Drew Adkins, Commissioner

Assistant Commissioner Adkins assists in the management of the BHS Commission and supervision of staff. He is mainly responsible for oversight and management of the Community Integration section within BHS, which houses the CARE (Client Assessment Referral and Evaluation) team, the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) Implementation team, the Quality Assurance Team, and the Nursing Facilities for Mental Health Pre-litigation Settlement Agreement response.

Drew was appointed Commissioner of Behavioral Health Services effective February 5, 2024. He began his tenure with KDADS as Assistant Commissioner in 2020.

Drew has a background in Missouri state government, working most recently in the Missouri Department of Mental Health as the Communications Director for the Office of Disaster Services and serving a stint with the Missouri Department of Economic Development. He also served several years as legislative staff in the Missouri House of Representatives. Drew has a Master of Business Administration, a Graduate Certificate in Business Analytics from the Bloch School at UMKC, and a Master of Science and Bachelor of Science from Missouri State University. He volunteers on the Board of the Urban Ranger Corp in Kansas City, MO, and volunteers with Camp Quality Northwest.

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What We Do

The Behavioral Health Services Commission manages mental health services in Kansas, working with 26 community mental health centers across the state. In addition, it oversees addiction and prevention service programs for the State of Kansas, including targeted workforce development initiatives. In addition, the commission works in close collaboration with the Governor’s Behavioral Health Services Planning Council.

Our work is supported by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and KDADS. KDADS is responsible by statute for coordinating and providing substance abuse and mental health services in Kansas. We promote effective public policy and develop and evaluate programs and resources for behavioral health prevention, treatment, and recovery services.