Group aims leadership skills at mental health in Reno County

26 Jun Group aims leadership skills at mental health in Reno County

A group of 24 individuals from various backgrounds and professions is focused on making progress on the adaptive challenge of mental health in Reno County.

The 2024 Mental Health Leadership Cohort is a new approach to the Kansas Leadership Center’s Leadership Transformation Grant that Hutchinson Community Foundation has held on behalf of the community since 2019. The leadership development grant has allowed more than 100 individuals representing 49 businesses and organizations in Reno County to take part in KLC programs.

The new cohort, selected earlier this year after a public call for participants, is focused on applying leadership competencies to a particular community adaptive challenge while practicing building collaborative relationships and generating collaborative action.

“We felt it was time now to go deep into one challenge with the goals of practicing the experimental mindset, catalyzing action on the issue through the application of KLC principles, and creating ripple effects of change across the system,” said Kari Mailloux, director of strategic initiatives at Hutchinson Community Foundation and a member of the grant leadership team. Other members of the grant leadership team are Donna Davis, retired; Denice Gilliland, Hutch Rec; David Sotelo, City of Hutchinson; Valerie Taylor, United Way of Reno County; and Gregg Wamsley, Hutchinson Public Library.

This year’s focus on mental health supports the priorities of the 2023 Reno County Community Health Improvement Plan and the United Way of Reno County’s Mental Health Task Force. The task force is a United Way of Reno County collective impact group focused on mental health that paused during the COVID-19 pandemic and reformed in 2024.

“Through the efforts of the Mental Health Task Force, we are not just addressing symptoms; we aspire to improve our community health by dismantling stigma, bolstering support within our school systems, and creating connections with law enforcement,” said leadership team member Valerie Taylor. “The Mental Health Task Force and the Mental Health Cohort are paving the way toward mental well-being because it’s not just a priority but a fundamental human right.”

The members of the year-long cohort began their experience with a relationship-building dinner and participation in KLC’s one-day When Everyone Leads program in April. Members of the cohort will meet throughout the summer and fall and attend two more programs on the KLC path.  The final session in December will have the cohort share their experience and experiments with the Mental Health Task Force.

“As the Chief of Police for the Hutchinson Police Department, my priority is to focus on diverting individuals from the Criminal Justice System and providing them with the appropriate help they need,” said cohort member Chief Brice Burlie. “Arresting and incarcerating people with mental health issues is not a solution. Society is beginning to recognize that a comprehensive approach is needed to help people with mental health concerns. This involves law enforcement, probation officers, courts, attorneys, mental health professionals, and jails. I want to ensure that my agency is involved in solving this issue.”

Cohort participant Hillary Barragan specializes in working with youth of diverse backgrounds and experiences.

“I have been greatly affected in such a positive way by community mental health in Reno County and I want to help keep making services better and accessible for all,” she said,

Cohort member D’ana Heinlein sees existing progress worth building upon.

“I feel that if we are moving towards raising awareness, finding and sharing resources, and good, open, honest communication between all parties — I would call that progress,” she said. “I feel like we are moving in the right direction and that with this set of passionate people that we’ll see big things happen.”

The Community Health Improvement Plan may be viewed here: tinyurl.com/2stwda5v.

The following are members of the 2024 Mental Health Leadership Cohort:

Hillary Barragan

Melanie Brunk

Lacey Bryant

Brice Burlie

Matthew Caraway

Chucc Crumble

Kelsey Davies

Jaime Garcia

Ashley Genschorck

Shara Gonzales

D’ana Heinlein

Jane Holzrichter

Teniesha Johnson

Elicia Lance

Dustin Loepp

Barbara Luna

Kelbe McGill

Tayla Naden

Lisa Orrison

Sarah Reade

Cammie Rumback

Dakotah Sanders

Sierra Wood

Dively “Dee” Zarate