The Mental Health Task Force was established by the 2017 Kansas Legislature. The Task Force was comprised of 11 legislatively appointed members that included behavioral health providers, advocacy organizations, citizens with lived experience and other behavioral health experts. In addition, meeting attendees included several Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS) staff members and a representative from the Kansas Legislative Research Department (KLRD). The Task Force, which met eight times to review, discuss and make recommendations related to seven topics, prioritized for action 26 recommendations to strengthen and improve the behavioral health system in Kansas.
The Task Force was reauthorized by the 2018 Kansas Legislature and charged with developing a strategic plan addressing the recommendations of the 2018 report and also determining how many inpatient psychiatric beds are needed to most effectively deliver mental health services in Kansas. The Task Force was comprised of 13 members in 2018.
The Kansas Health Institute provided process facilitation, research and technical support for the Mental Health Task Force.
*Note: These links lead to the KDADS website.