Smoky Hill Foundation for Chemical Dependency

Smoky Hill Foundation for Chemical Dependency

Smoky Hill Foundation began in 1979 when the agency was known as the Alcoholics Services Unit, a department within St. Anthony Hospital of Hays.

On July 1, 1982, the agency became free-standing and was incorporated as Smoky Hill Foundation for Chemical Dependency, Inc., a private, non-profit corporation for the prevention, intervention and treatment of substance abuse. In 1987, Smoky Hill Foundation became the umbrella agency for the Regional Prevention Center of Northwest Kansas.

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General information

Smoky Hill Foundation for Chemical Dependency, Inc. is a not-for-profit organization which is governed by a volunteer Board of directors. It is licensed by the Kansas Department of Addiction and Prevention Services (AAPS). Smoky Hill Foundation is certified through Department of Corrections and Kansas Sentencing Commission to provide services to Senate Bill 123 and Senate Bill 67 clients.

The Foundation receives funding from the following sources:
--Kansas Department of SRS-AAPS
--C.A.R.E. Council of Ellis County (Alcohol Tax Funds)
--Private contributions.

Fees for the Foundation's services are based on the client's ability to pay and are subsidized by the above-mentioned sources. No client is refused services due to his or her inability to pay.

~Regional Prevention Center of Northwest Kansas (Region 1)~

In 1987, Social and Rehabilitation Services supported a community-based approach to prevention with the establishment of 12 Regional Prevention Centers across Kansas. Throughout the past 20 years, the Regional Prevention Centers' role has evolved to provide the infrastructure to support local community prevention efforts. Regional Prevention Centers in Kansas assist communities in building capacity to address health and problem behaviors.

The Regional Prevention Center is committed to a vision of change for Northwest Kansas - a vision where all children are healthy and able to reach their full potential. There are 10 Regional Prevention Centers across the state serving all 105 counties in Kansas.

The Regional Prevention Center of NWKS Prevention Philosophy: Just as medical researchers have found risk and protective factors for heart disease and other health issues, research has identified factors that are placing children, families and communities at risk for interrelated problems. This research has also identified approaches that build protection and developmental assets in children.

The Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services/AAPS have identified five risk factors that are demonstrating a significant relationship to alcohol, to***co and drug abuse among children and youth: Regional Prevention Center of NW Kansas serves 21 counties targeting the following risk factors:
--30-Day Alcohol and To***co Use
--Binge Drinking
--Parental attitudes favorable toward alcohol, to***co and drug abuse.
--Community laws and norms favorable to alcohol, to***co and drug abuse.
--Perceived availability to alcohol, to***co and drugs.
--Friends who use alcohol, to***co and drugs.
--Attitudes favorable toward alcohol, to***co and drugs.

Reducing these risk factors to assist the state in achieving the following State Outcomes:
--Reduce alcohol, to***co and drug abuse among children and youth.
--Delay first alcohol, to***co and drug abuse among children and youth.
--Increase attitudes opposed to alcohol, to***co and drug abuse among children and youth.

The Regional Prevention Center has specific program components that are completed within the context of the six core strategies outlined by the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP). These include: 1) Information Dissemination; 2) Education; 3) Alternatives; 4) Problem Identification and Referral; 5) Community-Based Processes; and 6) Environmental Strategies.

The Regional Prevention Center provides the following services:
1. Risk & Protective Factor Training
2. Alcohol, To***co and Drug Prevention Programs
3. Community Planning assistance with Strategic Prevention Framework or Communities That Care model
4. Youth Education and Safety (YES) Program
5. County Data Analysis from KS Communities That Care youth survey
6. Program/Communication evaluation
7. Implementation of Evidence-Based programs
8. Serves as educational resource center for substance use/abuse materials (brochures, pamphlets, etc.)
9. Aid coalitions in identifying funding opportunities