Mental Health Task Force Report to the Legislature: Process Overview, Testimony

Senate Ways and Means Committee & Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee

1 Min Read

Jan 30, 2019

By

Kari M. Bruffett
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Kari M. Bruffett, KHI Vice President for Policy, testified before the Senate Ways and Means Committee on January 23, 2019, about the structure of the Mental Health Task Force and the process it used to develop an implementation plan for its recommendations to improve the behavioral health system in Kansas. On February 6, 2019, Bruffett presented the same testimony to the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee.

The Mental Health Task Force was established by the 2017 Kansas Legislature and reauthorized by the 2018 Kansas Legislature. In 2018, the task force was charged with developing an implementation plan for its recommendations as well as determining how many inpatient psychiatric beds are needed to most effectively deliver needed services. The task force was comprised of 13 behavioral health providers, advocacy organizations, citizens with lived experience and other behavioral health experts. KHI provided facilitation and research support to the task force.

Access this publication in the Documents & Downloads section.

Read the full reports online: these links lead to the KDADS website.

 

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The Kansas Health Institute supports effective policymaking through nonpartisan research, education and engagement. KHI believes evidence-based information, objective analysis and civil dialogue enable policy leaders to be champions for a healthier Kansas. Established in 1995 with a multiyear grant from the Kansas Health Foundation, KHI is a nonprofit, nonpartisan educational organization based in Topeka.

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