The Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services (SRS) announced today its plans to reorganize and decentralize services provided by the Kansas Vocational Rehabilitation Center (KVRC), 3140 Centennial Road, Salina. KVRC is a community rehabilitation program that provides vocational assessment and supported education services to help people with disabilities achieve employment.

The reorganization will result in the expansion of community-based services previously provided at KVRC and the resulting closure of some operations in Salina. Joyce Cussimanio, commissioner of Rehabilitation Services for SRS, said the shift away from centralized services to community-based services is in response to consumer input.

"People with disabilities have told us that they value our services, but they want to access these services as close to their home communities as possible," she said. "These changes are responsive to consumer input. Access to services will be within two hours for every community in Kansas, giving consumers greater choices and options for getting the services they need to achieve employment."

As a result of the planned reorganization:

*Existing Career Development Centers (CDCs) will be expanded in Wichita, Olathe and Topeka.

*New CDCs will be established in Chanute/Parsons, Colby, Garden City, Great Bend and Hays.

*Services in Salina will be relocated out of the existing KVRC building. Operation of KVRC's residential rooms and dorms will be discontinued in favor of community options chosen by consumers. Such options may include apartments or dorms at K-State or Kansas Weslyan. SRS estimates that about $500,000 annually in capital improvements and other building related expenses will be saved as a result of this shift.

*In place of the existing Salina-based KVRC operations, a CDC will be established in Salina. An administrative team will also be maintained in Salina which will provide technical assistance and business office functions; and which will develop private resource capacity.

The CDCs will be established through a shift of state personnel to local communities and by outsourcing with private service providers. CDCs will provide comprehensive assessment and localized supported education services.

Cussimanio said that another strength of the CDC plan is the ablity for SRS to work in partnership with local resources and tailor options to meet the unique needs of each community. SRS officials have already met with Salina area legislators and community leaders to discuss this reorganization. Cussimanio said that the department would continue to include these Salina leaders in implementation of this plan.

Movement of consumer services out the existing KVRC building will begin immediately and will be accomplished by July 1, 1998. Establishment of the new CDCs is expected to be accomplished by December 31, 1998.

Page Last Updated: May 29, 2001