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Leawood approves Human Services Fund awards and joins $385,000 substance-abuse continuum of care fund
Summary
Leawood’s governing body unanimously approved United Community Services’ Human Services Fund recommendations and voted to participate in a $385,000 2026 substance-abuse continuum of care fund, including $320,000 from the special-alcohol fund and $65,000 from opioid-settlement funds.
Leawood’s governing body unanimously approved a slate of Human Services Fund grants and voted to participate in a 2026 substance-abuse continuum of care fund totaling $385,000.
Council Member Phyllis Harrison asked why the Salvation Army’s award was reduced from $25,000 in prior years to $10,000. The United Community Services representative, identified in the meeting as Miss Reyes, said the grant-review committee reduced the award because “their application and quality of application was slightly impacted, as well as they have had staffing transitions throughout this year,” and the committee “decided to go ahead and do a reduction to also ensure that they continue to be accountable, and continue to make sure that they are compliant with all of the requirements as a guarantee for the HSF.”
Miss Harrison said she appreciated the explanation and asked the council to consider coaching agencies that are the only local provider of a service so they can strengthen future applications.
On the substance-abuse continuum of care fund, staff told council the $385,000 participation includes $320,000 from the special-alcohol fund and $65,000 from opioid-settlement distributions. Council Member Sippel asked whether special-alcohol revenues are transferred regularly; staff replied those funds come from the state and are transferred quarterly and that the city typically pays UCS once annually after invoicing. Staff also explained opioid-settlement distributions arrive irregularly and will decline over time; payments made this year will come from existing fund balance.
Council voted to approve both the UCS recommendation report and the city’s participation in the substance-abuse continuum fund by unanimous voice votes.
Next steps: UCS will proceed with grant disbursements under the approved recommendations and the city will pay its UCS invoice early in the calendar year as described by staff.
