Tribune photo/Rayma Silvers Social and Rehabilitation Services Customer Access Consultant Angie Cummings processes applications for assistance. The local SRS office offers programs that help protect children and make parents more self-reliant. [Click to enlarge]

At 1 p.m. on April 22, employees from the Social and Rehabilitation Services Southeast Kansas Region addressed about 35 area residents, who gathered at the Fort Scott Housing Authority to discover what services the local SRS can offer those in need.

According to SRS Director of Prevention, Community Capacity and Customer Service Jan Correll, the organization was very pleased with the number of community members who participated in the "Getting to Know Your SRS" event.

"I felt like we had an opportunity to share some good information with the people in the community," Correll said.

Correll said SRS Economic and Employment Support Supervisor Pat Wallace, SRS Children and Family Services Supervisor Kathy Hays and SRS Rehabilitation Service Supervisor Sue Morrell outlined some the potential benefits that SRS can offer local residents.

Residents, who find themselves in need, can apply at the agency's local office, 108 W. Second, for various services. SRS offers services that help protect children and advocates for adult self-reliance, according to SRS pamphlets provided by Correll.

"Our Mission: To protect children and promote adult self-sufficiency. Our Vision: Partnering to connect Kansas with supports and services to improve lives," the SRS fact sheet said.

For some families, obtaining employment would be the answer to many of their financial problems. However, some parents find the cost of childcare a deterrent to seeking employment. For qualifying families, SRS can offer assistance with over-whelming child care costs, according to the SRS pamphlets.

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"The child care subsidy program may be able to help pay a portion or all of child care expenses that are incurred by employed parents, and TAF (Temporary Assistance for Families) parents meeting work programs' requirements," the SRS information said.

Area residents who are having difficulty finding or keeping a job, should contact the local office for assistance from their employment program. The program helps participants find employment. It also provides work-related support services such as training.

According to the SRS information provided by Correll, everyone in Kansas should have access to good health care. Unfortunately, the pamphlet said, not all Kansas families are able to acquire affordable health coverage. Families can greatly benefit from having comprehensive health coverage in place. Health insurance can make it possible for medical conditions to receive better care at less cost by having them diagnosed early. Also, a lower amount of emergency room visits can help lower insurance rates for everyone. Local families who meet the income guidelines may qualify for health insurance benefits through the local SRS office.

Low-income families may be able to free up some of their income for paying bills, by receiving food assistance from the local agency. Money for use on food items is electronically loaded onto a Vision card account for food assistance participants. The Vision card acts like a credit or debit card and can be used at most grocery stores.

In addition to the information provided about food benefits, insurance, child care and TAF assistance, SRS Supervisor for Child Support Enforcement Connie Egbert presented information to event attendees about child support enforcement. Child support enforcement has the ability to locate a non-custodial parent in order to collect child support payments. It also can identify a child's father by establishing an order of paternity, which will create a legal relationship between the father and the child, according to the SRS pamphlets.

Some of the other services offered by the state agency include: presumptive medical disability; grandparents as caregivers program; emergency food assistance; Low Income Energy Assistance Program; services for immigrants; rehabilitation services; home and community based services; mental health services; substance abuse treatment services; and protective services for children and adults.

For more information about SRS, visit the agency's Web site at www.srskansas.org or call the local office at (620) 223-4010.