Kansas Institute for Positive, Healthy, & Inclusive Communities

11/13/2025

Join us for a special early childhood Families Together, Inc. Parent-to-Parent Book Club. After the New Year, we'll begin reading Good Inside, by Dr. Becky Kennedy. This book club is especially for our birth-5 parents!

The Book Club will meet over Zoom on Tuesday mornings from 9:30-10:30 for six weeks, beginning January 20th. Good Inside is a compassionate, practical guide to parenting (and living) with connection, confidence, and grace. Together we’ll explore how to see ourselves and our kids as “good inside,” even when things get messy.

Space is limited! Each book cub member will receive their free book and Parent-to-Parent book club swag.
Book Club will meet for 6 weeks; January 20-February 24. RSVP deadline to attend is December 11. Email kristinam@familiestogetherinc.org today to secure your spot!

Thank you! Happy reading!

10/24/2025

🎃✨ Trick-or-Treat Safely! ✨👻
Our friends at Safe Kids have some great tips to keep kiddos extra careful this Halloween! 🧡

➡️Carry glow sticks or flashlights
➡️Look both ways before crossing
➡️Go with a grown-up

Have a spook-tacular AND safe Halloween! 🎃https://www.safekids.org/halloween

10/24/2025

The Kansas Department for Children and Families shares an update on the status of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program amid the ongoing Federal Government Shutdown. Read the full release: https://www.dcf.ks.gov/Newsroom/Pages/SNAPBenefits.aspx.

10/21/2025

📢 Every child deserves a safe, healthy childhood—but too many experience abuse.

We’re asking Kansans to speak up: child abuse prevention and early intervention must be our state’s next focus. Your voice can help protect kids and strengthen families across Kansas.

📝 Submit your input by Friday, Oct. 24: https://survey.kansasleadershipcenter.org/zs/ecMH31?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Journal%20Newsletter%202%20Oct%202025&utm_source=e6df9bfcec&utm_source=General+Mailing+List&utm_campaign=6e79c1c57d-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2025_10_02_02_32&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-6e79c1c57d-1411330668&mc_cid=6e79c1c57d&mc_eid=6dd863dd18

10/14/2025

Come join us this Thursday! Let's learn how to mitigate traumatic experiences and raise awareness for a treatable epidemic (ACES).

10/14/2025

Exciting news! If you loved the Douglas County Senior Resource Directory, we have some wonderful news to share. We’ve partnered with the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services to bring you a statewide Senior Resource Guide!

What began as a small grant to create a local guide for Douglas County has grown into a statewide project, now covering 11 regions across Kansas.

We’re so proud to see this resource expand and help even more older adults, caregivers, and families find the support they need to age well in their communities. 💛

Stay tuned for more details as we roll out the Kansas Senior Resource Guide statewide, both in print and online!

10/03/2025

09/30/2025

As the community mourns Sgt. Scott Heimann, we invite the public to leave flowers and tributes on his patrol vehicle outside the Police Station at 105 W. 12th St.

We appreciate the outpouring of support shown to the department and family during this difficult time.

09/30/2025

🚨 Kansas is one of only 12 states that STILL hasn’t passed Erin’s Law.

What does that mean?
❌ Many kids in Kansas schools aren’t being taught age-appropriate body safety.
❌ Many children don’t know how to recognize abuse or how to tell a trusted adult.
❌ Teachers and staff aren’t taught how to handle disclosures

As survivors, we know the cost of silence.
Education is prevention. Erin’s Law empowers children, protects families, and saves lives.

So why is Kansas still behind? Our kids deserve better.

✊ It’s time to protect children, not predators. It’s time to pass Erin’s Law in Kansas.

Renee Erickson KS State Senator Adam Thomas Senator Dinah Sykes Mike Argabright for Kansas Senate Senate Majority Leader Chase Blasi KS Senator Beverly Gossage I Like Mike Murphy 4 KS Pat Pettey Doug Shane for Kansas TJ Rose For Kansas Susan Estes for Kansas Kyle McNorton For Kansas Rep. Jerry Stogsdill for Kansas Dr. Sherri Brantley for Kansas House of Representatives Rep. Jerry Stogsdill for Kansas Shawn Chauncey, 65th District, Kansas House of Representatives Linda Featherston for Kansas Jason Goetz for Kansas Silas Miller for Kansas Lon Pishny Rebecca Schmoe for Kansas Mark Schreiber for Kansas House Megan for Kansas Dawn Wolf for Kansas House Children's Advocacy Centers of Kansas Kansas ChildFirst, Inc. Kansas Representative Bob Lewis Cindy Holscher for Kansas Kansas Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence (KCSDV) MOCSA

09/23/2025

09/21/2025

SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE! 🗣️
CADCA's National Leadership Forum is coming up in February and you do not want to miss it! There are both Adult AND Youth Scholarships available. The only stipulation for Youth? Easy. You have to be there the whole time. For Adults, you also need to moderate sessions.
The deadline is October 1.
Find all the information here by clicking the "Scholarships" tab at the top! https://forum.cadca.org/index.cfm