Kansas Governor Laura Kelly has announced nearly $2 million in funding that will be provided to 18 service agencies to help children who have been exposed to drugs.
The funding is coming from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment in a partnership with the Kansas Alliance for Drug-Endangered Children. This is the first round of grants under the All Hands on DECK (Drug Endangered Children of Kansas) program. The grants will help local organizations to better identify and support children living in an environment where a parent or other caregiver uses, distributes, manufactures, or cultivates illegal drugs.
The funding is provided from the $6 million that Kansas has received from the U.S. Justice Department to deal with substance abuse, reduce overdose deaths, and provide prevention, treatment and recovery services.
KDHE has reported that approximately 140,860 Kansas children are living in environments where their parent or caregiver uses substances, and an estimated 5,155 Kansas infants are born exposed to substances every year. Children living in drug environments are at risk for devastating effects, including severe neglect, physical, emotional, and sexual abuse, and developmental delays.
Agencies receiving the funding include the Harvey County Health Department, the Pratt County Drug Endangered Children Alliance, and the Rise Up Reno Prevention Network in Hutchinson.
