Kansas Consumer Advisory Council for Adult Mental Health

02/20/2026

Your journey has power, and your lived experience is exactly what we’re looking for. 🌻

We’re hiring a part-time Outreach Specialist! If you’ve walked the path of mental health or substance use recovery, your voice is a unique strength. We believe those who have “been there” are the most powerful guides for others.

In this role, you’ll travel across our beautiful state, connecting with communities and sharing the hope of recovery. From supporting local groups to educating partners, you’ll help reshape how Kansas sees mental health.

What you’ll need:
✨ Lived experience in the mental health or substance use system.
🚗 A valid license and vehicle (for Kansas-wide travel).
🤝 A heart for advocacy and connecting with others.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
✅Engages individuals and groups to support the development of local support groups.
✅Provide assistance to Consumer-Run Organizations under the direction of supervisor(s)
✅ Work in collaboration with the other program staff and partners to identify agencies to conduct outreach
✅Engage and work with mental health centers to educate clinicians and staff around issues of peer support and recovery

If you’re ready to turn your experience into a tool for change, we’d love to meet you. You aren’t just a candidate: you’re a vital part of the conversation.

For more information please contact
Melissa Patrick
melissapatrick@kansascac.org

Let’s make sure no one in Kansas has to walk this path alone. 💙

02/20/2026

We’re looking for an organized and dedicated Office Manager to join our team! 💼✨

If you have lived experience with the mental health or substance abuse system and a heart for advocacy, we’d love to hear from you. You’ll be helping us stay organized, managing the office, and supporting our mission to strengthen the voice of mental health in Kansas.

Requirements include:
✅ Lived experience (mental health/substance abuse system)
✅ Strong organizational & MS Office skills
✅ Knowledge of Kansas mental health systems
✅ Valid driver’s license or reliable transport

Join us in making a difference! 🌻✨

For more information or to apply please contact Melissa Patrick
melissapatrick@kansascac.org

02/19/2026

Here is a bill in the Kansas Senate that bears watching!

New episode of Health in the 34th out now!

SB 363 is currently making its way through the Kansas Legislature, and is being pitched as an "efficiency" bill, but during Senate hearings, advocates, pediatricians, food banks, parents of children with disabilities, and faith leaders warned that it would increase costs, raise error rates, and cause eligible Kansans to lose access to Medicaid and SNAP because of paperwork.

Hear the testimony firsthand in this episode as we break down what this bill could mean for Kansas families.

Listen on our website or wherever you get your podcasts: https://healthykansas.org/podcast/

Includes clips from: KanCare Advocates Network, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network of Kansas ACS CAN , Kansas Action for Children , Kansas Appleseed , Kansas Interfaith Action , Disability Rights Center of Kansas, Little Lobbyists, Kansas Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics, , Harvesters - The Community Food Network, , Kansas Department of Health and Environment, Kansas Department for Children and Families

02/17/2026

Today is Random Acts of Kindness Day, but in our community, we see these moments every day through peer support. It’s in the "I hear you," the "I’ve been there too," and the quiet strength of shared lived experience. When someone truly understands what you’re walking through, it reminds you that you aren’t alone.

Kindness doesn’t have to be a grand gesture. It can be a supportive text to a friend, a warm smile to a stranger, or even just giving yourself permission to rest.

Don’t forget to be kind to yourself, too. If all you did today was keep going, let that be enough. You are doing the hard work, and you are enough exactly as you are right now. 💙

How are you practicing kindness today? Whether it’s for a neighbor or for yourself, we’d love to hear about it.

02/16/2026

💙 We are so excited to share the theme for our 2026 Kansas Recovery Conference.

✨ Bridging Generations: Every Piece Counts ✨

Recovery isn’t a solo journey, and it doesn’t look the same for everyone. We’re coming together to honor the wisdom of our elders, the energy of our youth, and every beautiful moment in between. Because here, every single piece and every single person counts. 🧩

Mark your calendars, friends! We’d love to see you there:
🗓️ June 16-17, 2026
📍 Holiday Inn Wichita East I35 | Wichita, KS

Registration details will be coming soon! 🌻

Let’s make every piece count.

02/15/2026

We’re gearing up for Mental Health Advocacy Day on March 9th, 2026! 🗓️

It’s a day for our collective voices to be heard at the Capitol, ensuring those of us navigating mental health challenges have a seat at the table and promoting wellness for every Kansan.

We also want to share a special thank you to Amy Campbell and the Kansas Mental Health Coalition for the hard work they put into organizing Advocacy Day every year. Your dedication to peer voices is an inspiration. Thank you for your leadership and for being such a vital partner. We are so grateful for you. 💚

Whether you’re a seasoned advocate or just starting, you belong in this conversation. If you are at the Capitol on March 9th be sure to stop by our table and say hello. 👋 Let’s reshape how mental health is seen in Kansas together!

For more information and to register: https://kansasmentalhealthcoalition.wildapricot.org/2026-MENTAL-HEALTH-ADVOCACY-DAY

02/15/2026

It can feel a little heavy to think about 'shaping policy' when you’re just trying to navigate your own day. But right now, something important is happening under the dome in Topeka that impacts all of us.

The Kansas legislative session is in full swing, and with 'Turnaround Day' coming up on February 19th, it’s a critical time for bills. This is the deadline for most bills to pass out of the chamber where they started.

We know advocacy can feel like a big word, but it really starts with your story. Whether it’s an email to your representative or simply staying informed about bills that affect our care, your perspective is vital. You don't need to be an expert in law to be an expert in your own lived experience.

Consider looking up who represents you and sending an email or scheduling a meeting with them. If today feels too heavy for that, just know that your voice has value and your story matters.

Not sure who your representatives are? Visit this link to find your legislators by entering your address: https://share.google/lxWbbrUsK6wTAUduA

Let's keep showing up for each other and for a Kansas that prioritizes mental health.🌻💛

01/25/2026

Winter can feel heavy — with less daylight, colder weather, and long to-do lists. That’s why this is all about gentle, realistic ways to care for yourself.

Self-care doesn’t have to be big or perfect. It might look like playing one song you love, sending a “thinking of you” text, clearing one small space, or making a warm drink and taking a pause.

Pick one thing from the list and let that be enough for today. 💙

01/21/2026

As the temperatures drop, it’s important to look out for one another—and ourselves. ❄️ Physical safety and mental well-being go hand-in-hand during the winter months. We are taking this opportunity to share some helpful reminders from FEMA on winter safety.



​While preparing our homes and vehicles for the approaching winter weather, let’s also prepare our hearts for community care.

Winter safety means:
✅ Checking on neighbors who live alone.
✅ Knowing the signs of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).
✅ Keeping local crisis hotlines saved in your phone.

​If the change in season is feeling overwhelming, reach out to someone you trust for support or call 988. You don't have to "tough it out".

​

01/20/2026

Today, we honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.—a leader who challenged our nation to live up to its promise of liberty and justice for all. His work reminds us that progress is possible when we choose courage, compassion, and service.

12/26/2025

To our friends near and far,
May your holidays be filled with moments of genuine joy, rest, and connection! 🕯️​We are so grateful for your support this year and look forward to what the new year will have in store.