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Grading the States 2009 Report Card: Kansas
The nation’s Heartland can be proud of Kansas’ plucky spirit. In 2006, Kansas’ mental health system received an F grade. Since then, the state seems to have acknowledged its challenges and begun building on its strengths, working to identify a clear path for the future. Three years later, however, much work still needs to be done. In 2009 they get a D. Full narrative (PDF).
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Health Promotion and Measurement: D 25% of Total Grade
Basic measures, such as the number of programs delivering evidence-based practices,
emergency room wait-times, and the quantity of psychiatric beds by setting.
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Financing & Core Treatment/Recovery Services: C 45% of Total Grade
A variety of financing measures, such as whether Medicaid reimburses providers for all, or part of evidence-based practices; and more.
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Consumer & Family Empowerment: D 15% of Total Grade
Includes measures such as consumer and family access to essential information from the
state, promotion of consumer-run programs, and family and peer education and support.
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Community Integration and Social Inclusion: D 15% of Total Grade
Includes activities that require collaboration among state mental health agencies and other state agencies and systems.
Innovations
- Peer-run and peer-provided supports
- Collaboration to develop housing
- Consumer/family partnership in policy development
Urgent Needs
- Community-based inpatient care
- Supportive housing
- Alternatives to incarceration
- Comprehensive parity legislation
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"I worked on an ACT Team in [another state] for over six years. I witnessed its value in keeping people out of the hospital and receiving the support they needed over time. In my experience, no one I have dealt with in Kansas knows anything about it!"
"My peer services are great. One of the things that has been most helpful is the Pathways to Recovery group at my CRO."
"There has to be more funding available to provide the services. There are not enough beds or service providers and so we have a major problem. My son ends up being placed in jail to keep him and others safe. He does not belong in jail, but the services he needs are not available!"
