Kansas 1 of 10 “Core” States Selected to Participate in Initiative to Expand Employment Opportunities for People with Disabilities

TOPEKA – Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS) Secretary Laura Howard announced today that Kansas is 1 of only 10 states and the District of Columbia selected by the U.S Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) to participate as a “core state” for its National Expansion of Employment Opportunities Network initiative (NEON).

NEON is a technical assistance initiative that advances collaboration with national provider organizations (NPOs) to develop strategic plans for increasing competitive integrated employment (CIE) opportunities for the individuals they serve, including those with significant disabilities and those who have faced barriers to employment. Until now, NEON has focused primarily on advancing CIE by offering national provider organizations technical assistance from recognized subject matter experts and support for local provider organizations. By expanding participation to core states, NEON seeks to focus on promoting positive changes in state-level policies and systems.

“KDADS is honored to be selected as a participant in this initiative designed to make employment a reality for more people with disabilities,” KDADS Secretary Howard said. “We are committed to making competitive, integrated employment a priority and implementing a strategic plan that supports effective practices and promotes healthier workplace equality.”

Competitive integrated employment (CIE) is defined by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) as work that is performed on a full-time or part-time basis for which an individual is:

• Compensated at or above minimum wage and comparable to the customary rate paid by the employer to employees without disabilities performing similar duties and with similar training and experience;
• Receiving the same level of benefits provided to other employees without disabilities in similar positions;
• At a location where the employee interacts with other individuals without disabilities; and
• Presented opportunities for advancement similar to other employees without disabilities in similar positions.

Kansas’s participation in this initiative will help KDADS connect to consulting, capacity building support and ongoing mentoring as we seek to increase CIE for individuals with disabilities in the state.

Kansas has been designated to receive 100 hours of technical assistance from subject matter experts to be used by August 31, 2023, based on the state’s goals and needs with additional hours available as needed and approved by ODEP. This can include blending, braiding, and sequencing of funding, strategic planning, and data collection and analysis. KDADS will begin holding monthly stakeholder meetings to gather input.

Expectations for core states as set forth by NEON include a scope of work that includes the opportunity to work with a maximum of four subject matter experts (SMEs) who will provide virtual and onsite training, technical assistance and policy consulting to include:

• One-on-One (1:1) Policy Consulting: Individualized support in accomplishing 1-3 policy-specific outcomes to assist the state in developing or implementing technical assistance objectives with the alignment of policies, practices, and funding to support the state’s initiative to enact Employment First principles, assist providers in transforming their business model, and advance NEON’s National Plan to Increase CIE.
• Capacity Building Assistance/Training in Effective Practices: A combination of in-person and virtual capacity building assistance and training which will result in the accomplishment of 2-5 major outcomes that align with ODEP’s Criteria for Performance Excellence in Employment First State Systems Change and Provider Transformation.

In addition to the policy support described above, each NEON Core State will also have access to and be expected to engage in all ODEP’s National Employment First Community of Practice (CoP) activities, including but not limited to: monthly training webinars, a virtual policy platform, national inventory of resources to help providers achieve increased CIE, and timely updates from Federal officials on new policy developments and funding opportunities to support state NEON efforts.

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PRATT – The 2023 Kansas Birding Big Year Contest, hosted by the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP), is officially underway! Participation is simple; record the number of unique bird species you see in Kansas from Jan. 1-Dec. 31, 2023 and submit your findings. You just might end up a 2023 Kansas Birding Big Year winner!

Participants of all skill levels are invited to compete in one of three age groups: Youth (age 17 and younger), adult (ages 18-64), or senior (age 65 and older). The winners from each category will receive prizes to be awarded in January 2024.

Participation Guidelines

1. Participants must register online at ksoutdoors.com/Services/Wildlife-Diversity/2023-Kansas-Birding-Big-Year on or before April 1 to participate in the 2023 contest.
2. Participants must read and abide by the set of rules governing the competition. These rules are adapted from the American Birding Association Recording Rules and Interpretations and include the Code of Birding Ethics. Breaking, or disregard for, these rules will result in disqualification.
3. Participants must log their data into the online service, eBird, available on the Cornell University website, ebird.org. Each participant must create an individual profile, sign-in and password to begin submitting sightings.
4. Participants must submit a running total list of observed species quarterly to the program coordinator to track progress and provide quality control. The program coordinator and competition committee have final say on list totals. Quarterly submission dates for the 2023 contest are: June 30, September 30 and December 31.

Winners will be recognized, and prizes awarded, in mid-January of the following calendar year. Award categories are as follows: Youth, Adult Novice, Adult Intermediate, Adult Advanced, and Senior.

The 2022 Kansas Birding Big Year Contest wrapped up in December 2022, with youth participant Franklin Miller claiming the title of “Kansas’ Top Birder” after identifying 322 unique bird species in the state last year.

The top winners from 2022 in each category are listed below.

Adult, Advanced

1. Malcolm Gold – 315*
2. Mark Nolen – 304*
3. Jeff Calhoun – 250*
4. Dan Broers – 246
5. Chad Gardner – 228

Adult, Intermediate

1. Seth Miller – 290*
2. Juan Avena – 275*
3. Corey Entriken – 267*
4. Melissa Bruce – 265*
5. Kelli Egbert – 219

Adult, Novice

1. Ann Tanner – 183
2. Krystal Sarcone – 83
3. Timothy Tarkelly – 79

Youth

1. Franklin Miller – 322*
2. Hezekiah Swihart – 192
3. Michaela Gold – 166
4. Danielle Gold – 143

Senior 

1. Henry Armknecht – 289*
2. Sue Newland – 270*
3. Dan Larson – 215
4. Marie Plinsky – 206
5. William Simon – 140

An asterisk (*) denotes a Top 10 Overall score.

Sponsors of the 2022 Kansas Big Birding Year contest include: City of Great Bend Convention and Visitors Bureau, The Kansas Wetlands Education Center, Acorn Naturalists, The Kansas Ornithological Society, Dr. Robert Penner, and KDWP.

For more on the Kansas Birding Big Year, visit ksoutdoors.com/services/Wildlife-Diversity/2023-Kansas-Birding-Big-Year.

Governor Kelly Announces $4 Million Planning Grant to Advance Statewide
Early Childhood System

TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly announced today that the Kansas Children’s Cabinet and Trust Fund has been awarded a $4 million 2023 Preschool Development Birth through Five Planning Grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Children and Families. The grant will support the state’s ongoing efforts to bolster the early childhood workforce, support the physical and emotional well-being of our children, and ensure we design an early childhood system that meets the needs of all Kansas families.

“We know that a child’s development from birth to five years of age is vital to their trajectory in education and in life,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “This funding will allow us to plan and build upon initiatives that strengthen our integrated early childhood system, with a special focus on ensuring our most vulnerable children are prepared for kindergarten.”

The grant will support:

• A study on how to better coordinate the state’s delivery of early childhood services to create a more streamlined system that is easy for all families to navigate, especially low-income and vulnerable populations.
• Exploration of a service delivery model that empowers families to be part of designing a responsive early childhood care and education system and holding the system accountable.
• Strengthening the early childhood sector’s workforce recruitment and growth.
• Exploration of a compensation reform plan based on the true cost of care, market conditions, and the economic growth Kansas is experiencing.

“As a recipient of federal funding in 2018 and a three-year renewal grant in 2020, Kansas has amplified and expanded a continuum of services and supports to better meet the needs of Kansas children and their families,” Melissa Rooker, Executive Director of the Kansas Children’s Cabinet, said. “We are excited to receive this new award which will allow us to take stock of our progress and design a future that ensures all Kansas children can thrive,”

To learn more about the progress of Kansas initiatives supported by this grant, visit kschildrenscabinet.org.

Governor Kelly Receives 2022 

Governor’s Council on Education Annual Report

TOPEKA – Today, Governor Laura Kelly received the Governor’s Council on Education’s annual report, which includes a set of recommendations intended to improve educational outcomes for all Kansas students through increased collaboration between the business and education sectors. The Council’s recommended improvements are aimed at advancing early childhood education, increasing opportunities for workforce-bound high schoolers, improving post-secondary transitions for our students, and increasing coordination for technical education.

“I established the Council on Education not only because I believe that educating our children is one of the most important obligations of our elected leaders, but also because it’s one of the best economic investments we can make as a state,” said Governor Laura Kelly. “I’m proud of the work the Council has done these last four years searching for innovative ways to provide for our students, and I look forward to addressing their recommendations to ensure Kansas students have access to the best education in the country.”

The bipartisan group of stakeholders and policy experts spent 2022 traveling across the state to hear directly from educators and businesses about the most pressing issues shaping education in Kansas. Governor Kelly established the Governor’s Council on Education in 2019 to bring together education and business leaders to realize a shared vision of increased prosperity and look for ways to enhance early childhood education and develop partnerships to address workforce needs in Kansas.

“We are grateful to Governor Kelly for the opportunity to learn from and with extraordinary leaders who represent educators and businesses across Kansas. We are confident that the Council’s work will strengthen our state by aligning education with business and creating opportunities for all Kansans,” said Dr. Cynthia Lane and Dr. Fred Dierksen, Co-Chairs of Governor Kelly’s Council on Education.

The Council’s report can be found here.

Kansas Issues Fish Consumption Advisories for 2023

TOPEKA – The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) and the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) are issuing fish consumption advisories for 2023. The advisories identify types of fish or other aquatic animals that should be eaten in limited quantities or, in some cases, avoided altogether because of contamination. General advice and internet resources are provided to aid the public in making informed decisions regarding the benefits and the risks associated with eating locally caught fish from Kansas waters.

Definitions: 

Bottom-feeding fish: buffaloes, carps, catfishes, sturgeons and suckers.

Shellfish: mussels, clams and crayfish.

Serving size (skinless fish fillets before cooking):

• Adults and children age 13 and older = 8 ounces
• Children age 6 to 12 = 4 ounces
• Children younger than 6 = 2 ounces

Statewide Mercury Advisories for Fish:

Getting outside to catch fish and eating fish has many health benefits, but all fish contain some amount of mercury. Anyone who routinely eats fish or serves fish to their children should carefully consider the types and amounts they eat, including store-bought fish. Too much dietary mercury can harm the development of fetuses, nursing babies and growing children. Therefore, mercury-sensitive individuals (women who are pregnant, nursing, or may become pregnant, and children younger than 17 years old) should follow the guidelines presented below for eating fish caught in Kansas.

Fishing and Eating Guidelines:

• Eat smaller portions – a fillet about the size of your palm.
• Eat types of fish with less mercury (Preferred Choice Fish in the chart below).
• If you don’t know the type or size of fish you are eating, wait at least a week before eating fish again.
• When fishing, keep fish shorter than your forearm (fingertips to elbow) or less than 20 inches as regulations allow.

Reduce the recommendations above if you tend to keep fish larger than about 20 inches to:

• Preferred Choice Fish – not more than 1 serving per week
• Second Choice Fish – not more than 1 serving per month

For specific questions or concerns about mercury in Kansas fish, please contact KDHE. For information about mercury in fish caught in other states, in store bought fish, and in other types seafood please visit the U.S. EPA and U.S. FDA websites.

Waterbody specific advisories for all consumers:

Kansas recommends restricting consumption of bottom-feeding fish and catfishes to 1 serving per week from the following locations because of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs):

• Cow Creek in Hutchinson and downstream to the confluence with the Arkansas River (Reno County).
• Kansas River from Lawrence (below Bowersock Dam) downstream to Eudora at the confluence of the Wakarusa River (Douglas and Leavenworth counties).
• Little Arkansas River from the Main Street Bridge immediately west of Valley Center to the confluence with the Arkansas River in Wichita (Sedgwick County).

Kansas recommends restricting consumption of bottom-feeding fish and catfishes to 1 serving per month from the following location because of PCBs:

• K-96 Lake in Wichita (Sedgwick County).

Kansas recommends not eating specified fish or aquatic life from the following locations:

• Arkansas River from the Lincoln Street dam in Wichita downstream to the confluence with Cowskin Creek near Belle Plaine (Sedgwick and Sumner counties); bottom-feeding fish and catfishes due to PCBs.
• Shoal Creek from the Missouri/Kansas border to Empire Lake (Cherokee County); shellfish due to lead and cadmium.
• Spring River from the confluence of Center Creek to the Kansas/Oklahoma border (Cherokee County); shellfish due to lead and cadmium.
• Antioch Park Lake South in Antioch Park, Overland Park (Johnson County); all fish due to pesticides dieldrin, heptachlor epoxide, chlordane and dichlorophenyltrichloroethanes (DDTs).
• Arkalon Park Lakes in Liberal (Seward County) – Kansas recommends not eating any aquatic life because the lakes are sustained solely by treated municipal wastewater.

Waterbodies affected by Harmful Algae Blooms

To date, measured algal toxin levels in fish samples collected from waters affected by harmful algal blooms (HABs) suggest the fish are safe to eat.  However, please take the following precautions:

• Avoid skin contact with water.
• Wear gloves when handling wet fish and equipment.
• Rinse fish with clean water.
• Remove skin from fillets and rinse with clean water prior to cooking or freezing.
• Eat only skinless fillets.
• Do not eat shellfish.

General advice for reducing exposure to chemicals in fish

• Keep smaller fish to eat and let the big ones go.

• Avoid eating fish parts other than fillets.
• Trim fat from fillets and/or use cooking methods that allows fat to drip away.
• Avoid subsistence fishing (relying on wild-caught fish for daily nutritional needs) in rivers within or immediately downstream of large urban/industrial areas.
• Do not eat fish or aquatic life from wastewater outfalls, waste treatment lagoons or stormwater retention ponds.

Other information from KDHE, KDWPT, EPA, and the American Heart Association

To view the advisories online and for information about KDHE’s Fish Tissue Contaminant Monitoring Program please visit the website at http://www.kdhe.ks.gov/1268.

For information about fishing in Kansas including licensing, regulations, fishing reports and fishing forecasts please visit the KDWPT fishing website http://ksoutdoors.com/Fishing.

For information about the health benefits vs. the risks of including fish in your diet please visit this American Heart Association website https://www.heart.org/en/news/2018/05/25/eating-fish-twice-a-week-reduces-heart-stroke-risk.

For technical information regarding the U.S. EPA risk assessment methods used to determine advisory consumption limits please visit http://www2.epa.gov/fish-tech.

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