Community Services Resources

When participants look at their communities, the following websites related to community services have been recommended as resources:

• A valuable tool to assist communities as they prepare to make changes is the pool of resources found at The Community Tool Box, found at http://ctb.lsi.ukans.edu. This is a set of resources on how to approach and troubleshoot community initiatives. It's also a gateway to a larger community of people trying to implement community change. It takes a while to get through the different sections, but there is much here of value. For a start, you might read the article, "Working Together for Healthier Communities: A Framework for Collaboration Among Community Partnerships, Support Organizations, and Funders", located at http://ctb.lsi.ukans.edu/tools/EN/sub_section_main_1381.htm
• The Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services is the gateway to a number of services. Their Internet site at http://www.srskansas.org . To report suspected abuse, neglect or exploitation of an adult in the community, telephone the Adult Protective Services Hotline at 1-800-922-5330 (Protection Report Center). Every call is taken seriously. Telephone lines are staffed in the Protection Report Center from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. An answering machine takes messages at other times. In the event of an emergency contact your local law enforcement or call 911. Non-emergency messages may be left on voice mail after 11:00 p.m.; these calls will be returned when staff are scheduled to report at 7:00 a.m. the following day.
• Benefits Checkup is sponsored by the nonprofit National Council on Aging, and helps you locate federal, state and other benefits that the retired or elderly might qualify for. This site is useful for retirees, people close to retiring, and those seeking help for older friends and relatives. http://www.benefitscheckup.org
• Counseling on health insurance matters, including medicare, and information on low-cost pharmacy programs, can be accessed through the Senior Health Insurance Counseling for Kansans program (http://www.ksinsurance.org/shick/index.html) or at 1-800-860-5260
• Sometimes, a group of people dealing with the same issue gets together and forms a self-help group. A statewide clearinghouse, the Self-Help Network of Kansas, has formed to maintain a listing of these around the state. To find out more, go to their web site at http://www.selfhelpnetwork.wichita.edu, or call 1-800 445-0116
• Communities should look at their plans to handle emergencies. A close look at these plans may show that the needs of the elderly have not been sufficiently addressed. To find out more about emergency preparedness, you can contact Ida Kirmse at the Kansas Department of Emergency Management (785) 274-1406 Go to http://www.ink.org/public/kdem/cocoordinators.htm for a current listing of County coordinators of disaster planning.
• The Kansas Recreation and Parks Association maintains a listing of all City, County and State parks and recreation offices at their web site, http://www.krpa.org. You can also contact Laura Kelly, their Executive Director and her staff at krpa@krpa.org (785) 235-6533.
• PATH, or Personal Actions to Health - This is a community sponsored program which encourages older Kansans to develop and maintain healthy lifestyles thought interactions between seniors and youth in their communities. Grants range from $250 to $1500 a year. http://www.oriondesign.net/webmanagers/smo/index.html
• To assist in assessing your community, or working on a special project, one option you might explore is K -State Community Service Program Summer Teams. A team of 4 K-State students providing over 1280 hours of student work duing an eight-week summer project, with the guidance of a K-State faculty mentor. Communities must provide a $1000 per student and a $1000 for the mentor, local housing and supervision as well as all expenses related to project implementation. For more information, look at their web page at http://www.ksu.edu.csp, or contact them through phone or e-mail: (785) 532-5701, e-mail ksuserve@ksu.edu