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Vol. 1, Issue 7
September 2017
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Neighbors,
It’s hard to believe that autumn is upon us! Things are busy at the county and there is much happening in District 2. I’m sure you are aware of the water contamination issue in the Haysville area. The county has been working with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment to make sure Haysville residents and the residents of Salem Township have all of the resources they need to get hooked up to Haysville water as soon as possible. While this is a terrible situation it is wonderful to see all the levels of government working together to mitigate this problem.
I was able to tour the new Law Enforcement Training Facility with Commissioner Howell last week – what a tremendous asset this will be to the safety of our community and our awesome women and men in uniform. It’s also great to see the relationship between Sedgwick County and the city of Wichita strengthen so we can both achieve our goals of protecting our citizens.
Finally, I’d like to thank Ms. Marilyn Cook, the director of Comcare, for her decades of service to the citizens of Sedgwick County as she will retire at the end of the month. Mental health is an enormous problem across our nation and Sedgwick County has one of the best treatment programs in the country because of the efforts of Marilyn and her excellent staff!
As always, it’s a privilege to represent you on the commission. Please reach out to me if I can ever be of assistance.
For Sedgwick County,
Michael O’Donnell
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How to Prepare for Disasters
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After witnessing the destruction of Mother Nature in Texas, Alabama, and Florida, it is fitting that September is National Preparedness Month. Sedgwick County Emergency Management recommends following some basic steps to ensure that you, your family, and your pets survive in the event of a disaster.
Make a Plan
- Involve your family members in developing a plan, then remember to post the plan somewhere everyone can see the details. Discuss the dangers of fire, severe weather, hazardous materials spills, floods and other emergencies. Talk about the ways in which you will respond to each situation. Identify two ways out of each room in your home. Talk about where your family will meet if you have to evacuate. Teach children how and when to call 9-1-1.
Build a Disaster Kit
– This kit should include a three day supply of food and water for every family member, a complete change of clothes and footwear for each person, battery operated/ non-electronic tools and supplies, and a first aid kit. Include copies of your important documents like birth certificates, social security cards, and insurance information. Don’t forget about your pets and their needs!
Stay Informed
– In emergency situations such as severe weather, flooding, and other disasters, Sedgwick County Emergency Management will be able to report information and developments to the Emergency Operations Center (EOC). This information will be posted to the
Emergency Log
. NOAA Weather Radio, local television and radio stations, and social media are other methods to help you stay informed. Be sure to like and follow Sedgwick County to get up to date information about local government and emergencies in our area!
More details about emergency preparedness can be found on our
website
.
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County Raises Suicide Prevention Awareness
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Following a recent proclamation declaring September 11 to 15 as Suicide Prevention Week in Sedgwick County, commissioners received a
report
of annual data from the Suicide Prevention Coalition.
Sedgwick County had 91 deaths by suicide in 2016 – the most reported since the data has been tracked. This is a growing trend.
There are several opportunities for the public to get involved and help reverse this trend. COMCARE offers a
Mental Health First Aid class
which teaches individuals how to help someone who is developing a mental health problem or experiencing a mental health crisis.
The public is welcome to attend several upcoming events:
- Sunday, Oct. 1 - National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Candlelight Vigil at Newman University
- Thursday, Nov. 2 – Party for Prevention at Abode
- Saturday, Nov. 18 – Survivors of Suicide Day at Via Christi St. Joseph
If you or someone you know is talking about suicide, please call the suicide prevention hotline
316-660-7500
. It is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Click on the photo in this article
to watch a
brief video
of mental health crisis services offered by COMCARE.
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Central Plains Area Agency on Aging Receives National Recognition
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The
First Step
program offered by the Central Plains Area Agency on Aging (CPAAA) recently received an
Aging Innovations Award
from the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (n4a). This is the highest honor presented by n4a to member agencies. CPAAA also received the
Aging Achievement Award
for their partnership with local universities to extend Medicare Counseling services. Both awards were presented at the n4a Annual Conference & Tradeshow in Savannah, GA.
First Step facilitates a safe and smooth transition back to the community with limited in home services after an individual is discharged from an acute care hospital, rehab, nursing home, or upon referral/discharge from a Medicare home health agency. According to Annette Graham, Executive Director of CPAAA, “without this transition program many people couldn’t return home safely. These clients receive care management, in home services, and future needs planning.”
This year’s
Aging
Achievement Award
winning program was developed in 2014 when volunteer opportunities were developed by CPAAA for students in KU School of Pharmacy and Wichita State School of Social Work. Students trained through the local Senior Health Insurance Counseling of Kansas program to offer Medicare counseling during Medicare open enrollment.
Plan to attend this year’s Senior Expo on Thursday, Sept. 28 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Attendees can receive program information, caregiver resources, and enjoy the popular Local Favorite Fashion Finds Fashion Show. The event will be held at Botanica, Exploration Place, and the Wichita Art Museum with a shuttle to take people to all three locations. Follow Sedgwick County Government on social media for more details.
More information about aging services can be found
online
.
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Bike Share Station Added to Sedgwick County Park
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Take advantage of the changing season and cooler temperatures at the Sedgwick County Park. Recently, a Zagster bike station was installed at Sedgwick County Park – near the 13th Street park entrance.
To use the bike share program, download the free Zagster mobile app, create an account, and follow the instructions on the phone’s screen to check out and unlock a bike. Then, enjoy the roughly four miles of bike paths and more!
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National Forensic Science Week
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Sedgwick County's Regional Forensic Science Center opened its doors to the public on Monday, Sept. 18. Monday kicked off National Forensic Science Week, an initiative which recognizes and promotes forensic work.
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316-660-9300
525 N. Main, Ste 320, Wichita, KS 67203
Contact Public Information Officer:
Kate Flavin, 316-660-9370
525 N. Main, Ste 343, Wichita, KS 67203
Contact Corporate Communications Manager:
Keturah Austin, 316-660-9370
525 N. Main, Ste 343, Wichita, KS 67203
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Connect with Sedgwick County
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