Improving Health Equity & Outcomes
The Kansas Council on Developmental Disabilities’ (KCDD) mission is to empower individuals with I/DD and their families to lead systems change, build capacity, and advocate for inclusive, integrated, accessible communities where everyone belongs and thrives. KCDD serves people with intellectual and developmental disabilities through advocacy, public policy, and education. You can learn more by visiting www.kcdd.org.
In the fall of 2023, KCDD launched a first of its kind statewide Kansas Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities (I/DD) Health Equity and Outcomes Coalition, with the goal of convening self-advocates, families, and caregivers as well as Kansas state agencies and departments, healthcare professionals, researchers and providers from across Kansas. The coalition, through a series of workgroups, is developing an action-oriented blueprint aimed at ensuring our healthcare systems and partners in Kansas realize health equity for our I/DD population across Kansas. This coalition provides a new and innovate platform of stakeholder engagement and collaboration, advocacy and systems change to:
Improve the quality of life and increase life expectancy of all Kansans with I/DD
Address issues related to access to improving medical care access, expertise and training across all healthcare professionals and speciality areas
Address access issues as well as supports, services and disability-related benefits across Kansas’ rural, urban and suburban communities
Address disparities in health and healthcare delivery across our state for the entire IDD population
Enhance the workforce and establish a formal career ladder in Kansas for professionals, direct support providers (DSP), healthcare providers, etc. who support and work with the IDD community
The coalition has four active workgroups that meet on a monthly basis to provide input and feedback on how to improve health systems for individuals with I/DD, their families, and healthcare providers. The workgroups include:
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Pediatric to Adult Clinical Care
The goal of this workgroup is to improve care coordination from pediatric to adult clinical care regardless of rural, urban, and suburban communities, increase the use of ADA accessible hospital beds, and simplify forms and administrative processes.
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Inclusive Research
The goal of this workgroup is to promote research tools and increase I/DD participation across the spectrum, attract more federal dollars to support Kansas research, and increase Autism research.
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Aging and the Caregiving Crisis
The goal of this workgroup is to enhance resources for caregivers and guardians to navigate the system, create opportunities for aging in place, equity in retirements and quality/new housing solutions, Increase capacity, flexibility in the I/DD workforce and service offerings, and training for DSP, family caregivers, etc.
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Behavioral Health
The goal of this workgroup is to work with state agencies to develop a 988 Crisis Hotline Training for callers with IDD, develop an IDD Behavioral Health Toolkit, including nonverbal training materials, and increase mental health supports for individuals with IDD.
Kansas Council on Developmental Disabilities’ (KCDD) Health Equity and Outcomes Coalition Membership:
Advent Health • Aetna Better Health • Alliance Rehab and Medical Equipment • Amgen • Assured Trust Company • Autism Society - The Heartland • Bert Nash Center • CareSource • Catholic Charities KC-SJ • Children's Mercy Hospital Kansas City • Community Health Council of Wyandotte • Developmental Services of Northwest Kansas, Inc. (DSNWK) • Down Syndrome Innovations • The Golden Scoop • Institute for Advancing Medical Innovation • InterHab • Johnson County Developmental Supports • Kansas Center for Autism Research and Training • Kansas City Hospice & Palliative Care • Kansas Department for Children and Families • Kansas Family Support Center • Kansas LEND, University of Kansas Medical Center • Kansas State Physician Assistance Program • KU Center on Developmental Disabilities • KUMC Girls Night Out Program • L'Arche Heartland • Onward Kansans • Optum Care • Oral Health Kansas, Inc. • Raise Health Innovations • Rush University Dept of Community, Systems and Mental Health Nursing and PATHPWIDD • Sedgwick County Department of Aging and Disabilities • Sedgwick County Developmental Disability Organization • Special Needs Assured • Special Olympics Kansas • Sunflower health plan • UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Kansas • University of Kansas Medical Center (UKMC) • University of Kansas School of Nursing • We Care and Connect • Whole Story Planning
For more information or to get involved, contact Allyson Mccain at allyson@kcdd.org.
About Mental Health and Behavioral Health + IDD
People with intellectual and developmental disabilities are more likely to experience mental health conditions than someone who does not have an intellectual or developmental disability (I/DD). A recent Medicaid study found that nearly 60% of individuals with I/DD also had at least one mental health condition.
It is important that individuals with I/DD receive the proper care that they need for their mental health.
988 Plain Language Guide
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The 988 Plain Language Guide was created to help you understand what to expect if you call the number 988. When you call 988, you will reach the National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It is a number that you can call, text, or chat with when you are struggling emotionally. The person who answers is a highly trained counselor who wants to help you.
Mental Health Safety Plan Guide
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a safety plan includes what you would do and who may be able to help support you during a mental health crisis, or if you are having thoughts of suicide. This guide was created to help you understand what to include in a safety plan, and how you can use one to help you stay safe.