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Trauma, domestic violence and care centers warn commissioners of operational shortfalls
Summary
Leaders of the county’s trauma and abuse care center and other care providers told the board they face depleted reserves and rising costs; the Trauma and Abuse Care Center said it may not survive without county stability funding, while the Willow sought one-time help for higher health insurance premiums.
Leaders of several county-funded care providers told Douglas County commissioners on July 9 that rising operating costs and depleted reserves are creating instability for services that serve vulnerable residents.
Sarah Berry, executive director of the Trauma and Abuse Care Center, told the board she inherited the center with essentially no reserve and has struggled to build stability through fundraising. "If the county doesn't help us to establish stability, I fear that the care center is going to be not wobbly, but maybe a thing of the past," Berry said, noting the center’s 50-plus year history.
Jill Dudley summarized other partner requests: the Willow Domestic Violence Center asked for one-time support to cover increased health insurance premiums; the STA Care Center requested ongoing operational funding and resources to support fund development given a small reserve and difficult fundraising conditions in Lawrence.
Commissioners questioned partners about steps taken to diversify funding and maintain services. Berry and other partners described gala events, newsletters and donor outreach as part of a stabilization strategy but said those efforts have produced slow progress and that some funding streams (including major grants) have been delayed. Commissioners pressed partners to supply more detailed reserve figures and to explain any available restricted vs. unrestricted funds.
Visiting Nurse Association leadership clarified fund structure when asked: the organization reported roughly $7 million in an operational fund and an additional restricted fund with about $5 million that is not available for day-to-day operations. Cottonwood Incorporated explained a large one-time Employee Retention Credit (ERC) payment from pandemic-era claims bolstered its reserves; that ERC award was applied as a replacement for 2021 losses and was split across 2025–26 receipts.
Commissioners requested follow-up materials with detailed fund balances and further explanation of which dollars are restricted, which are available for operations, and the timeline for any expected external grants. No formal funding decisions were made during this session.
