August 7, 2003 - Three Southwest Kansas County SRS office scheduled to close; community partners working with SRS to promote access

Garden City, Kans.—The Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services (SRS) will close the Edwards county office August 31, 2003. The Scott County and Hodgeman county offices will close September 11, 2003. SRS had offices in all 105 Kansas counties, but announced last fall plans to close twenty-two of the county offices in 2003. The Edwards County office was originally slated for closure in 2004. The building lease expires the end of August and the owner has locate a longer term tenant for the space. Neither the Scott County nor the Hodgeman County office have staff based at that location. Other space has been located for appointments and the lease costs can be saved.

Garden City SRS Area Director Lea Ann Curtis said SRS staff are working with community partners in Edwards, Scott and Hodgeman counties to establish "access points" for SRS information and services. Partners agreed to help their community access SRS services by offering space for meetings and interviews; providing access to fax, photocopy, telephone, and computer services. Some will display posters, SRS applications and other information.

"Communities members have been wonderful! I know it is hard for a community to lose their SRS office or any other office or business. However, for the state's primary social service agency to tighten its belt by re-directing spending from bricks and mortar to direct services to Kansans makes sense. Because of technological advances and through collaboration with community partners, we are able to focus more of the state's limited budget into actual services for vulnerable Kansans," said Curtis.

Access Points so far in Edwards County are the Kinsley Library, Kinsley City Office, the Lewis Press and the Offerle Cafe. The Scott County Access Points are at the VIP Center, Scott County Health Department, Scott County Hospital, and the Scott County Library. In Hodgeman County, The Hodgeman County Health Center, City of Jetmore Office, Hodgeman County Health Department, Jetmore Food Center as well as the Hanston State Bank have agreed to serve their community as an SRS Access Point. The services available at the each site vary. (See attached Access Point Listing for specific services available at each site)

In addition to setting up access points, SRS provides a toll-free telephone number for people to reach SRS staff without long-distance charges. Calls will be answered by staff in the SRS Regional Service Center. The toll-free number is 1-888-369-4777. Also, an internet based screening tool and application will soon be available as an access option.

In the last few years, federal requirements to receive services have been adjusted. Regular and frequent face-to-face interviews at a local SRS office are not required in most SRS programs. Child and adult protective services are provided in the homes, making it unnecessary in most cases to visit an SRS office for these services.

"It is important for the people to know that social services are still available to them. People may call the toll-free number to talk with SRS staff, or they can visit one of the many access points for information about SRS services." said Curtis. "Each current SRS customer will receive instructions for accessing SRS staff and services"