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Local counseling center seeks $30,000 from county to expand mobile crisis response
Summary
The Center for Counseling & Consultation asked Pawnee County for $30,000 in 2027 funding, citing rising liability insurance costs and a new 24/7 mobile crisis response team; the group reported a 33% increase in Pawnee County clients in 2025.
Wendy Lockwood, executive director of The Center for Counseling & Consultation, asked the Pawnee County Board of Commissioners for $30,000 in 2027 funding, attributing part of the request to rising liability insurance costs. Lockwood said the organization added a mobile crisis response service this year that is available 24/7; teams of two staff can go on-site to people in crisis to try to avoid hospital emergency-room visits or jail.
Lockwood told Commissioners Pawnee County has seen a 33% increase in clients. Kevin Ford, a substance abuse counselor with the Center, provided updates about local substance issues including products such as '7-oh' and kratom, and said 7-oh is mostly sold in vapor shops and will become illegal July 1, 2026. The Center reported it has 130 employees, with about 60 providing services in Pawnee County and nine living in Larned; the nonprofit said it is seeking additional space to meet demand.
