A federal grant of nearly $200,000 has been awarded the Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services to establish the Kansas Parent Empowerment Program aimed at helping families with children who have severe emotional disturbance or developmental disabilities access needed services.

The grant from the Administration on Children, Youth and Families -- part of the federal Department of Health and Human Services -- specifically identifies families who are economically disadvantaged, who have limited English proficiency, or who live in unserved or under-served regions of the state as targets for assistance. Foster and adoptive families of children with developmental disabilities or severe emotional disturbance are also targeted to receive assistance under the program.

The federal portion of the grant is $194,578, which will be matched by $74,723 in state in-kind funding through the use of staff time and other resources.

SRS Secretary Janet Schalansky said the program will increase awareness of and access to developmental disability and mental health services. She also said the empowerment program will help providers learn about each other’s programs and services to better assist families.

"When some of the most vulnerable populations are empowered with knowledge of how to access services they need, they will be able to improve the quality of their lives and the lives of their families," Schalansky said.

To reach the families identified, the Kansas Parent Empowerment Program will create a training package aimed at making service providers and families more aware of services available. The training will be piloted in two areas, Wyandotte County and six counties in Southeast Kansas – Woodson, Allen, Bourbon, Neosho, Anderson, and Linn.

In addition, a project coordinator will be hired to act as an advocate for families of children with disabilities and a State Policy Council will be created to develop a coordinated system of family supports and provide guidance to families in identifying critical needs. Local policy councils will fulfill similar roles in Wyandotte County and Southeast Kansas.

The Kansas Parent Empowerment Program was developed with input from agencies that serve people with disabilities in the pilot sites. In Wyandotte County, these include the Wyandotte County Developmental Disabilities Organization and the Wyandot County Mental Health Center and in Southeast Kansas, these include Tri-Valley Developmental Services and Southeast Kansas Mental Health Center.

Page Last Updated: May 29, 2001