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Sedgwick County’s new human services director emphasizes homelessness, behavioral health and support for older residents
Summary
Anna Meyerhoff, the recently appointed Division Director of Human Services, told Commissioner Jeff Bluebaugh the division will focus on homelessness, behavioral and mental health supports, and programs to help older residents stay housed; she described the division’s structure and funding mix.
Anna Meyerhoff, who said she has been Sedgwick County’s Division Director of Human Services for about four to five weeks, told Commissioner Jeff Bluebaugh that her immediate priorities include addressing homelessness, expanding behavioral health services and supporting aging residents to remain in their homes.
Meyerhoff described Human Services as encompassing three main units: Comcare, the county’s behavioral health organization; the Health Department; and the Department of Aging and Disabilities, which includes the county’s Area Agency on Aging (referred to in the interview as CP AAA) and the CDDO (the county’s Developmental Disability Organization). “A lot of what happens here at the county is not just property tax dollars,” she said, explaining that the departments rely on a mix of state and federal grants and Medicaid revenue passed from the federal government through the state to the county.
Why it matters: Local governments often act as coordinators of services rather than sole funders. Meyerhoff emphasized the county’s role in identifying where its existing programs fit into broader community efforts and in supporting partner organizations and the city where appropriate.
On homelessness, both speakers linked the issue tightly to behavioral health. Commissioner Jeff Bluebaugh characterized the problems as connected, saying homelessness and mental health “go in hand in hand.” Meyerhoff said the county provides behavioral health services in local shelters through contracted positions and has community liaisons working in the field to connect people to resources. She also noted that older adults are an increasing share of people experiencing homelessness in the county, which brings aging services into the response.
Meyerhoff outlined aging-focused supports aimed at housing stability: eviction intervention, home repairs and cleanups designed to help residents on fixed incomes keep their homes. She said these programs are part of the county’s broader effort to preserve housing for vulnerable older residents.
Background and experience: Meyerhoff said she has worked for Sedgwick County for about 15 years across multiple roles, including time at the Health Department in public health emergency preparedness, an administrative role at the regional forensic science center, director of central services and most recently deputy chief human resources officer. She described the county organization as collaborative and praised the internal coordination among departments.
The interview concluded with an invitation to contact the office via county email for follow-up. Meyerhoff also shared a brief personal detail: she works the New York Times crossword regularly.
The county did not announce new funding allocations or formal policy changes during the interview; the discussion focused on priorities, existing programs and interdepartmental roles. For more details or to follow up, Meyerhoff indicated she can be reached by county email.
