[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6576719,"mediaKeyId","3068450-8cbde0389fc2dd7bac8920de4d61d979","parentId",3068450,"title","Shawnee County to place therapists in community corrections under federal mental-health grant","audioSeconds",151,"startMs",2816000,"endMs",2967000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3068450-8cbde0389fc2dd7bac8920de4d61d979&start=2816&end=2967","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3068450-8cbde0389fc2dd7bac8920de4d61d979/thumbnail_2816000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6576719/Shawnee-County/Kansas/Shawnee-County-to-place-therapists-in-community-corrections-under-federal-mental-health-grant","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6576719-e82eb66d5512061205fa4719ee85c45b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771041675&Signature=actS7AeRjDfQAmJ9H29KnnnYykC~ajKDrfwJ9-WIYgydhUrZDtW7XtUw~qWuJv8ltcrkneBDz744ddxTS-JyzXnJi9PZYqTkJzJzOhntMEykR49rpEDmbHBAg2VKoAzHFUrDGRg478ntjAnn1Gvpw6Ar8RoVRhRbYyqSbP3~j-xL4pNdZjilyO4Gm6KFcelt5pLo9xBH1EfaoT8wQgV8sz4tSaEalqcTpbMZQ0q9F3U3IVO2XSxaJL-4gWAjXEkUjuypn5-IVx2yyseNy6mMEWwzfWm2sclomJrXq7jCTjyr7rX5JHF5i-hbS7fLPygqvO8e1b1d0bc6i4rSPZJQ8w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Shawnee County","date","2025-04-21T14:20:11.143Z","article","Shawnee County commissioners on April 21 approved service agreements to integrate mental-health providers into Community Corrections under a federal Second Chance Act grant and authorized hiring in-house therapists to provide assessments and treatment to probationers.

Steve Willis, head of the Department of Corrections overseeing Community Corrections, told commissioners the county supervises about 680 adult probationers at a time and that roughly 20% of revocations last year were linked to mental-health issues. “This is a really great day for Community Corrections and really the community,” Willis said, describing the three-year grant and the work the department has done to prepare policies and an implementation guide to meet federal assurances.

Willis named two therapists planned for in-house placement, Zanea Armstead and Daniel Martin, and said the county will provide free mental-health assessments and treatment to probationers who need them. “We will soon be able to provide free mental health assessments and free mental health treatment to our probationers who need that,” Willis said.

Daniel Martin, one of the therapists, described his background in social work and operating Oxford Houses that support people returning from jail or treatment. Zanea Armstead said she is a mental-health therapist in private practice in Topeka.

The board approved two service contracts, C167-2025 with Epic LLC and C168-2025 with Working Together LLC, to integrate both providers into the supervision process as part of the Community Corrections Mental Health Initiative. Willis said the initiative was developed with assistance from county audit and finance staff and department personnel and that training and documentation were required to satisfy federal grant requirements.

The contracts were approved with the motion by Commissioner Aaron Mays and second by Commissioner Kevin Cook; the board announced the result as 2 to 0. Willis said the contracts and therapist placements are intended to reduce recidivism by addressing underlying mental-health and substance-use issues.

Ending
Department of Corrections staff will proceed to implement the grant-funded program and onboard the named therapists; the county indicated reporting and compliance steps will follow federal grant requirements.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Shawnee County Kansas Commission Meeting 2025/4/21","oneSentenceSummary","The board approved service agreements to integrate mental-health providers into Community Corrections under a Second Chance Act grant and authorized onboarding two in-house therapists to offer free assessments and treatment to probationers.","taxTitle","Shawnee County, Kansas","taxId",2886,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6576725,"Shawnee County commissioners approve $1.47 million in vouchers and multiple contracts",386,2174000,2560000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3068450-8cbde0389fc2dd7bac8920de4d61d979&start=2174&end=2560","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3068450-8cbde0389fc2dd7bac8920de4d61d979/thumbnail_2174000.jpg","/articles/6576725/Shawnee-County/Kansas/Shawnee-County-commissioners-approve-147-million-in-vouchers-and-multiple-contracts","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6576725-64bb9e90918d9f71c9273d60607cb565/orig.mp4?Expires=1771041676&Signature=RV50IYEwMApuupJf6q9CEOxgaggf8mxWS9DFZR0CW7GI-Rg~GFANJtPlA1khn62h93lcnL-PRnuBs9osYdTWnPm77bsnHKmnz6Pfi3hZBR3sZys4nntVXWWQDLwkchWMF6paXnFJj24ewjcQMvB6cUlU-bw7-psWGQEwwSilgYlvObgICRyRsDH6ix-ImHi70FzRijJpCVvzUdhcgJ86DQDpZ7G8AbBUXn2i-qpHUPpO3RDOdZiawPZpxLpqo95nrtaJKBmFv4RZb5cnH7kEWYwRSMrfj5HWtHwP81O5bf~enP5piyuszGrNj1pQiRX1TDqYeex8aic1By1drQzz-A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Shawnee County commissioners on April 21 approved vouchers totaling $1,467,553.01 and a package of contract approvals and budget actions covering parks sponsorships, infrastructure progress payments, facility repairs, technology purchases and emergency-management sustainment.

The board voted to approve the vouchers, which included a $256,000 payment to RCI Adventure Products for the Gage Park bridal trail funded by Gage Park sales tax, and a $336,830.27 progress payment to Bettis Asphalt and Construction for work on NW 46 from NW Fielding Road to NW Rochester Road. County Clerk Lisa Schmidt confirmed the total vouchers amount was $1,467,553.01.

Tim Lorett, director of Parks and Recreation, introduced two sponsorship agreements: contract C155-2025 with Topeka ER and Hospital, a five-year trail-sponsorship arrangement, and contract C164-2025 with McElroy's Incorporated, a four-year sponsorship focused on recreation facilities. “Our trails promote physical activity, mental wellness, and the connection to nature,” Lorett said.

The board approved an amendment to contract C60-2025 with Landmark Aquatics (amendment C157-2025) adding $12,246.15 from the capital maintenance fund to address additional repairs discovered at Shawnee North Aquatic Center. Lorett said onsite inspection found rusted internal bolts and areas where fiberglass had thinned; he said the contractor discovered the problems after beginning work and that the repairs would be completed before the pool season.

The Department of Corrections brought an amendment, C166-2025, adding $3,683.28 in juvenile grant dollars to fund a parent group through Halley Counseling Services PA. The board also approved two service agreements, C167-2025 with Epic LLC and C168-2025 with Working Together LLC, to integrate additional providers into community corrections under a Second Chance Act grant-driven mental health initiative.

Other approvals included an Information Technology request to reallocate $3,728 from a project budget to purchase additional courthouse cameras via state contract and emergency-management actions to execute previously approved projects for communications and regional equipment sustainment.

Votes at a glance
- Consent agenda (items A–K): approved (motion by Commissioner Aaron Mays; second by Commissioner Kevin Cook); announced result: 2 to 0.
- Vouchers totaling $1,467,553.01 (county clerk item): approved (motion by Commissioner Kevin Cook; second by Commissioner Aaron Mays); announced result: 2 to 0.
- Contract C155-2025 (Topeka ER and Hospital sponsorship): approved (motion by Commissioner Kevin Cook; second by Commissioner Aaron Mays); announced result: 2 to 0.
- Contract C164-2025 (McElroy's Incorporated sponsorship): approved (motion by Commissioner Aaron Mays; second by Commissioner Kevin Cook); announced result: 3 to 0.
- Amendment C157-2025 (Landmark Aquatics — Shawnee North repairs, +$12,246.15 from capital maintenance): approved (motion by Commissioner Aaron Mays; second by Commissioner Kevin Cook); announced result: 3 to 0.
- Amendment C166-2025 (Halley Counseling Services PA — juvenile parent group, +$3,683.28 grant funds): approved (motion by Commissioner Aaron Mays; second by Commissioner Kevin Cook); announced result: 2 to 0.
- Contracts C167-2025 (Epic LLC) and C168-2025 (Working Together LLC): approved (motion by Commissioner Aaron Mays; second by Commissioner Kevin Cook); announced result: 2 to 0.
- IT purchase (use $3,728 from project budget for courthouse cameras): approved (motion by Commissioner Kevin Cook; second by Commissioner Aaron Mays); announced result: 2 to 0.
- Emergency Management CIP sustainment and quote approvals (regional equipment/communications): approved (motion by Commissioner Aaron Mays; second by Commissioner Kevin Cook); announced result: 2 to 0.

The board recorded no public commenters and had no executive session. County Counselor Rich Eckert and Clerk Lisa Schmidt were present during the meeting; Commissioner Bill Rippon was absent.

Ending
Commissioners said the approvals reflect ongoing maintenance and community partnerships that use a mix of dedicated funds (Gage Park sales tax, capital maintenance, infrastructure fund and grant dollars) rather than general county operating revenue. The board adjourned after administrative communications and confirmed the next meeting date.","At their April 21 meeting the Shawnee County Board of County Commissioners approved vouchers totaling $1,467,553.01 and a series of contract amendments and purchases, including parks sponsorships, pool repairs, IT camera purchases and emergency management sustainment work.","actionData","errors"]

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Shawnee County to place therapists in community corrections under federal mental-health grant

Shawnee County commissioners approve $1.47 million in vouchers and multiple contracts