By: Elexis Bates
For three years, the Clay Counts Coalition has been the recipient of funding through the Drug Endangered Children in Kansas (DECK) program, provided by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) Grant. This funding has helped bring the Timbi Kit to children, which includes a stuffed tiger named Timbi, a comforting storybook, and a coloring book, offering kids something to cling to in uncertain times. For many children who may not fully understand why they are being separated from their families, the story of Timbi the Tiger provides an emotional lifeline. Through Timbi’s perspective, children learn to recognize difficult feelings and manage chronic stress through movement and healthy coping mechanisms.
As of 2024, Community Mobilizer Lori Martin shared that 35,000 kids in Kansas are considered drug-endangered, and the DECK program has made strides in offering both comfort and educational tools for those children and their parents. The Timbi Kits are available at local emergency rooms, police and sheriff departments, and school counselors’ offices in Clay County. Martin said hosting kits in these locations allow kids to receive a Timbi when they need them most.
“When kids have to be taken into protective custody, we have to keep them here for so many hours before we can find a placement for them,” said Chief of Police, Bill Robinson. “This is traumatic and scary for those kids. When I give [Timbi Kits] away, I can tell it helps them calm down and it keeps them occupied.”
After children are placed in the care of a relative or fostered, they require more resources because they often arrive in protective custody with nothing but the clothes on their backs.
The Red Backpack initiative provides everything from stuffed animals to essentials like socks, underwear, and blankets for children moving to a new home. Local businesses and families are encouraged to donate items to fill the Red Backpacks, which are then distributed to rehomed children in need. These efforts create a community-wide network of support that reflects Martin’s commitment to her work, saying, “I’ve been really grateful to have the opportunity to still impact the community in a positive way.”
Martin says children often arrive without shoes on their feet when they are taken into protective custody, so they have the greatest need for sweatsuits and Crocs. Donations are accepted at the Clay County Health Department.
