Kansas Consumer Advisory Council for Adult Mental Health

03/25/2026

Sometimes we think our "lived experience" is just a personal story we tell. But here at Kansas CAC, we see it differently. Your journey, the obstacles you’ve overcome, and the wisdom you’ve gained are actually some of the most powerful tools for leadership and advocacy in Kansas. 🧩💪

For our 2026 Kansas Recovery Conference, "Bridging Generations: Every Piece Counts," we want that unique piece of yours at the table. Whether you've been doing this for decades or you're just starting to find your voice, your perspective matters.

Just a gentle reminder: scholarship applications are due in 5 DAYS! If you’ve been on the fence because you don’t think you have enough "leadership experience" yet, please apply by March 30th. Your life is the experience we need.

Scholarship application link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/HRSSQXF

Let’s talk advocacy today: If you could share one thing you’ve learned through your lived experience with a leader in Kansas, what would it be? 🤝✨

Drop your thoughts in the comments below. We’re listening. 👇

03/18/2026

2026 Kansas Recovery Conference 📣
Scholarship Applications Deadline Approaching
Deadline for submission: March 30th, 2026

Your story is a vital piece of the puzzle, and we want to make sure your voice is part of the conversation. 🧩

Sometimes, sharing our experiences can feel a little heavy. You might wonder if your journey truly makes a difference or if it’s "big enough" to matter. Please know that you are enough, exactly as you are, and your perspective is invaluable to us.

This year’s conference theme is "Bridging Generations: Every Piece Counts." We believe that when we bring our unique perspectives together: from those who have walked this path for years to those just beginning: we create a stronger, more compassionate community for all Kansans. 🌻

We want everyone to have a seat at the table. If the cost of attendance feels like a barrier, we encourage you to apply for a scholarship.

The deadline to submit your application is March 30th.

Whether you’re ready to share your story or simply want to listen and learn, there is a place for you here. Let’s bridge the gap together. 💙

Scholarships can be submitted through this link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/HRSSQXF

If you have any questions or would like to have an application emailed please contact:
Melissa Patrick
melissapatrick@kansascac.org
(316) 312-3479 - text messages are accepted, please leave a voicemail if no answer

03/18/2026

Big news for our workforce! 🌟

Kansas has been selected as a core state for the federal NEON initiative! This means more expert support and better policies to help Kansans with mental health conditions find and keep meaningful employment. 💼✨

We believe that everyone deserves the chance to pursue their career goals and gain financial independence. This initiative is a huge step toward breaking down barriers and proving that mental health conditions don't define what you can achieve in the workplace.

Let's keep building a Kansas where everyone has the opportunity to thrive! ❤️🙌

You can find the official news release from the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services here: https://www.kdads.ks.gov/Home/Components/News/News/82/316

03/13/2026

There is a place for your story here, and we can’t wait to hear it. 💙

We’re so excited to announce the 2026 Kansas Recovery Conference! This year’s theme is "Bridging Generations: Every Piece Counts."

Recovery isn’t a one-size-fits-all journey. It’s built piece by piece through shared wisdom, connecting those who’ve walked the path for years with those just beginning. Whether you’re a long-time advocate or looking for a little extra hope, you’re a vital part of this community.

We want everyone to have the chance to join us. If the cost of attending might be a barrier to joining us, please know that scholarships are available to help. We’d love to support you in being there, but the deadline to apply is coming up fast on March 30th.

You can use the QR codes in the flyer or links provided below to register, apply for a scholarship, or even nominate someone for an award!

You are worthy of these spaces, these conversations, and this community.

We can’t wait to see how all our pieces fit together this year! 🧩✨



Conference Links
Scholarship Application Link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/HRSSQXF
Workshop Proposal Link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/HR9SBD8
Registration Brochure Link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/HR2J2CV
Awards Packet Link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/73CQBTX
Exhibitor Brochure Link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/73V53BY

03/13/2026

The energy from Advocacy Day earlier this week is still settling in our hearts, and it’s left us thinking about the incredible power of your voice. When we talk about "lived experience," we aren’t just using a phrase. We’re talking about the wisdom you’ve gained through the quiet battles, the heavy seasons, and the moments you decided to keep going. That history isn’t a burden: it’s the most powerful tool we have to reshape mental health in Kansas. If sharing your story feels hard right now, or if you’re just focusing on getting through today, let that be enough. Your presence alone is a testament to resilience. Whether you’re speaking to legislators or simply supporting a friend, your journey has the power to light the way for someone else. We are so proud to walk this path with you. You are seen, you are valued, and your story is a strength that no one can take away. How are you honoring your own strength today? Let us know in the comments. 🌻💙

02/27/2026

Calling all Kansas students in grades 6–12! Share your voice in our Youth Art Contest—express hope, strength, and resilience through your art. Whether you paint, draw, create digitally, or make a short video or audio piece, your story matters.

No matter the challenges, art can help us reflect and connect. Entries are due by April 3rd. Join us in supporting mental well-being and uplifting our community.

Learn more and enter at https://kansassuicidepreventioncoalition.org/youth-art-contest/

02/25/2026

Your voice is a powerful tool for change, and we’d love for you to join us as we use ours together.

Walking into the Statehouse can feel a bit heavy. Between the high ceilings and the fast-paced policy talk, it’s easy to feel like you need a law degree just to have your voice heard. 🏛️

But here is the truth we want you to carry with you: Your lived experience is your expertise. You don’t need to be a policy expert to influence change in Kansas. When you share what you have walked through, you are offering something no data sheet can: the heart of why mental health advocacy matters.

Your story is the most powerful tool you have. Whether it’s your first time or your tenth, your voice belongs in those rooms. If you’re joining us for Mental Health Advocacy Day on March 9th, know that we are right there with you. If you’re feeling nervous, know that you are in not in this alone. We’ll navigate it together. 🌻💚

Are you planning to join us in Topeka this year? Drop a "yes" or a heart below so we can cheer you on!

To register or for more details please visit: https://kansasmentalhealthcoalition.wildapricot.org/event-6502553

02/20/2026

Your journey has power, and your lived experience is exactly what we’re looking for. 🌻

We’re hiring a part-time Outreach Specialist! If you’ve walked the path of mental health or substance use recovery, your voice is a unique strength. We believe those who have “been there” are the most powerful guides for others.

In this role, you’ll travel across our beautiful state, connecting with communities and sharing the hope of recovery. From supporting local groups to educating partners, you’ll help reshape how Kansas sees mental health.

What you’ll need:
✨ Lived experience in the mental health or substance use system.
🚗 A valid license and vehicle (for Kansas-wide travel).
🤝 A heart for advocacy and connecting with others.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
✅Engages individuals and groups to support the development of local support groups.
✅Provide assistance to Consumer-Run Organizations under the direction of supervisor(s)
✅ Work in collaboration with the other program staff and partners to identify agencies to conduct outreach
✅Engage and work with mental health centers to educate clinicians and staff around issues of peer support and recovery

If you’re ready to turn your experience into a tool for change, we’d love to meet you. You aren’t just a candidate: you’re a vital part of the conversation.

For more information please contact
Melissa Patrick
melissapatrick@kansascac.org

Let’s make sure no one in Kansas has to walk this path alone. 💙

02/20/2026

We’re looking for an organized and dedicated Office Manager to join our team! 💼✨

If you have lived experience with the mental health or substance abuse system and a heart for advocacy, we’d love to hear from you. You’ll be helping us stay organized, managing the office, and supporting our mission to strengthen the voice of mental health in Kansas.

Requirements include:
✅ Lived experience (mental health/substance abuse system)
✅ Strong organizational & MS Office skills
✅ Knowledge of Kansas mental health systems
✅ Valid driver’s license or reliable transport

Join us in making a difference! 🌻✨

For more information or to apply please contact Melissa Patrick
melissapatrick@kansascac.org

02/19/2026

Here is a bill in the Kansas Senate that bears watching!

New episode of Health in the 34th out now!

SB 363 is currently making its way through the Kansas Legislature, and is being pitched as an "efficiency" bill, but during Senate hearings, advocates, pediatricians, food banks, parents of children with disabilities, and faith leaders warned that it would increase costs, raise error rates, and cause eligible Kansans to lose access to Medicaid and SNAP because of paperwork.

Hear the testimony firsthand in this episode as we break down what this bill could mean for Kansas families.

Listen on our website or wherever you get your podcasts: https://healthykansas.org/podcast/

Includes clips from: KanCare Advocates Network, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network of Kansas ACS CAN , Kansas Action for Children , Kansas Appleseed , Kansas Interfaith Action , Disability Rights Center of Kansas, Little Lobbyists, Kansas Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics, , Harvesters - The Community Food Network, , Kansas Department of Health and Environment, Kansas Department for Children and Families

02/17/2026

Today is Random Acts of Kindness Day, but in our community, we see these moments every day through peer support. It’s in the "I hear you," the "I’ve been there too," and the quiet strength of shared lived experience. When someone truly understands what you’re walking through, it reminds you that you aren’t alone.

Kindness doesn’t have to be a grand gesture. It can be a supportive text to a friend, a warm smile to a stranger, or even just giving yourself permission to rest.

Don’t forget to be kind to yourself, too. If all you did today was keep going, let that be enough. You are doing the hard work, and you are enough exactly as you are right now. 💙

How are you practicing kindness today? Whether it’s for a neighbor or for yourself, we’d love to hear about it.

02/16/2026

💙 We are so excited to share the theme for our 2026 Kansas Recovery Conference.

✨ Bridging Generations: Every Piece Counts ✨

Recovery isn’t a solo journey, and it doesn’t look the same for everyone. We’re coming together to honor the wisdom of our elders, the energy of our youth, and every beautiful moment in between. Because here, every single piece and every single person counts. 🧩

Mark your calendars, friends! We’d love to see you there:
🗓️ June 16-17, 2026
📍 Holiday Inn Wichita East I35 | Wichita, KS

Registration details will be coming soon! 🌻

Let’s make every piece count.