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8 | Page January 2 4 I ssueGovernor Kelly Announces Child Care Center Pilot in Partnership with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of KansasTOPEKA (1.23.2025) %u2013 Governor Laura Kelly announced Thursday that the State of Kansas is partnering with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas (BCBSKS) to open a licensed child care center in Topeka. The center will serve both State of Kansas and BCBSKS employees.%u201cI%u2019m pleased to announce this public-private partnership and to be able to offer increased child care options for our employees,%u201d Governor Laura Kelly said. %u201cI believe public-private partnerships are key to solving child care shortages. I urge other employers across the state to develop innovative solutions and utilize various state programs to provide greater access to care for their employees.%u201dThe child care center will be in a renovated building on the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas campus. Work on the facility will begin in the spring of 2025 and is anticipated to open in late 2026. A groundbreaking event is being planned for later this spring.The agreement calls for the State to provide $2.5 million in one-time funding to the project, which will be used to help refurbish the existing building. The 2023 Kansas Legislature approved this funding for the development of a pilot program to increase child care access to state employees. BCBSKS will cover any remaining renovation costs. The child care center is planning to operate as a 501(c)(3) and will be overseen by a Board of Directors representing the State of Kansas and BCBSKS.Once open, State of Kansas and BCBSKS employees will pay the individual enrollment costs. More information about how employees can access these child care slots will be provided at a future date.This public-private partnership aims to address the shortage of quality child care slots in Shawnee County and meet the needs of both BCBSKS and State Employees.Kansas%u2019 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Coordinating Council Reports Year-2 DataAnnual report to the Kansas Legislature includes funding and operational recommendationsTOPEKA (1.22.2025) %u2013 The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline has been in operation for a full two years and has seen successes in responding to those in crisis. Today, the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS) shares a report detailing action taken by the Kansas 988 Coordinating Council over 2024 and highlighting data for the 988 Lifeline in the state. The council created the report for the 2025 Kansas Legislature with support from the Kansas Health Institute (KHI).%u201cAs the Lifeline enters year three, continued attention to workforce development, public outreach, and service accessibility will be key to ensuring it can meet the needs of all Kansans in crisis,%u201d KDADS Deputy Secretary of Programs and Coordinating Council Chair Andrew Brown said.KHI also created an accompanying infographic. The 988 call centers in Kansas are independently operated and receive additional state and federal funding and oversight from KDADS and the coordinating council. The report includes recommendations for legislators to consider.\ shows a rise in calls to Kansas 988 centers throughout 2024, reflecting growing awareness of this important resource,%u201d KHI Analyst Valentina Blanchard MPH, LMSW, said. %u201cSupporting the council's work helps ensure that Kansans have access to the care and connection they need.%u201d