Association of Community Mental Health Centers of Kansas, Inc.

09/29/2025

Celebrate Mary Flin!
Valeo Behavioral Health Care is proud to recognize Mary Flin with the Mental Health Warrior Award at the 6th Annual Unmasking Stigma Fundraiser.

📅 Nov 8, 2025
📍 Townsite Towers
⏰ 5–8:30 PM

🎟 Get tickets: givebutter.com/unmaskingstigma
Email Aimee: acopphasty@valeotopeka.orgEmail

Please help Valeo honor Mary Flin with the Mental Health Awareness Warrior Award at the upcoming 6th Annual Unmasking Stigma Fundraiser!

About Mary:

In 2011, Mary and a team launched The Urban Ministry Institute of Topeka, a seminary in collaboration with World Impact whose mission is to train leaders for the urban Church. Still the home of TUMI Topeka, the training center became the Seminary of Urban Leadership (S.O.U.L.) in 2023 as new collaborations and initiatives grew. S.O.U.L currently holds classes in the community, county jail and the Topeka Correctional Facility. In January of 2023, she completed basic chaplaincy training and, soon after, the S.O.U.L. Center for Urban Chaplaincy was launched. Mary completed Clinical Pastoral Education in spring of 2024 and received ACCC Board certification in 2025.
Mary has worked with homelessness, domestic violence, mental illness, incarceration, and neighborhood ministry, including serving as a Valeo Crisis Care Specialist and Crisis Residence Supervisor in 2021 and 2022.
Through chaplaincy training, Mary realized the potential impact of spiritual care in high poverty neighborhoods and the spaces through which neighbors journey. She began practicing chaplaincy in her own neighborhood, chasing the question: “Considering the documented positive impact of spiritual care on social determinants observed in healthcare spaces, what might happen if every urban neighborhood had a chaplain of their own?” Shoulder to shoulder, Mary and her neighbors, church, students and friends are providing intentional, compassionate engagement, envisioning healthy communities and seeing, firsthand, a tangible difference in the lives of those affected by various adversities, including poverty, incarceration, homelessness, mental illness and addiction.

Unmasking Stigma Information:

Date: Saturday, November 8, 2025
Location: Townsite Towers
Time: 5 pm - 8:30 pm

Tickets are on sale now at givebutter.com/unmaskingstigma. Corporate sponsorships are available by contacting Aimee at acopphasty@valeotopeka.org.

09/26/2025

Great footage as our Executive Director Kyle Kessler awarded Horizons Mental Health Center the first annual Technology Pioneer Award. Congratulations Vikki and your team!

09/25/2025

Thank you to everyone that attended the 2025 Annual Conference for Behavioral Health in Wichita this year.

Do you need to get your CEU's? Click here for the CEU Syllabus and instructions to obtain your CEU's.

46th Annual Conference for Behavioral HealthHyatt Regency, Wichita, KSSeptember 23-25, 2025 The Annual Conference for Behavioral Health is presented by the Association of Community Mental Health Centers of Kansas, Inc. The conference provides educational opportunities to increase awareness of emergi...

09/24/2025

Steve Denny, CCBHC Director from Four County Mental Health, introduced our fourth keynote presenter, Jackie Stiles, native Kansan, renowned basketball player, and former WNBA star, who shared stories and advice for overcoming adversity and learning leadership lessons along the way.

09/24/2025

Day 2 of the 46th Annual Conference for Behavioral Health kicked off with a welcome from ACMHCK Board President, Kathy Mosher, followed by an inspiring keynote session from Maryum Ali-talented public speaker, social worker, youth advocate, and daughter of the legendary Muhammad Ali.

09/23/2025

Mental Health First Aid is an evidence-based, early-intervention course that teaches participants about mental health and substance use challenges. Congratulations to Shelly Kelly of SEK Mental Health for being recognized as the ACMHCK MHFA Trainer of the Year!

09/23/2025

The annual VJ Reddy award recognizes medical staff who demonstrate passion, dedication, leadership and commitment to compassionate patient-centered care. Congratulations to Eric Thomason, APRN, of Crawford County Mental Health.

09/23/2025

Horizons Mental Health Center was recognized as the first Technology Pioneer award winner in recognition of their commitment and leadership in adoption of innovative technology solutions.

09/23/2025

The Wes Cole Public Servant of the Year award recognizes dedicated leaders who have made a significant contribution to the Kansas Mental Health System. Congratulations to Secretary Laura Howard!

09/23/2025

Congratulations to KS Representative David Buehler for being recognized as the Public Official of the Year by the ACMHCK at the 46th Annual Conference for Behavioral Health.

09/23/2025

Sam Quinones, journalist and award-winning author of Dreamland: The True Tale of America’s Opioid Epidemic and The Least of Us: True Tales of America and Hope in the Time of Fentanyl and M**h, presented a key note fireside chat session with our Associate Director, Michelle Ponce.

09/23/2025

Jonah Cunningham, Executive Director of the NACBHDD-Natl Assn of County Beh Hlth and Dev Dis Directors, provided a federal policy update at the ACMHCK annual conferen