TOPEKA – The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) announces that its Vital Statistics Office lobby will close to walk-in services due to COVID-19 effective Monday, Aug. 16. Those needing vital records can visit the KDHE website at www.kdheks.gov/vital to order via online, phone or mobile app.

To order certificates eligible for Will Call pickup, visit our website www.kdheks.gov/vital. Select the type of certificate and then complete the ordering process under the Will Call section. You will be notified by email when your certificate is ready to be picked up. Those customers using Will Call pickup should wear a mask when entering Vital Statistics.

For more information, please visit the KDHE website at www.kdheks.gov/vital.

 

TOPEKA – The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) announces that its Vital Statistics Office lobby will close to walk-in services due to COVID-19 effective Monday, Aug. 16. Those needing vital records can visit the KDHE website at www.kdheks.gov/vital to order via online, phone or mobile app.

To order certificates eligible for Will Call pickup, visit our website www.kdheks.gov/vital. Select the type of certificate and then complete the ordering process under the Will Call section. You will be notified by email when your certificate is ready to be picked up. Those customers using Will Call pickup should wear a mask when entering Vital Statistics.

For more information, please visit the KDHE website at www.kdheks.gov/vital.

 

TOPEKA – The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) and the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) has issued several public health advisories for Kansas lakes due to blue-green algae.

Active Advisories

Warning

Altamont City Lake “Idle Hour” Main Lake, Labette County

Ford County Lake, Ford County (new)

Gathering Pond at Milford, Geary County

Harvey County East Lake, Harvey County

Hargis Lake, Sumner County

Hodgeman County State Fishing Lake, Hodgeman County (new)

Jerry Ivey Pond, Saline County

Lake Afton, Sedgwick County (upgraded Aug. 12)

Lake Jeanette, Leavenworth County (new)

Marion County Lake, Marion County

Melvern Outlet Pond, Osage County

Melvern Outlet Swim Pond, Osage County

Milford Lake Zones A and C, Geary County

Neosho County State Fishing Lake, Neosho County (upgraded Aug. 12)

South Lake, Johnson County

Webster Reservoir, Rooks County

 

Watch

Brown State Fishing Lake, Brown County

Pony Creek Lake, Brown County

Milford Lake Zone B, Geary County

Altamont City Lake “Idle Hour” North Lake, Labette County

Big Hill Lake, Labette County

Parsons Lake, Labette County

Marion Reservoir, Marion County

Buhler City Lake, Reno County

Big Eleven Lake, Wyandotte County

 

Advisories Lifted 8/12/21

Overbrook City Lake, Osage County

 

When a warning is issued, KDHE recommends the following precautions be taken:

• Lake water is not safe to drink for pets or livestock.
• Lake water, regardless of blue-green algae status, should never be consumed by humans.
• Water contact should be avoided.
• Fish may be eaten if they are rinsed with clean water and only the fillet portion is consumed, while all other parts are discarded.
• Do not allow pets to eat dried algae.
• If lake water contacts skin, wash with clean water as soon as possible.
• Avoid areas of visible algae accumulation.

 

A watch means that blue-green algae have been detected and a harmful algal bloom is present or likely to develop. People are encouraged to avoid areas of algae accumulation and keep pets and livestock away from the water.

 

During the watch status, KDHE recommends the following precautions be taken:

• Signage will be posted at all public access locations.
• Water may be unsafe for humans/animals.
• Avoid areas of algae accumulation and do not let people/pets eat dried algae or drink contaminated water.
• Swimming, wading, skiing and jet skiing are discouraged near visible blooms.
• Boating and fishing are safe. However, inhalation of the spray may affect some individuals. Avoid direct contact with water, and wash with clean water after any contact.

• Clean fish well with potable water and eat fillet portion only.

 

KDHE investigates publicly-accessible bodies of water for blue-green algae when the agency receives reports of potential algae blooms in Kansas lakes. Based on credible field observation and sampling results, KDHE reports on potentially harmful conditions.

If you observe a scum or paint-like surface on the water, small floating blue-green clumps or filaments in the water, or if the water is an opaque green, avoid contact and keep pets away. These are indications that a harmful bloom may be present. Pet owners should be aware that animals that swim in or drink water affected by a harmful algal bloom or eat dried algae along the shore may become seriously ill or die.

For information on blue-green algae and reporting potential harmful algal blooms, please visit www.kdheks.gov/algae-illness/index.htm.

KDADS Reaches Agreement with Disability Rights Center of Kansas to Expand Services in Nursing Facilities for Mental Health

TOPEKA – Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS) Secretary Laura Howard announced today the agency has reached a pre-litigation agreement with the Disability Rights Center of Kansas (DRC), et al., in response to a demand letter issued last year to Secretary Howard and Kansas Department of Health and Environment Secretary Lee Norman.

In May 2019, DRC issued an investigative report on Kansas’ 10 state-funded nursing homes for mental health (NFMHs) entitled, “Stuck in Institutions: The Crisis of Mental Health Supports and Services in Kansas” that addressed the decline in state funding for community mental health services from FY 2007 – FY 2018, and the funding of institutional care in Kansas.

“KDADS, Governor Kelly and the Kansas Legislature have worked hard over the past three years to improve behavioral health services in Kansas. This agreement continues us down the path of strengthening the continuum of care for individuals needing mental health services with a focus on community-based options,” Secretary Howard said. “We are pleased to make progress for individuals residing in Kansas’ nursing facilities for mental health now and in the future.”

The report issued by DRC in 2019 was followed by a demand letter, issued June 18, 2020, alleging discrimination of persons with mental illness in violation of Title II of the American’s with Disabilities Act, Section 504 of Rehabilitation Act, the Fair Housing Act, and the Medicaid Act’s Preadmission Screening and Resident Review (PASRR) requirements. The letter was submitted by DRC on behalf of the Topeka Independent Living Resource Center (TILRC) and, as written in the letter, the “hundreds of individuals with mental illness who are needlessly institutionalized” in Kansas’ NFMHs.

DRC was joined by two national partners, The Center for Public Representation (CPR), a public interest law firm, and AARP Foundation (AFL), the charitable arm of AARP that engages in legal advocacy on behalf of vulnerable older adults across the country. Shook, Hardy & Bacon, L.L.P. served as local counsel.

The agreement reached by KDADS/KDHE and DRC/TILRC/CPR/AFL/Shook, Hardy & Bacon identifies eight Practice Improvements the state is to implement on a statewide basis over the next eight years:

• Increase the number of NFMH residents who receive specialized services;
• NFMH residents receive information and informed choice regarding community options;
• NFMH residents receive information and assistance to address barriers to community transition;
• Expand supported housing options statewide for the target population;
• Expand supported employment statewide for the target population;
• Case manager develops person-centered plan that includes specialized services and transition to the community upon admission to the NFMH;
• Increase peer support; and
• Develop Flexible Assertive Community Treatment Teams (ACT) and Mobile Crisis Intervention and Stabilization Services (MCIS) in conjunction with CMS approval of a State Plan Amendment supporting Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHC) provider types statewide.

The agreement further provides for three outcomes with targeted goals over the next five years:

• Reduction in the number of referrals for admission of at-risk populations and admissions to NFMHs by 10 percent each year;
• Reduce the number of NFMH residents by a target number each year with an average length of stay of more than six months; and
• Increase by 20 percent each year the number of residents discharged from a NFMH into community services and remain in the community for a minimum of 12 months.

Much of the funding to support the agreed upon outcomes has already been appropriated in the FY 2022 budget approved by Governor Laura Kelly.

About the Disability Rights Center
Disability Rights Center of Kansas (DRC) is the federally mandated and funded Protection and Advocacy system for the state of Kansas that is authorized to advocate for the civil and legal rights of persons with disabilities.

Public Health Advisories for Kansas Lakes Due to Blue-Green Algae

TOPEKA – The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) and the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) has issued several public health advisories for Kansas lakes due to blue-green algae.

Active Advisories

 

Warning

Gathering Pond at Milford, Geary County

Milford Lake Zones A and C, Geary County (Zone A upgraded 8/5)

Harvey County East Lake, Harvey County

South Lake, Johnson County (upgraded 8/5)

Altamont City Lake “Idle Hour” Main Lake, Labette County

Marion County Lake, Marion County

Melvern Outlet Pond, Osage County

Melvern Outlet Swim Pond, Osage County

Webster Reservoir, Rooks County

Jerry Ivey Pond, Saline County

Hargis Lake, Sumner County

 

Watch

Brown State Fishing Lake, Brown County

Pony Creek Lake, Brown County

Milford Lake Zone B, Geary County

Altamont City Lake “Idle Hour” North Lake, Labette County

Big Hill Lake, Labette County

Parsons Lake, Labette County

Marion Reservoir, Marion County

Neosho County State Fishing Lake, Neosho County (new)

Overbook City Lake, Osage County

Buhler City Lake, Reno County (new)

Lake Afton, Sedgwick County (new)

Big Eleven Lake, Wyandotte County (downgraded 8/5)

 

Advisories Lifted 8/5/21

Mission Lake Horton, Brown County

Agra City Lake, Phillips County

 

When a warning is issued, KDHE recommends the following precautions be taken:

• Lake water is not safe to drink for pets or livestock.
• Lake water, regardless of blue-green algae status, should never be consumed by humans.
• Water contact should be avoided.
• Fish may be eaten if they are rinsed with clean water and only the fillet portion is consumed, while all other parts are discarded.
• Do not allow pets to eat dried algae.
• If lake water contacts skin, wash with clean water as soon as possible.
• Avoid areas of visible algae accumulation.

A watch means that blue-green algae have been detected and a harmful algal bloom is present or likely to develop. People are encouraged to avoid areas of algae accumulation and keep pets and livestock away from the water.

During the watch status, KDHE recommends the following precautions be taken:

• Signage will be posted at all public access locations.
• Water may be unsafe for humans/animals.
• Avoid areas of algae accumulation and do not let people/pets eat dried algae or drink contaminated water.
• Swimming, wading, skiing and jet skiing are discouraged near visible blooms.
• Boating and fishing are safe. However, inhalation of the spray may affect some individuals. Avoid direct contact with water, and wash with clean water after any contact.

• Clean fish well with potable water and eat fillet portion only.

KDHE investigates publicly-accessible bodies of water for blue-green algae when the agency receives reports of potential algae blooms in Kansas lakes. Based on credible field observation and sampling results, KDHE reports on potentially harmful conditions.

Signs of a possible bloom include if there is scum, a paint-like surface or the water is bright green, avoid contact and keep pets away. These are indications that a harmful bloom may be present. Pet owners should be aware that animals that swim in or drink water affected by a harmful algal bloom or eat dried algae along the shore may become seriously ill or die.

For information on blue-green algae and reporting potential harmful algal blooms, please visit www.kdheks.gov/algae-illness/index.htm.

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TOPEKA – The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) received $250,000 per year for five years from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National Center for Injury Prevention and Control (Injury Center) to address injuries in Kansas.

The award to Kansas is part of $33 million going to 23 states over the next five years as part of the Core State Injury Prevention Program (Core SIPP), which is a new cooperative agreement funded by CDC’s Injury Center. The funds help states identify, evaluate and disseminate strategies that address populations experiencing disproportionate burden of injuries associated with adverse childhood experiences, traumatic brain injury, and transportation-related injury.

“Injury and violence prevention are top public health priorities in Kansas because injuries are preventable and often lead to disability and death, which are emotionally and financially costly,” said Daina Zolck, KDHE Director of Injury and Violence Prevention programs. “Through the Core SIPP, the Injury and Violence Prevention programs will champion a shared approach to work more effectively and in an upstream manner to determine why injuries and violence are occurring in our state and how we can address the underlying root causes.”

Through a competitive application process, CDC selected the following 23 states to receive Base Component funding: Alaska, California, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and Washington.

The work Kansas will be doing to address these important public health problems includes focus on robust injury data and surveillance, partnerships and collaboration, and continuous assessment and evaluation for quality improvement. Core SIPP will support evidence-based and evidence-informed programming for Adverse Childhood Experiences, Traumatic Brain Injury and Motor Vehicle Crashes as well as youth suicide.

This work will help Kansas identify and respond to existing and emerging injury threats with data-driven public health actions. To learn more about Kansas’ injury prevention activities, visit Kansas Department of Health and Environment: Injury & Violence Prevention Programs. To learn more about Core SIPP, visit www.cdc.gov/injury/stateprograms/coresipp/index.html.

Governor Laura Kelly Announces July Tax Receipts

TOPEKA – Today, Governor Laura Kelly announced Kansas’ July tax receipts. In total, Kansas’ State General Fund saw its total tax receipts for July perform $60.0 million, or 11.0%, better than the estimate with $602.6 million collected. Comparing this July’s total tax receipts to the previous July’s would not be a meaningful comparison as last July included receipts from tax returns from the extended filing period.

“Our July tax collection numbers are encouraging, but we must maintain fiscally-responsible policies to ensure our continued growth,” said Governor Laura Kelly.

Individual income tax receipts were $20.8 million, or 8.9%, more than the estimate with $255.8 million collected. Corporate income tax collections were $34.2 million. That is $19.2 million, or 8.9%, more than the estimate.

Retail sales tax collections were up $11.6 million, or 5.2%, for the month with $233.6 million collected. That is $15.0 million, or 6.9%, more than the previous July. Compensating use tax collections were $4.3 million, or 7.8%, more than the estimate with $59.3 million collected. That is 17.8%, or $9.0 million, more than last July.

“Consumer spending on goods and services has not slowed down,” Revenue Secretary Mark Burghart said. “Combined sales and use tax receipts at $292.9 million were 8.9% above July 2020 and 20.3% above pre-pandemic July 2019. Our economists are watching closely to determine if the spread of the COVID-19 Delta variant will impact what has been a strong economic recovery in Kansas.”

To view the entire report, click here.