparing to age out of foster care. Volunteer mentors will be paired with youth as they transition to independence.

Volunteer applications can be filled out at HOPEMentoring.dcf.ks.gov. The next mentor training session will be held March 9, at the Kansas City Service Center.

KDOR

TOPEKA–The Kansas Division of Vehicles has teamed up with State Farm® and Cenex to launch a new program that provides parents and guardians with a simple, easy-to-follow plan designed to help teens develop safe driving habits.

“According to the CDC and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, young drivers in Kansas, between the ages of 16 and 19 years old, are more than twice as likely to crash as drivers in other age groups due to inexperience,” said Director of Vehicles, Lisa Kaspar. “Parents play a critical role in their children’s education and this guide encourages parents to expose teenagers to a variety of enhanced supervised driving experiences to help them become knowledgeable and safe drivers.”

The Parent’s Supervised Driving Program guide is packed with information and lessons on driving basics, parental pointers, and licensing qualifications that are helpful to parents of new drivers. The program is supplemented by the RoadReady® mobile app, which can easily and accurately track the required supervised driving time of 50 hours, including 10 hours of night driving.

Last year, more than 43,000 Kansas teens sought instruction (learner’s) permits, and the department wanted to provide parents with a resource geared toward skill development and expanding the conditions and time that teens drive with their parents prior to driving independently.

The program focuses on the role of the parent in the teen driver education process and encourages parents and teens to drive together in a variety of weather conditions, unfamiliar settings, city and heavy traffic routes, and also various times of day. According to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and State Farm study, Driving Through the Eyes of Teens, teen drivers whose parents are highly involved in the teen driver education process were half as likely to get in a car crash, 71 percent less likely to drive intoxicated, 30 percent less likely to use a cell phone while driving, and twice as likely to wear seatbelts.

“Getting a driver’s license is a special moment in a teen’s life, but it often causes increased anxiety for parents,” said Ed Gold, State Farm Advertising Director. “Research tells us the single most important thing parents can do to help their teens stay safe on the road is to provide as much supervised practice behind the wheel as possible. We hope this new resource will help parents and teens make the most of this time together.”

As part of its commitment to safety education, CHS Inc. – and its Cenex® brand – helped fund The Parent’s Supervised Driving Program through sponsorship advertising. “Getting a drivers license is an exciting moment in a teen’s life, but it demands a new level of responsibility. Practice and preparation are key components to new driver success,” said Akhtar Hussain, CHS refined fuels marketing manager.

Emily Stein, President Safe Roads Alliance, said “Parents are the key to assuring the safety of teen drivers. The more involved the parents are at this important phase when a teen is learning to drive, the more likely it will be that these teens will not be involved in a collision once they are driving on their own.”

The free program guide is available at driver licensing offices around the state. It is also available on the Kansas Department of Revenue website at: www.ksrevenue.org. The RoadReady mobile app is available for iPhones at the App Store.

KDWPT

PRATT–Except for beaver trapping season, which runs through March 31, all other furbearer trapping and hunting seasons closed Feb. 15. However, the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism reminds hound enthusiasts that the furbearer running season begins March 1. This is the time for houndsmen and their dogs to hone skills necessary during the furbearer hunting seasons.

During the running season, no furbearer may be killed or taken. In addition, it is illegal for runners to possess any firearm or other weapon while pursuing furbearers during the running season. Legal hours for running furbearers are 24 hours daily, and a furharvester license is required. The running season is open through Nov. 1.