Month: September 2014

Kansas, Missouri organizations receive mental health grants

by KHI News Service

Washington, D.C. — Academic institutions and educational organizations in Kansas and Missouri were awarded federal grants of more than $1.2 million to train mental health providers and expand community efforts, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced Monday.

The grants were among $99 million disbursed by HHS under the Obama administration’s “Now Is the Time” plan aimed at reducing gun violence, increasing access to mental health services and making schools safer, according to a department news release.

“The Administration is committed to increasing access to mental health services to protect the health of children and communities,” HHS Secretary Sylvia M. Burwell said in a statement. “Today, I am pleased to announce another step the Department is taking to help ensure that our young people have access to the mental health services they need to reach their full potential.”

Awards to educate and train mental health professionals include:

• University of Kansas Center for Research in Lawrence, $242,857.
• University of Missouri-Kansas City, $132,924.
• University of Missouri-St. Louis, $312,807.
• Saint Louis University, $77,681.
• Washington University in St. Louis, $146,143.
• Junior College District of Metropolitan Kansas City, Mo., $299,712.
Local educational agency grants for Project AWARE (Advancing Wellness and Resilience in Education) include:
• Southeast Kansas Education Service Center, Girard, $97,884.
• Kansas City, Kan., Public Schools, $99,960.

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Construction company gives care center a big boost

Metro Lutheran Ministry Board member Duane Dean, left, looked over a new shower at St. Luke's Lutheran Church with Pastor Scott Eberlein. (Photo from Dale Garrison)
Metro Lutheran Ministry Board member Duane Dean, left, looked over a new shower at St. Luke’s Lutheran Church with Pastor Scott Eberlein. (Photo from Dale Garrison)

by Dale Garrison

A recent example of Metro Lutheran Ministry’s effective volunteer program involves construction at St. Luke’s Lutheran Church, 722 Reynolds, in Kansas City, Kan.

The site of MLM’s Wyandotte County Community Care Center, the project included installation of three showers on two floors, along with installation of a washer and dryer. One of the showers is handicapped accessible. People who visit the Saturday breakfast program or the weekday pantry can now perform basic hygiene that, for the homeless, is often impossible. Not only does it add significantly to health and comfort, it makes other things more possible, especially much needed job interviews.

The story behind the effort involves MLM board member Duane Dean, who owns Miller Stauch Construction Company, which is only a few blocks from the church. He heard through MLM that the church pastors had mentioned the need and acted.

“Basically, we wanted to make it a good situation for people who don’t have access to showers and laundry facilities,” Dean explained. “Now when people come in to have breakfast or pick up food supplies, they have access to this. Some are living on the street and really need a place to go and clean up.”

Dean said the effort was not difficult for his commercial construction company, but with his experience volunteering at MLM Saturday breakfasts and now serving as a volunteer board member, he had no doubt about the need.

“We were grateful to be part of it,” he said. “I thought, ‘Here’s something that we can do where we can help people in the community.’ It’s a real need, so to have the opportunity to help out is something that doesn’t come along often.”

He’s seen other MLM successes since first becoming aware of the organization through St. Luke’s co-pastors Scott Eberlein and Luke Kammrath.

“I just got hooked there,” he laughed. “I thought, ‘These guys are serious. They have a great program and mean business.’ That makes it easy to make a decision to lend a hand. Otherwise, how do you break the cycle? How do you break the chain?”

KCKCC celebrates International Day of Peace

by Kelly Rogge

Kansas City Kansas Community College remembered a long-time educator Friday during the inaugural U.N.-Henry Louis Center peace roundtable.

KCKCC faculty, staff and students attended the event as part of the International Day of Peace. The International Day of Peace is celebrated each year on Sept. 21 and is dedicated to observing world peace. First celebrated in 1982, the goal is to educate the community on world peace and to reduce conflict and war throughout the world.

During KCKCC’s round table, military officers from Fort Leavenworth shared their experiences in the United Nation’s peacekeeping effort. In addition, those who attended learned about how they can help maintain peace within their own community and what they can do as private citizens to promote peace. Following the presentation, those in the audience had the opportunity to ask questions and to learn more about keeping societies peaceful. The event was sponsored by the Henry M. Louis Center for Global Transitional Justice at KCKCC, the Ralph Bunche Society, Students for Global Peace, the KCKCC-Leavenworth Center and the Intercultural Center.

“We had a great program on peace-making and peacekeeping on campus,” said Karen Hernandez, former KCKCC Board of Trustees member. “Henry Louis’ legacy lives on in all of those who model his extraordinary gift of bringing people together to celebrate diversity and work toward peace.”

The Henry M. Louis Center was named after former KCKCC professor Henry Louis, who is described as being a “global extrovert” and had a philosophy and vision of transitional justice throughout the world. An award at KCKCC is also named in honor of the educator, the Henry M. Louis Outstanding faculty Award – the hallmark award for KCKCC faculty. From 1967 until 2005 Louis served the college as teacher, chairman of the Social Sciences Division and finally as Dean of the Social and Behavioral Sciences. He was a historian who loved to teach and was considered a lifelong student of diverse cultures and histories. Louis had a keen eye for shared values, always respectful of differences and he continuously revised his courses, searching for new ways to encourage in his students the love of learning that shaped his life.

“Friday’s program was one of superior intellectual quality. I was proud to be a part of the audience, and was pleased to stay through two stimulating sessions,” said Pamela Louis-Walden, Louis’s wife. “I thank all those involved in the activities, and I am thrilled that Henry’s name is used with such fine programming.”

For more information on the International Day of Peace or the Henry M. Louis Center for Transitional Justice, contact Ewa Unoke, KCKCC professor, at eunoke@kckcc.edu or by calling 913-288-7318.