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Enews 7-7-22: Youth & Social Media Mental Health Event Summary; Summer Lunches for Kids; Stress Management Tools; KS Homeowner Assistance Fund

Enews 7-7-22: Youth & Social Media Mental Health Event Summary; Summer Lunches for Kids; Stress Management Tools; KS Homeowner Assistance Fund

UCS Hosts Event Addressing Youth, Social Media, and Mental Health A study conducted by Common Sense Media reported that teens spend between five and seven hours per day on social media. According to the Journal of the American Medical Association, adolescents who spend more than three hours per day using social media may be at heightened risk for mental health problems. In response to concerns about social media and youth mental health, UCS, with the Alcohol Tax Fund, Children's Coordinating Council, and the Transitional Age Youth Planning Project, invited Tim DeWeese, Director of the Johnson County Mental Health Center, and ...
Enews 5-12-22: 2022 Human Service Summit Registration Open; 2023 HSF Grant Cycle Open

Enews 5-12-22: 2022 Human Service Summit Registration Open; 2023 HSF Grant Cycle Open

2022 Human Service Summit Registration is Now Open! The 2023 Human Service Fund (HSF) Grant Cycle is Now Open! The 2023 Human Service Fund (HSF) grant cycle is now open! Applications are due July 7, 2022 by 3:00 p.m. HSF will be offering small grants through a Small Grants Pool RFP in addition to the regular HSF RFP. HSF provides grants to nonprofit agencies in support of human service programs that promote the well-being, personal safety and self-sufficiency of Johnson County residents. Approximately $435,000 is anticipated to be awarded in 2023 grants through the regular HSF application and the small grants ...
Enews 4-21-22: Mortgage Relief Program; KHAF Application Assistance; Homeownership Resources Webinar; Planning Commissioners Event; Summit 2022

Enews 4-21-22: Mortgage Relief Program; KHAF Application Assistance; Homeownership Resources Webinar; Planning Commissioners Event; Summit 2022

Kansas Housing Resource Center Launches Mortgage Relief Program Kansas Housing Resources Corporation (KHRC) this week launched the Kansas Homeowner Assistance Fund (KHAF), providing mortgage and utility assistance to Kansas households impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The program, supported through funding from the federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and administered by KHRC, will help qualifying Kansans get current on their mortgages and property taxes and avoid foreclosure. In an interview with the KHRC staff last week, UCS learned more about how and why this project was created. In its more than 20-year history, KHRC has administered programs to sustain housing ...
Enews 4-8-22: Young Children Fact Sheet; EFSP Grant Availability; CoC Awards Announced; Parent Connect Event; Summit 2022

Enews 4-8-22: Young Children Fact Sheet; EFSP Grant Availability; CoC Awards Announced; Parent Connect Event; Summit 2022

UCS Releases a Fact Sheet on Young Children in Johnson County During the Week of the Young Child, UCS hopes to raise awareness of our youngest generation of Johnson County residents. A new fact sheet provides a snapshot of the current state of young children in Johnson County. The early years of child’s life are the foundation of their future development. From birth through age 3, the brain develops most of its neuropathways. Through age 8, children’s experiences provide the base for social, emotional, and cognitive development. Ensuring that children have access to quality, supportive environments in their early years ...
Enews 3-24-22: Economic Outcomes for Women; Rental Assistance; Food Sales Tax; Childhood Abuse Prevention Training

Enews 3-24-22: Economic Outcomes for Women; Rental Assistance; Food Sales Tax; Childhood Abuse Prevention Training

UCS Releases Fact Sheet on Economic Outcomes for Women Johnson County is home to more than 304,000 girls and women of all ages who play a vital role in our society, culture, and local economy. According to 2020 data from the U.S. Census Bureau, more than 80% of women over age 16 are in the labor force, working in various occupations including management and business, education and legal, and administrative support. A new fact sheet released by UCS today explores recent economic outcomes for women in our community. Rental Assistance Funding Available to Kansas Residents Kansas Emergency Rental Assistance (KERA) ...
Enews 3-10-22: Women's History Month; 2021 Human Services Factsheet; Tax Credit Information; Parent Connect Event

Enews 3-10-22: Women’s History Month; 2021 Human Services Factsheet; Tax Credit Information; Parent Connect Event

Women’s History Month Reminds Us of the Power of Connection Contributed by Beccy Yocham UCS Board Chair City Manager, City of Lenexa Women’s History Month has been celebrated in the United States each year since 1987 and provides an opportunity to honor the generations of strong, trailblazing women who have shaped this nation in ways that have not always been fully recognized nor appreciated. The theme for Women’s History Month this year is “Providing Healing, Promoting Hope” which is both a tribute to the ceaseless work of caregivers and frontline workers during this ongoing pandemic and a recognition of the thousands ...
Enews 2-24-22: KanCare Expansion Impact; Tax Credits for HUD Assisted Families; Evergy Grants

Enews 2-24-22: KanCare Expansion Impact; Tax Credits for HUD Assisted Families; Evergy Grants

KanCare Expansion Could Provide Health Insurance Coverage to Thousands in Johnson County The 2022 Kansas legislative session provides an opportunity to expand Medicaid, which would provide health insurance coverage to thousands of people across the state of Kansas. Kansas is now one of only 12 states that has opted not to expand Medicaid. Approximately 34,500 people in Johnson County, or 6% of the county’s population, is uninsured. Based on U.S. Census Bureau data for 2019, 30% of those who are uninsured would qualify for Medicaid if expansion were approved by the Kansas Legislature. More than 10,300 uninsured Johnson County residents ...
Enews 2-10-22: Black History Month; Racial Equity Report; Medicaid Expansion; Parent Connect Series

Enews 2-10-22: Black History Month; Racial Equity Report; Medicaid Expansion; Parent Connect Series

Black History Month is about Resilience and Connectedness It’s officially Black History Month. Like me, many of you may plan to attend various events and celebrations to learn about, discuss, remember, and honor the history and achievements of Black people in Kansas City and around the U.S. It’s important to pause in February (and throughout the year) to reflect upon the achievements of our ancestors, leaders in the struggle for racial equality and freedom. Abolitionist Frederick Douglass, voting rights activist Fannie Lou Hamer, Congresspersons Shirley Chisholm and John Lewis, and local educator Corinthian Nutter are among the many historical and ...
Enews 2-2-22: ATF Funding Priorities 2023-2028; ATF Grants Funds; Addiction Ted Talk; Redlining Museum Exhibit

Enews 2-2-22: ATF Funding Priorities 2023-2028; ATF Grants Funds; Addiction Ted Talk; Redlining Museum Exhibit

DAC Releases ATF Funding Priorities for 2023-2028 The Drug and Alcoholism Council of Johnson County (DAC), supported by UCS, is tasked with making annual recommendations for the expenditure of Alcohol Tax Funds for Johnson County Government and multiple cities in Johnson County, Kansas. By statute, Alcohol Tax Funds must be spent on programs that have the primary purposes of substance use education, prevention, intervention or treatment/recovery. Every three to five years, the DAC undertakes an analysis of the strengths, gaps, and trends within the substance use continuum of care in Johnson County and, using that information, updates funding priorities for ...
Enews 11-4-21: CoC Rank and Review Results; New Dir. of Community Planning; Public Policy Forum; Annual Meeting

Enews 11-4-21: CoC Rank and Review Results; New Dir. of Community Planning; Public Policy Forum; Annual Meeting

UCS Releases Rank and Review Results for FY2021 HUD Continuum of Care Application UCS acts as Johnson County's Continuum of Care on Homelessness' (CoC) lead agency and submits the collaborative application annually on behalf of local members. In its role as CoC lead agency, UCS is also responsible for managing the CoC Rank and Review process, conducting regular meetings of the CoC membership and board, and providing educational/best practices opportunities for all entities involved in serving our county's homeless population. The Johnson County CoC's Rank and Review Committee and Board have officially released KS-505's FY2021 HUD Continuum of Care (CoC) NOFO ...

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