UPCOMING EVENTS

AUGUST 
22

11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Larkspur

SEPTEMBER
2

 

Labor Day 
PPMC Offices Closed 





SEPTEMBER
13
7:30 a.m. - noon 
WSU 
 
SEPTEMBER
20


Open to the Public 
1-4 p.m. 
WSU


 
Results of behavioral health study released 
  
Recently, Ascension Via Christi released to the public results of two studies designed to gather insight into regional behavioral health needs. 

One of the studies, made possible by a 2017 grant from the Kansas Health Foundation, allowed Ascension Via Christi to study high utilizers of behavioral health services in Sedgwick County from 2015 to 2018. 

To do this, Ascension Via Christi engaged Public Policy and Management Center researchers to analyze data from Ascension Via Christi, COMCARE and the Substance Abuse Center of Kansas in order to identify high utilizers, better understand the factors driving their utilization patterns and establish an estimated cost of their care in the current system.
Among the study's findings:
  • $56 million of care was delivered between 2015-2018 to 516 patients.
  • $17 million was funded by public assistance or uncompensated care.
  • One in four patients received services at more than one of the organizations.
Click here for more information and to read the study.
Seminar to address blight in Kansas communities 

All communities in Kansas have issues with abandoned or blighted property, and dealing with these properties has become an increasingly complicated endeavor. Despite the challenges, however, communities of all sizes have identified strategies to address the problem in a variety of ways.

Set for 1-4 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 20, at Wichita State University's Marcus Welcome Center (
map ), this Local Government Management Seminar is open to the public.

This seminar will feature the following:

Introduction from David C. Toland (right), Secretary, Kansas Department of Commerce, who will give give a presentation titled " Abandoned buildings and housing in communities from the perspective of economic development;" Panel discussion about dealing with abandoned and blighted property; Presentation of research on abandoned and blighted property; Forum on how communities can address these issues moving forward.

Cost: All staff from LGM member communities are welcome to attend at no charge. Click here to register.

Members of the public and those from non-LGM member communities may attend at a cost of $25 per person. Click here to register.
Engage WSU 2019 set for
Sept. 13 at Wichita State


On Friday, September 13 from 7:30 a.m. to noon, the Public Policy and Management Center and the Division of Diversity and Community Engagement will present Engage WSU, a day that brings together University, public, nonprofit and community leaders for current research and knowledge exchange in public service. 

Engage WSU will be held at WSU's Marcus Welcome Center, and will feature a keynote address from Lt. Governor Lynn Rogers, Parting Words from retired Sedgwick County undersheriff Brenda Dietzman, the Road to Public Service with Leavenworth Mayor Jermaine Wilson and various breakout sessions. 

The breakout session topics will include  Media Coverage of Community Driven Issues; Profiles of High Utilizers of Mental Health Community Services; Continuing the Connecting Conversation: Talent & Retention; and Diversity and Community Engagement.  

For more information, visit the Engage WSU website. To register, click here
Wichita State University Public Policy & Management Center  |   wichita.edu/ppmc
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