The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has announced the second round of funding for the Drug Endangered Children in Kansas (DECK) program. Following the initial funding awarded to 18 communities in October 2023, the latest round brings the total number of DECK grantees to 29 statewide, with a combined funding of $3 million. This initiative is supported by a grant from the U.S. Department of Justice.
Drug endangered children are those at risk of physical, mental, or emotional harm due to substance misuse by a parent or caregiver. These children may also face challenges if a caretaker’s substance use hinders their ability to provide a safe and nurturing environment.
Currently, an estimated 165,847 children in Kansas live in homes where a parent or caregiver uses substances, and around 3,781 infants are born each year exposed to substances. The DECK program aims to reduce the number of children living in such environments by enhancing the identification and response to their needs.
Organizations that will receive funding include:
- Central Kansas Partnership — $50,000 ($130,000 previous award) (Rice and Barton Counties)
- Clay County Health Department — $50,000 ($106,000 previous award)
- Franklin County Health Department — $55,100 award
- Harvey County Health Department — $50,00 award ($130,000 previous)
- High Point Advocacy and Resource Center Inc. — $95,500 award (Cheyenne, Decatur, Grove, Logan, Rawlins, Sheridan, Sherman, Thomas and Wallace counties)
- IMPACT Ulysses Inc. — $90,499.04 award (Grant County)
- Jefferson County Health Department — $94,007.50 award
- Jewell County Health Department — $86,000 award
- Johnson County Mental Health Center — $89,200 award
- Kansas City Kansas Police Department — $86,000 award
- Liberal Area Coalition for Families — $50,000 award ($124,000 previous) (Seward County)
- McPherson County Health Department — $96,400 award
- Miami County Health Department — $50,000 award ($130,000 previous)
- Mitchell County Regional Medical Foundation — $50,000 award ($116,000 previous)
- Project DREAM Inc. — $99,989.84 award (Ellis County)
- Quality of Life Coalition, Inc. — $100,000 award (Dickinson County)
- Riley County Health Department — $25,957.43 award ($130,000 previous)
- Rise Up Reno Prevention Network — $50,000 award ($122,000 previous)
- Sedgwick County KS Alliance for Drug Endangered Children — $99,968.25 award
