4. That treatment must be respectful and empowering to the individual;

5. That with effective treatment and services, people can experience a personal process of recovery
     from mental illness; and

6. That services be provided in the least restrictive, safe, flexible, and accessible environment with a
     focus on community-based supports.

Over the past 14 years the state has moved mental health services from a primarily institutional based system, to a system that seeks to provide services through community settings. This effort has resulted in increased funding for the development of community-based programs and services, as well as increased coordination, collaboration, and integration between community mental health centers (CMHCs) and state hospitals.

The primary local coordinating agency for community-based mental health services is the licensed CMHC. There are 27 CMHCs in Kansas and one licensed affiliate. The licensed affiliate specializes in services to children and their families. There is a greater emphasis on the delivery of services to persons with the most serious illnesses-the target populations. In Kansas, our target populations are adults with severe and persistent mental illness and children with serious emotional disturbance.

The current community-based mental health service system in Kansas also includes: