Board members discussed a proposal from the Kansas Department of Aging and Disability Services (KDADS) and the Substance Abuse Center of Kansas (SAC) to present a plan to the board for funding a new medical detox unit in Sedgwick County.

Chris from the Attorney General’s Office introduced the proposal and said KDADS and SAC asked to present to the board about whether a responsive, targeted grant might support construction of a medical detox facility co-located with other services. “What they would like to do is come present their idea, both KDADS and SAC, to the board to suggest or see if there's an opportunity for a responsive grant making, targeted grant to help in the construction of this medical detox facility,” Chris said.

Board members, including Robin, emphasized the local need. Robin said com Care (the community behavioral health provider) has long offered social detox but lacks a medical detox unit that accepts Medicaid or uninsured patients. “They currently have they have for years had the social detox program within com Care. This would be a huge added benefit to our community,” Robin said. She added that two existing medical detox providers were for-profit and do not accept Medicaid or unfunded patients, and that patients who need medical detox often occupy emergency department or ICU beds while waiting for a placement.

Board members discussed how a targeted responsive grant could be used as a pilot to develop collaboration frameworks the board could use for other projects. A staff member described two ways to approach the request: opening a responsive grant opportunity to multiple applicants or seeking a single specific application from this project. Staff stated they are not advocating a single option, but presenting the opportunity for the board to consider.

On grants business, Krista reported RFP updates: the RFP 3 award press release has been issued; RFP 4 materials are expected to follow; letters of agreement are in process for RFP 3 awardees; combined estimated impact reports and project summaries will be posted to the portal after decisions are finalized; and 23 RFP 1 and 2 grants have completed final reports with 20 of those final payments processed and three final payments pending.

Staff also reported two previously approved applicants (numbers 39 and 40) had been approved subject to financial due diligence; staff found no financial concerns and confirmed they remain approved. The board then considered applicant 34, which had been pending clarification on whether its curriculum duplicated an existing award. Krista said the curriculum use differs: RFP 3 funding would serve adults while the RFP 4 request targets school/youth prevention, so staff concluded costs are not duplicative.

A motion to approve applicant 34 was made by Sandra and seconded by Robin. The board voted unanimously to approve applicant 34.

Why this matters: Board decisions on responsive grantmaking and RFP awards determine which local services receive state-settlement funds and shape whether the board will pursue pilot collaborations that could expand the continuum of care for people needing medical detox.

What’s next: Staff and partners plan a presentation by KDADS and SAC at the February meeting to describe the Sedgwick County medical detox plan and to answer board questions about any responsive grant proposal. Krista will post final impact reports and agreements to the board portal as they are completed.

Ending: The board concluded the meeting after approving applicant 34 and confirming prior approvals subject to due diligence had no outstanding issues.