Governor Jeff Colyer orders flags flown at half-staff on

Sunday, Oct. 7 in honor of National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Day

Topeka – In accordance with Executive Order 10-12, Kansas Governor Jeff Colyer has ordered flags to be flown at half-staff from sun-up to sun-down on Sunday, Oct. 7 in honor of the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Day.

“Firefighters perform acts of heroism each day, some of whom have made the ultimate sacrifice protecting our communities,” said Governor Colyer. “We owe them our gratitude, our respect, our remembrance.”

On Oct. 16, 2001, President George W. Bush approved legislation requiring the American flag to be lowered to half-staff on all federal buildings to memorialize fallen firefighters in conjunction with the annual observance of the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service held each year in Emmitsburg, Maryland.

To receive email alerts when the Governor orders flags to half-staff, please visit http://governor.ks.gov/subscribe-to-flag-honors to subscribe.

Recently-launched Count the Kicks program seeing early success

TOPEKA – More than 200 babies are stillborn each year in Kansas.

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) is committed to helping families prevent this tragedy, which according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), puts families at greater risk of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, depression, loss of productivity and makes them four times more likely to get divorced.

Governor Jeff Colyer has designated October as Stillbirth Awareness Month. The annual awareness campaign comes just after the launch of a new initiative in Kansas to prevent stillbirths, called Count the Kicks.

“We are partnering with health care providers, midwives and doulas, county health departments, birthing hospitals, community groups and others to ensure that all women know the importance of counting their baby’s movements daily in the third trimester,” said KDHE Secretary Jeff Andersen. “Throughout October KDHE and partners will be honoring Stillbirth Awareness Month by talking about our efforts to prevent loss due to stillbirth with the Count the Kicks campaign.”

Count the Kicks is a proven stillbirth prevention public health campaign that empowers expectant parents to track their baby’s movements in the third trimester and has the potential to save 60 babies every year.

The campaign encourages families to contact a physician if they notice a reduction in fetal movement, so medical attention can be sought before it’s too late.

The Kansas Count the Kicks campaign was launched in August and has proven to be impactful. More than 100 orders for materials have been submitted; more than 1,000 Kansans have visited the Count the Kicks website; more than 100 Kansans have “liked” Count the Kicks on Facebook; and more than 350 Kansas moms have downloaded the free Count the Kicks app to track movements.

Through KDHE, providers can order FREE Count the Kicks educational materials at www.countthekicks.org and start using these materials in their practices right away. Moms everywhere can download the FREE Count the Kicks app, which is available in the Google Play and iTunes online stores. The app, available in English and Spanish, allows expectant moms to monitor their babies’ movement, record the history, set a daily reminder, count for single babies and twins.

The Kansas Count the Kicks campaign is supported by KDHE with funding through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), under grant number #B04MC31488 and title Maternal and Child Health Services.

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Topeka – Kansas Governor Jeff Colyer, M.D. Thursday appointed two new members and reappointed one member to the Kansas Board of Regents. William Feuerborn, Garnett, has been reappointed, and Allen Schmidt, Hays; and Mark Hutton, Wichita will be the newest members of the Board. Each will serve a four-year term, pending Senate confirmation, expiring June 30, 2022.

“Our higher education institutions play an important role in educating the next generation, which keeps our workforce and economy strong. The Regents ensure that the future of our state remains bright and prosperous by keeping our higher education system on track to meet these long-term goals,” said Gov. Jeff Colyer. “Bill, Allen, and Mark bring a great amount of experience and talent to the board and I am excited they’ve agreed to serve our great state.”

The nine-member Kansas Board of Regents is appointed by the governor.  It is the governing board of the six state universities and the statewide coordinating board for the state’s 32 public higher education institutions (six state universities, one municipal university, 19 community colleges, and six technical colleges).

• William Feuerborn was born in Garnett, Kansas and has served on the Board of Regents since 2014. He has spent the last forty years in small business development and ranching. He also served as a State Representative in the Kansas legislature from 1994 to 2012. He received his Bachelor’s degree from Pittsburg State University.

• Allen Schmidt is a retired U.S. Army Colonel from Hays, Kansas where he works as the Director for Development Services of Northwest Kansas. Schmidt served as a State Senator in the Kansas legislature from 2011 to 2013. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Kansas, Master’s Degree in Psychology from Fort Hays State University and a Master of Science degree from the U.S. Army War College in Carlisle, PA.

• Mark Hutton is from Wichita, KS where he was the CEO of Hutton Construction Corporation. Hutton served as a State Representative in the Kansas Legislature from 2013 to 2017. He is a graduate of Kansas State University in Manhattan, where he obtained his Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering.

“I’m excited to welcome Allen and Mark to the Board and congratulate Bill on his reappointment,” said KBOR Chair Dennis Mullin. “It’s an honor to serve our fellow Kansans in this capacity. I look forward to working with our newest Regents to support families, businesses and the Kansas economy through our higher education system.”

The Board also administers the state’s student financial aid, the Kan-ed network, adult education, GED, career and technical education programs, and the state university retirement plans. In addition, members of the Board are also responsible for approving private proprietary schools and out-of-state institutions to operate in Kansas.

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Governor Colyer Organizes Statewide Coordinated Opioid Response

Dr. Greg Lakin to serve as Substance Use Disorder Central Authority

TOPEKA – In response to the estimated $30 million dollars in grants being awarded to several state agencies in Kansas from the Federal government for use in battling opioid and substance use disorders, Governor Jeff Colyer, M.D. today announced his coordinated effort to ensure those funds are targeted toward addressing the prevention and treatment of substance use disorders in Kansas.

“The timing couldn’t be better for this funding to reach our state,” said Governor Colyer. “The health of Kansans takes top priority, and with the misuse of opioids threatening the health of many in our state, I am determined that we target these grants specifically toward efforts that will hit the problem head-on and stem the tide of addiction and death from abusing opioids and other harmful substances.”

Governor Colyer has asked state agencies receiving this money to identify specific ways that it can be used toward this effort. Already, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE), and the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS) have identified several specific ways to use these new funds. (See attachments).

“Effective treatment is so important to overcoming opioid addiction,” said KDADS Secretary Tim Keck. “We are committed to working with our State and community partners to target our resources to effective programs and services for this and other substance issues.”

To keep the effort organized and centralized, Gov. Colyer has designated Dr. Greg Lakin as the State’s Central Authority on Substance Use. This action was one of the recommendations made by the Governor’s Substance Use Disorder Task Force organized by Gov. Colyer earlier this year. In this role, Lakin will be responsible for coordinating relevant State agencies and their response to substance use issues, such as the opioid epidemic. Dr. Lakin currently serves as the State’s Chief Health Officer for the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) and chaired the Governor’s Substance Use Disorder Task Force this year. He also serves on the Kansas Prescription Drug and Opioid Advisory Committee.

“We have an opportunity to help people struggling with addiction,” Dr. Lakin said. “By working together on this issue on a statewide and individual level, we will see successful outcomes. It will take the combined efforts of State agencies, stakeholders and communities. I appreciate the Governor allowing me to lead this crucial effort.”

One of Dr. Lakin’s patients shared her experience about the importance of support and coordinated services. Mandi Sims, Salina, suffered numerous injuries during a motor vehicle accident as a teenager. Following a reconstructive surgery, she was prescribed medication for the pain. She says after only a few weeks, she had developed an addiction that ultimately led to a prison sentence and the removal of her children from her care. While pregnant with her fourth child, she consulted with Dr. Lakin and believes her substance use is now behind her. Her children have since been reintegrated into her home, and she has stable employment.

“He literally saved my life,” Sims said. “I have been through so much because of addiction. I am very grateful to everyone who is dedicated to ending this epidemic. Addiction takes away so much, but with the help and support of well-intentioned and caring health professionals, you can get your life back.”

KDHE indicates that 326 Kansans died of a drug overdose in 2017, 36% involved a prescription opioid drug or substance (e.g., hydrocodone, oxycodone, fentanyl, methadone, etc), 23% involved a psychostimulant (e.g., methamphetamine), and 7% involved heroin. Although Kansas is below the national average for fatal opioid overdoses, the opioid crisis is an emerging threat that remains a challenge for the state to address, including the rise in drug overdoses due to psychostimulant drugs. Increases in opioid-related drug misuse and deaths parallel the increase in prescription and illicit opioid availability.

Learn more about substance use disorders in our state, at www.preventoverdoseks.org.