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SOS requests $3,500 from Chase County to support shelter, CASA and advocacy services
Summary
SOS (a regional victim-services nonprofit) asked Chase County for a repeat allocation of $3,500 to support crisis services, shelter beds, CASA volunteers, visitation/exchange center, and a child advocacy center that serves Chase County residents.
Representatives from SOS, a regional nonprofit providing crisis and children's services, presented to the Chase County Commissioners on June 9 and requested the same $3,500 county allocation the board provided in 2024.
Nikki Edwards, identified as SOS executive director, described four program areas: crisis services (domestic violence, sexual assault, trafficking, stalking), a shelter with six bedrooms that can host up to 60 days per household, CASA (court-appointed special advocates) volunteers that serve the fifth judicial district (Lyon and Chase Counties), a visitation/exchange center for supervised family visits, and a child advocacy center that conducts forensic interviews and supports prosecution while minimizing repeated interviews for child victims. Edwards said SOS has bilingual staff and consolidated many services under one roof to improve access.
Edwards asked commissioners to continue their $3,500 annual allocation; commissioners indicated they will consider the request as part of the ongoing budget process and thanked SOS for its services. No formal vote or allocation was made on June 9.
Program details provided - Shelter: up to six bedrooms; recent periods of high shelter occupancy reported. - CASA: volunteers trained and supervised by SOS serve children through case conclusion in the fifth judicial district (Lyon and Chase Counties). - Visitation/exchange center and child advocacy center: services described as child-friendly alternatives to courthouse or sheriff’s-office supervised exchanges; no safety incidents reported at the visitation center since opening.
SOS representatives offered to return with questions or additional details; commissioners said budget planning will determine whether the requested amount is included in the FY 2026 county budget.
