KCK Mental Health Facility Recognized For ‘Excellence In Collaboration’

A Kansas City organization that serves area nonprofits has conferred its “excellence in collaboration” award on the Rainbow Mental Health Facility in Kansas City, Kansas, for its work with the KCK police department.

Nonprofit Connect said Thursday that the Rainbow facility will be one of nine honorees at its 32nd annual Philanthropy Awards Luncheon, scheduled for May 20 at the Kansas City Marriott Downtown.

Once a 50-bed inpatient hospital operated by the state, Rainbow reopened two years ago with a 30-person capacity split equally between a short-term sobering area, an observation station designed for a maximum stay of 23 hours and a crisis-stabilization section for maximum stays of 10 days.

“Too often individuals with mental illness and substance abuse issues are placed in jail instead of receiving adequate treatment,” Nonprofit Connect said in its award announcement, citing Rainbow’s “great success” in providing crisis training for law enforcement officers and other services.

Nonprofit Connect offers education, resources and networking to help area nonprofit organizations achieve their missions. The Philanthropy Awards recognize individuals and organizations.

— Mike Sherry is a member of the Heartland Health Monitor team, a reporting collaboration among KCUR, KCPT, KHI News Service and Kansas Public Radio.