Kansas Agencies Co-locate to Improve Stakeholder Experience
Kansas Department for Children and Families Secretary Laura Howard and Kansas Department of Health and Environment Secretary Lee Norman, M.D. today announced a new partnership designed to improve efficiencies and expand the reach of both agencies.
KDHE eligibility employees will now be co-located in 17 DCF offices across the state to foster collaboration around the KanCare application process for the elderly and people with disabilities.
“I’ve always believed that our DCF offices can be an important connection point for Kansans who need services,” Howard said. “This new partnership is a first step in providing a more efficient experience for those who need assistance with the complicated KanCare application process.”
“As an agency, we are continually looking for opportunities to collaborate and improve the stakeholder experience,” Norman said. “By co-locating, we are making good use of existing state office space and extending our reach across the state.”
Elderly and disabled KanCare applications are among the most complex. For many years, processing of these applications has been privatized. The process is now brought back in to KDHE. Under the new partnership, KDHE employees will initially spend most of their time processing Home and Community Based Service applications.
They also will be available to work with DCF staff on complicated cases. Once the full transition is complete in mid-2020, it is expected that KDHE staff will be able to meet face to face with Kansans who need help navigating the KanCare application process.
“I believe this collaboration with DCF will result in positive outcomes for Kansans,” Norman said.
KDHE employees will move into the Hays and Wichita offices the week of July 22. Other offices that will have KDHE employees include:
- Kansas City and Overland Park in August
- Emporia, Great Bend and Newton in September
- Manhattan and Pittsburg in October
- Atchison, Chanute and Salina in November
- Dodge City, Garden City, Hutchinson and Liberal in December
- Independence in Jan. 2020
As more KDHE staff are hired, the agencies plan to expand to other DCF offices that have available space.
“I’ve heard first hand from our workers how excited they are to have KDHE staff in the same office,” Howard said. “We know is this is an important step in helping Kansans connect with services that are vital to their well-being.”