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The 2022 Kansas Mental Health Summit was the state’s first event of its kind, building on a 2019 regional summit involving national court and justice organizations. The summit led to an administrative order requiring judicial districts to form multibranch communities of practice. These groups include representatives from courts, law enforcement, community supervision, behavioral health, and other community members. They provide a space to share experiences, develop strategies, solve problems, and improve responses to mental health issues.

Since the order, 26 of 31 districts have established or are forming communities of practice. These local groups work to address the unique needs of their communities, as strategies that work in one area may not fit another. Information from these communities helped lawmakers pass House Bill 2353 in 2024, amending the Care and Treatment Act for Mentally Ill Persons to extend treatment periods and set conditions for continued care.

The summit has grown in importance, attracting top state officials, including the governor, legislative leaders, the chief justice, and university leadership, showing strong statewide support for coordinated efforts to improve mental health responses and reduce repeated interactions with the justice system.

This year’s Kansas Mental Health Summit will be held August 26–27 at Fort Hays State University in Hays. The event is part of a national effort to strengthen how courts and communities respond to mental health challenges that lead people into the justice system.