The federal government mandates that all states have a mental health services planning and advisory council. The Governor’s Behavioral Health Services Planning Council fulfills that mandate for Kansas. The Council is made up of a cross section of mental health consumers, family members of mental health consumers, mental health service providers, state agency staff, and private citizens. The Council is actively involved in planning, implementing, monitoring, evaluating, and advising state government regarding Kansas’ mental health services. The information linked here further describes the role of the Council and its subcommittees.
The Council meets every other third Wednesday (January/March/May/July/September/November) from either 9-12 (virtual-only) or 9-3 (hybrid). Dates for upcoming Council meetings can be found on the calendar at the bottom of the page..
Helpful Documents
The Governor's Behavioral Health Services Planning Council will partner to promote prevention, treatment, and recovery services to ensure Kansans with behavioral health needs live safe, healthy, successful, and self-determined lives in their communities.
Prevention, treatment, and recovery services:
- Allow people to direct their care and treatment;
- Are respectful and empowering;
- Are effective and influenced by evidence-based practices that lead to a personal process of recovery and resilience; and
- Are integrated, flexible, and accessible.
The membership of the Governor's Behavioral Health Services Planning Council consists of adult consumers with Severe and Persistent Mental Illness (SPMI), youth consumers with Serious Emotional Disturbance (SED), family members of mental health consumers, mental health service providers, state agency staff, and private citizens. Federal law 102-321 describes the mandatory composition of the Council and requires that 51 percent of the members must be "other than providers" (i.e., 51 percent of the members are consumers or family members of consumers).
All non-agency positions on the Council are appointed by the Governor and must go through the Governor's Office appointment process. If you are interested in applying for one of the vacant positions on the Council, please utilize the links below to begin the process:
- Initial Application/Resume at the link below:
- Certificate of Tax Clearance:
- Statement of Substantial Interest:
GBHSPC Members
Membership
2022 Members
Member Name | Type of Membership |
Sherman "Wes" Cole, Chair | General Public |
Jane Adams | Ex-Officio
|
Robbin Cole
| CMHC Director
|
Hope Cooper
| State Corrections Agency Representative*
|
Ric Dalke
| Ex-Officio |
Daniel Decker
| Rehabilitation Services Representative*
|
Al Dorsey
| Ex-Officio |
Kristin Feeback
| Family Member of Adult with SPMI
|
Victor Fitz
| Adult in Substance Use Disorder Recovery
|
Ashley Grill
| Adult with SPMI
|
Shane Hudson
| Substance Use Disorder Provider |
Clara Kientz
| General Public
|
Christina Mayer
| SUD Prevention Professional
|
Ericka Nickelson
| Family Member of Child with SUD
|
Stephanie Sailsbury
| Family Member of Adult with SPMI
|
Fran Seymour-Hunter
| Medical Policy/Medicaid Representative*
|
Rodney Shepherd
| Mentor of an Adult with SPMI
|
Brenda Soto
| Children and Family Policy Representative*
|
Guy Steier
| District Court Judge
|
Sherrie Vaughn
| Advocacy |
Jancinta Warrington
| Tribal Representative*
|
Charles Bartlett
| State Liaison to Council*
|
Vacant | Department of Education Representative*
|
Vacant | Commerce and Housing Representative*
|
Vacant | Youth with SED |
Vacant | Youth with SED |
Vacant | Adult with SPMI
|
Vacant | Adult with SPMI |
Vacant | Adult with SPMI |
Vacant | Adult in Substance Use Disorder Recovery |
Vacant | Mentor to Adult with SUD
|
Vacant | Family Member of Adult with SPMI
|
Vacant | Family Member of Adult with SPMI |
Vacant | Family Member of Adult in SUD Recovery
|
Vacant | Family Member of a Youth With SED
|
Vacant | Family Member of a Youth with SED
|
Vacant | Family Member of a Youth with SED
|
Vacant | Person licensed to practice medicine (psychiatry) |
*These are Agency positions appointed by their relevant cabinet secretaries, not public positions appointed by the Governor.
Each of the Council's Subcommittees includes at least one member of the council and various other interested stakeholders, including consumers and family members. Behavioral Health Services staff serve as liaisons and support to the subcommittees.
The Subcommittees generate recommendations for the Council, the Secretary of KDADS, and the Governor regarding the Mental Health System of Kansas. Once a year, they report these recommendations to the Council body, as well as the Secretaries of relevant state agencies.
Click here for more information on the Subcommittees.