May 19, 2003 - Chase County SRS office scheduled to close May 30; community partners working with SRS to promote access to social services

Emporia, Kans.—The Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services (SRS) announced last fall that 22 county offices statewide will close in calendar year 2003. The Chase County SRS office is scheduled to close on Friday, May 30. Chase County will be the second county office to close since the announcement was made. The Clay County SRS office was the first. It closed on May 23. Until this year, SRS had offices in all 105 Kansas counties.

Emporia SRS Area Director Cyrilla Petracek said that her staff has worked with community partners to set up "access points" in Chase County to maintain an SRS presence and to help people in the community receive information and services from SRS. Community partners serving as access points have made various commitments to SRS based on their resources. Some partners have agreed to display brochures and applications; provide a meeting room or interview space; serve as a notary; provide faxing and photocopying services for a nominal charge; offer access to a telephone, a computer, or the internet; and provide personal assistance. Not all services are available at all access points. (See attached list of Chase County Access points).

"I am delighted that so many community partners in Chase County have agreed to serve as access points for SRS. I know it is hard for a community to lose their SRS office, however, we believe that we can better use the limited resources we do have to provide actual services to those in need by relying on technology and collaborating with community partners. Relaxed federal rules requiring face-to-face interviews at an SRS office and changes in the child welfare system have reduced the need for customers to visit the SRS office as often," said Petracek..

In addition to setting up access points, SRS recently implemented a toll-free telephone number so that persons needing to reach SRS do not have to incur long-distance charges. The call will be routed to a regional SRS Service Center, based on the location of the caller. The toll-free number is 1-888-369-4777.

In the last few years, federal requirements to receive social services have been relaxed and the requirement to have a face-to-face interview at the local SRS office has been dropped in some situations. Child welfare services are provided in the homes of customers also, making it unnecessary to visit an SRS office in most cases.

"It is really important for the people that live in Chase County to know that just because there is no longer a bricks and mortar office, social services are still available to them. In Chase County, people can call the toll-free number to talk to SRS, or they can visit one of the many access points to receive information about SRS." said Petracek.

The Chase County SRS office, which housed 3 staff, was open 3 days per week. Those staff members have transferred to the Emporia SRS Service Center and will be able to serve you at this location or by appointment at an access site in Chase County. The Emporia office is located at 1701 Wheeler St. Chase County residents can begin accessing services by utilizing the toll-free number after May 27th.