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Category Archives: Kansas
Kansas to Develop Strategy to Expand Apprenticeships for Youths
TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly today announced that Kansas has been selected to participate in the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices (NGA Center) Policy Academy to Advance Youth Apprenticeship. Through the Policy Academy, Kansas will develop a strategy to expand apprenticeship opportunities to youth ages 16 and older to help them build the skills needed for the modern workforce.
“My administration has focused on apprenticeships as a way to build the Kansas workforce in a way that is both pro-business and pro-worker,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “Now, we are furthering our efforts by developing a plan to ensure more of our high school students graduate with the skills they need to get good-paying jobs that don’t require a four-year degree.”
With Kansas’ unemployment rate at 2.8% and a surge in economic development activity that continues creating new jobs, the state is pursuing multiple avenues to build up the pipeline of prospective workers. Apprenticeship is one proven method of developing home-grown talent.
“Expanding the apprenticeship pipeline to include younger Kansans is a logical next step to support our historic growth,” Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland said. “The Kansas Office of Registered Apprenticeship is developing top-tier talent that makes it easier for businesses to invest in our rural communities.”
Youth apprenticeship is defined as a structured, work-based learning program that supports high-quality outcomes for young people and employers include:
- Paid, on-the-job learning under the supervision of skilled employee mentors
- Related classroom-based instruction
- Ongoing assessment against established skills and competency standards
- Industry-recognized credentialing and postsecondary credits
“With more than 160,000 high school students across the state, Kansas youth apprenticeship has significant potential,” said Shonda Anderson, Director of Apprenticeship and Internship for the Kansas Office of Registered Apprenticeship. “The Policy Academy will support Governor Kelly’s focus on improving employment opportunities for young adults, especially in rural parts of the state.”
The Policy Academy to Advance Youth Apprenticeship officially kicks off in Washington, D.C., in August when teams from six states convene for a day of learning and action-planning with state peers, federal leaders, and national subject matter experts.
“From my perspective, this collaboration between unions, industries and educators across multiple sectors to engage young people in Registered Apprenticeship opportunities is exciting,” John Nave, Executive Vice-President of Kansas AFL-CIO, said. “I believe this strengthens the economic prosperity in Kansas now and for generations to come.”
The Kansas team includes officials from the Governor’s Office, Kansas Office of Apprenticeship, Kansas Apprenticeship Council, Kansas Department of Education, Wichita Plumbers and Pipefitters Union, IBEW 304, Kansas AFL-CIO and other stakeholders representing education and industry. To see a list of members of the Kansas Youth Apprenticeship Collaborative, or to find out more about Youth Apprenticeship in Kansas, click here.
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KS Office of Apprenticeship Launches Initiative
MeadowLARK Grant Program to Expand Apprenticeship Opportunities in Kansas
~~Kansas Office of Apprenticeship Receives More Than $6M to Modernize and Expand State’s Registered Apprenticeships~~
TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly today announced that the Kansas Office of Apprenticeship has launched the MeadowLARK — Leading Apprenticeship Results in Kansas — Initiative to expand the state’s Registered Apprenticeship opportunities further.
“MeadowLARK is an important tool that will be used to grow the state’s skilled workforce in rural and urban communities across multiple industries – further advancing Kansas’ economic growth,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “By continuing to work together, we are fostering a brighter, more resilient, and more prosperous future for all who call the Sunflower State home.”
Funding for MeadowLARK was delivered through a State Apprenticeship Expansion Formula (SAEF) grant from the U.S. Department of Labor, which provides targeted support to state Registered Apprenticeship Programs. A total of $6,331,847 was awarded to Kansas.
The Kansas Office of Registered Apprenticeship will utilize these funds to continue revolutionizing apprenticeship in Kansas. MeadowLARK will also greatly expand the office’s efforts by developing Multi-Employer Intermediaries focusing on high-demand, high-wage occupations to meet industry needs.
“Since it was established last year, the Kansas Office of Registered Apprenticeship is making huge strides to expand the highest quality earn-and-learn opportunities across our state,” Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland said. “Through the MeadowLARK funding, the office will continue bringing together businesses, industries, labor, workforce boards, higher education systems, state departments, and other stakeholders, with one objective: Making Kansas a top 25 apprenticeship state by 2025.”
“MeadowLARK represents the latest and most significant opportunity for us to revolutionize how we develop and engage the workforce system and Multi-Employer Intermediaries.,” Shonda Anderson, Director of Apprenticeship and Internship for the Kansas Office of Registered Apprenticeship, said. “With this model, we’re able to create easier pathways for businesses to grow their own workforce.”
In addition to modernization, MeadowLARK will invest nearly $5.7 million over the next three years to advance integration efforts with local Workforce Boards across Kansas and establish Statewide and Regional Multi-Employer Intermediaries.
The Statewide Multi-Employer Intermediaries include:
- K-12 Teacher Educator Registered Apprenticeship with the Kansas Department of Education
- Justice Involved Registered Apprenticeship with local Kansas WorkforceONE
Statewide Multi-Employer Intermediaries convene and ease the development of Registered Apprenticeship programs for specific employers.
“This Registered Apprenticeship program is a critical step toward addressing the teacher shortage here in Kansas,” Kansas Commissioner of Education Dr. Randy Watson said. “These additional grant funds will help ease the financial hurdle many aspiring educators face on their way to earning a college degree and enable us to expand the program.”
Local Workforce Boards such as Kansas WorkforceONE will convene opportunities for populations with barriers to employment.
“Kansas WorkforceONE is excited about the opportunities that the MeadowLARK grant will provide us,” said Deb Scheibler, Executive Director at Kansas WorkforceONE. “We can use this to expand Apprenticeship and Pre-Apprenticeship opportunities across central and western Kansas for some of our most vulnerable populations.”
The Regional Multi-Employer Intermediaries include:
- Wichita-based health economy occupations, advanced manufacturing, and other emerging industries with Workforce Alliance
- Kansas City-based Youth Registered Apprenticeships with Workforce Partnerships
- Workforce occupations will work with Southeast KANSASWORKS
For more information about the Kansas Office of Registered Apprenticeship, click here.
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Governor Directs Agencies to Update Emergency Plans
Governor Kelly Directs State Agencies to Update Continuity of Operations Plans
TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly today announced that she has signed Executive Order 23-03, directing all executive branch state agencies to update their Continuity of Operations Plans (COOP). Having updated plans is vital in the event of natural or other emergencies that impact state agencies or degrade their ability to deliver services.
“These plans are essential to our preparedness for emergencies, so Kansans have peace of mind and confidence in our continuity of government,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “These plans serve as a guide for our agencies to coordinate and manage their essential functions and services during disruptions of normal operations.”
Agency COOPs will address essential functions, critical facilities, order of succession, delegation of authority, communications, testing, training, and exercises, among other topics. State agencies are also directed to update COOP annually and provide those updates to the Kansas Division of Emergency Management.
In her order, Governor Kelly encouraged other statewide elected officials, independent boards and commissions, the Regents Universities, and the Judicial and Legislative Branches to implement Continuity of Operations planning and to be part of state continuity preparedness discussions.
Executive Order 23-03 provides a deadline of December 31, 2023, for agencies to update their COOP.
A copy of Executive Order 23-03 can be found here.
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Evergy Rate Increase Request July 27
KCC to hold final public hearing in Evergy
rate increase request this week in Wichita
TOPEKA – Evergy customers will have one more opportunity to attend a public hearing to learn about the company’s rate increase request, ask questions and make comments before the Kansas Corporation Commission. The third and final public hearing will be held this Thursday at Wichita State University’s Lowe Auditorium at the Hughes Metropolitan Complex, 5014 SE 29th St. North, beginning at 6 p.m.
The application, filed with the KCC on April 25, requests an average monthly rate increase of $14.24 for Evergy Central customers and $3.47 for Evergy Metro customers. Commission approval is required before a regulated utility can change its rates.
For those unable to attend the hearing in person, a virtual option via Zoom is available to allow remote participants to comment. Advance registration on the KCC’s website is required for those participating by Zoom. The hearings will be broadcast on the KCC’s YouTube channel for those wanting to view the hearing without participating.
The Commission is also accepting written comments regarding the rate increase request through 5 p.m., September 29, 2023, on its website, by mail to the Commission’s Office at 1500 SW Arrowhead Rd, Topeka, KS 66604-4027 or by calling the KCC’s Office of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at 785-271-3140 or 800-662-0027.
The Evergy Central service area includes Wichita, Topeka, Lawrence, Olathe, Leavenworth, Atchison, Manhattan, Salina, Hutchinson, Emporia, Parsons, Arkansas City, El Dorado, Newton, Fort Scott, Pittsburg and Independence, among other towns and rural areas. The Every Metro service area includes Lenexa, Overland Park and other communities near the Kansas City metro area.
Hearings were previously held in Topeka on July 11 and Overland Park on July 13. Recordings of both hearings are available on the KCC’s YouTube channel.
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Dolly Parton Coming to KS
For Immediate Release: Contact: Governor Kelly to Welcome Dolly Parton to Kansas for Imagination Library of Kansas
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Virtual Job Fair to Showcase Hundreds of Available State Positions
TOPEKA – Jobseekers are encouraged to attend the upcoming State of Kansas Agencies Virtual Job Fair from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, July 26. This virtual fair, hosted by KANSASWORKS, will focus on employment opportunities available within many of the state’s 98 government agencies. Currently, there are almost 800 vacancies across the state.
“The Department of Commerce alone has 28 openings, and we want to fill these positions with skilled and professional candidates looking to secure good-paying careers with great benefits,” Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland said. “All of our agency jobs offer opportunities for individuals to make a true difference in the lives of individuals and communities by serving our great state.”
Registration is required to participate in the event, regardless of previous participation. The Virtual Job Fair portal features a jobseeker training video, a list of participating employers, and channels for attendees to register and log in. Jobseekers are encouraged to dress professionally, as employers might request to engage in a video interview.
Candidates can participate through any digital device, but it is highly recommended to use a computer to be most effective during the job fairs. If a jobseeker does not have access to a personal computer, they are available at KANSASWORKS offices as well as local libraries throughout the state. Any individual with a disability may request accommodations by contacting their nearest workforce center at (877) 509-6757 prior to the event.
To register for the July 26 State of Kansas Agencies Virtual Job Fair, click here.
About KANSASWORKS:
KANSASWORKS links businesses, job candidates and educational institutions to ensure that employers can find skilled workers. Services are provided to employers and job candidates through the state’s 27 workforce centers, online or virtual services KANSASWORKS is completely free for all Kansans to use. Learn more at KANSASWORKS.com. State employment opportunities can be found at jobs.ks.gov.
About the Kansas Department of Commerce:
As the state’s lead economic development agency, the Kansas Department of Commerce strives to empower individuals, businesses and communities to achieve prosperity in Kansas. Commerce accomplishes its mission by developing relationships with corporations, site location consultants and stakeholders in Kansas, the nation and world. Our strong partnerships allow us to help create an environment for existing Kansas businesses to grow and foster an innovative, competitive landscape for new businesses. Through Commerce’s project successes, Kansas was awarded Area Development Magazine’s prestigious Gold Shovel award in 2021, 2022 and 2023, and was awarded the 2021 and 2022 Governor’s Cup by Site Selection Magazine.
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KDADS Reopens Shared Living Program for Individuals with Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities
TOPEKA – Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS) Secretary Laura Howard announces the agency has reopened its Shared Living Program, a Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) living option for individuals with Intellectual and/or Developmental Disabilities (IDD).
“The process to re-introduce this program to Kansans with IDD has been an important one and we are grateful to and want to acknowledge those who continuously advocated for this program across the state and for those who participated in the creation of the manual,” KDADS Secretary Howard said. “Our team and our partner group has implemented best practices in our state, answered questions, developed tools, and have been vital in this program’s development.”
Shared Living is a nationally recognized model for habilitation or residential services for individuals with IDD. In Shared Living, one to two Participants share a home with a family or single adult’s family (the Contractor). The Contractor lives with the Participant and provides supports to them in accordance with the Participant’s person-centered support plan to include social activities, companionship, teaching, daily living skills, supported employment, night supports and other needs.
“Shared Living provides adults with IDD the opportunity to live in a supportive, family-like environment that promotes independence, social inclusion, and a sense of belonging,” Sunflower Health Plan’s President and CEO, Michael Stephens said. “Sunflower is proud to partner with KDADS and IDD providers to reopen this program.”
Participants in the Shared Living Program have the same rights, responsibilities, and assurances as other Participants receiving HCBS-IDD services in other settings. All services and supports will comply with KDADS licensing, Community Developmental Disabilities Organization (CDDO) quality assurance, Managed Care Organization (MCO) reviews, the Person-Centered Support Plan, and other quality assurance reviews.
KDADS has developed the standards for the Shared Living Program in collaboration with a group of licensed residential providers currently providing Shared Living services for Participants on Kansas’ HCBS-IDD Waiver. The Shared Living Manual, effective July 1, 2023, formalizes existing practices and addresses specific issues related to the HCBS-IDD residential requirements and the expansion of the Shared Living Program in Kansas. The Shared Living Manual may be amended based on public comment.
“We are excited to offer this high-quality service option to our Sunflower members and other adults with IDD across Kansas. We appreciate the knowledge and collaboration KDADS and our provider partners offer to inform the future structure of this valuable service model,” Sunflower’s Vice President of Long-term Care and External Relations, Stephanie Rasmussen, said.
KDADS expects the Shared Living Program to:
- Contribute to the development of individualized, independent daily living routines through encouragement of informed choice, creativity, and enrichment of a Participant’s life.
- Assist participants in contributing to Kansas as a community.
- Support quality homes or apartments that are integrated into our communities.
- Consistently teach new skills with evidenced-based practices.
- Foster inclusion.
- Gently and respectfully address inappropriate behavior, with an emphasis on prevention by teaching alternative behaviors through the provision of enriched environments, activities, and choices.
- Ensure that all behavioral interventions comply with state statutes to ensure the least restrictive environment possible.
- Increase a Participant’s ability to live in the least restrictive environment.
- Encourage and support the development of relationships between Participants, participant peers, families, roommates, employees, friends, coworkers, roommates, and other community members.
- Motivate participants to learn new skills and avoid behaviors that are stigmatizing or harmful.
- Comply with federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Final Rule and all local, state, federal, and Program requirements.
- Promote the need for choice, exercising autonomy, and control over one’s own services.
- Address workforce shortages without compromising quality of services and supports.
The entry timeline for the program is staggered to allow development and implementation to progress efficiently:
- July 1, 2023 – All Providers currently providing Shared Living Services can continue to do so and expand into other catchment areas. Any Residential Licensed Provider in good standing can begin the process to provide Shared Living Services.
- January 1, 2024 – New applicants can begin the process to become a Residential Licensed Provider to provide Shared Living Services. New applicants can include any new or existing agency that wishes to be become licensed for Residential Services and offer the Shared Living Program.
Any agency currently providing Shared Living or that would like to become a Shared Living Provider can contact KDADS’ IDD Licensing Manager Aaron Norris.
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Program Announced to Replace Stolen Food Assistance Benefits
TOPEKA – In response to increased reports of Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card thefts across the U.S., the Kansas Department for Children and Families (DCF) is accepting requests for replacement of the stolen Food Assistance (also known as SNAP) benefits.
“Access to healthy food is a key component of a family’s well-being,” said DCF Secretary Laura Howard. “This program will help Kansans whose benefits have been stolen recoup those resources, helping to ensure they can provide healthy, nutritious meals for their family members.”
There have been fewer than 20 reports of stolen benefits in Kansas. Nationally the numbers are higher, which prompted the signing of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 by President Joe Biden in December 2022. The act includes a provision for the replacement of stolen EBT benefits with federal funds.
Food Assistance benefits eligible for replacement include those stolen from card skimming, card cloning, and other types of fraudulent methods between Oct. 1, 2022, and Sept. 30, 2024. Cardholders have 45 calendar days from the day of the theft to make a report to DCF. If the incident occurred between Oct. 1, 2022, and July 12, 2023, a report must be made by Aug. 26, 2023.
- Skimming – A method of obtaining personal data from EBT cards while they are used at an ATM machine or POS.
- Cloning – A type of card theft in which the thief makes a digital copy of the card information using a concealed or disguised electronic scanner to create a new physical card.
- Similar Fraudulent Events – Phishing or scamming attacks by criminals to obtain EBT card numbers to clone EBT cards or conduct online transactions.
If a Kansan believes their Food Assistance benefits have been stolen, they should contact DCF at 1-888-369-4777 or by calling the Fraud Hotline at 1-800-432-3913.
The USDA Food and Nutrition Services offers the following tips to prevent the theft of benefits through fraudulent activities.
- Avoid simple PINs. Number combinations such as 1111, 1234, or 9876 may be easy for others to guess.
- Keep your PIN and card number secret. Do not share your PIN or card number with anyone outside your household. Cover the keypad when you enter your PIN on a machine.
- Beware of phishing. State agencies and EBT processors will never call or text to ask for your PIN or card number.
- Change your PIN often. Change your PIN at least once a month, right before your benefit issuance date.
- Check your EBT account regularly for unauthorized charges. If you see any, change your PIN right away to stop the thief from making new purchases. Report suspicious activity to your local SNAP office.
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KS Rail Service Improvement Projects Sought
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Kansas Housing Update
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Federal Funding to Modernize Electrical Grid Infrastructure.
Kansas Receives More than $13M to Address Electrical Grid Resilience and Reliability
TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly today announced that Kansas is receiving $13.3 million in funding to modernize electrical grid infrastructure. The investment from the U.S. Department of Energy is provided through its Grid Resilience State and Tribal Formula Grants program.
These funds, which will be administered by the Kansas Corporation Commission, will be used to promote projects that strengthen and modernize the power grid against natural disasters while advancing projects that attract, train, and retain a skilled Kansas workforce.
“Our power grid is vital to the health and well-being of Kansans,” Governor Kelly said. “This investment provides us the opportunity to continue making progress on electrical projects related to emergency preparedness and projects that modernize and strengthen our power grid.”
“By modernizing our electric grid, we are creating good-paying jobs and ensuring folks across Kansas have access to clean, affordable electricity, even during some of the extreme weather events we’ve seen lately,” said Representative Sharice Davids (KS-03). “I’m proud to have helped bring these investments home to Kansas through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which continues to make a positive impact on the lives of Kansas families and businesses.”
Kansas was one of nine states and three tribal nations to receive a combined total of $207.6 million in grants in this third round of funding.
More information about the Grid Resilience State/Tribal Formula Grant program can be found here.
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