Latest News

03/31/26

Senator Marshall visits with DSNWK to discuss local services

By TONY GUERRERO
Hays Post

U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Great Bend, visited Developmental Services of Northwest Kansas to learn more about their work supporting Kansans with disabilities in finding employment.

LaVonne Giess, DSNWK manager of employment, and Jerry Michaud, DSNWK president, led Marshall throughout the Employment Connections facility in Hays.

Employment Connections helps individuals build job skills and find employment, with services tailored based on the individual, their guardian, their support team and available funding.

Marshall greeted several workers who were crafting and repurposing donated materials into items to be sold through Custom Creations, 1107 Main St.

Giess said about seven workers rotate through the program Monday through Friday at varying times.

"Together, they decide what they're going to do with [donated items], what color they're going to paint it and also come up with other little projects," Giess said.

The program aims to offer a wide range of work sites and settings, giving individuals of all abilities the opportunity to work.

Michaud briefed Marshall on the scope of DSNWK’s services, what the organization provides and how it operates, including support from federal housing grants.

"All of our primary funding for services comes through the Medicaid program under what they call the home and community-based services waiver," Michaud said. "It's the federal and state combination that allows us to have the resources to pay staff and do the work in this board."

Michaud told Marshall federal regulations pose challenges for DSNWK, describing some requirements as “puzzling.”

Michaud said the Home and Community-Based Services settings rule calls for smaller living arrangements, for about three people, which requires additional staff and resources.

"In the absence of the resources to do it, we're in a predicament where we can't meet the requirements that we're being expected to meet," he said. 

Michaud said DSNWK serves multiple roles in the region, providing direct services and helping individuals navigate Medicaid, but federal rules require those functions to be separated to avoid conflicts of interest.

Michaud told Marshall there is no evidence of conflicts of interest at DSNWK or in its services, but added that potential conflicts exist in any situation.

"We are facing in a couple of years a transition where organizations like us cannot provide targeted case management and services together because there's the potential for conflict," he said.

Marshall responded, "One size doesn't fit all. Maybe in urban America, that's more easily to create a conflict of interest than. There's simply nobody else to do it."

"The hands of the clock move slowly in DC, but I'll try to push back," Marshall said.

Department of Homeland Security shutdown

Hays Post also asked Roger Marshall about the ongoing Department of Homeland Security shutdown, which he called frustrating. It is one of the longest partial shutdowns in U.S. history.

"We can't get seven Democrats to come across the aisle and fund border security and border patrol," he said. "What the Senate passed was funding for everything in DHS, except for ICE and border patrol, which was sent to the House, and they rejected that. And you know, I agree with the House, we would like to fund all of it together, but the Democrats are not interested in funding DHS. Their goal is to shut down ICE," Marshall said.

He said the Trump administration is using previously allocated funds to pay TSA workers, and Republicans might pursue funding through reconciliation.

Marshall said Kansans could feel the impact of airport disruptions mainly through major connecting hubs nationwide, as state airports have not seen significant issues.

03/13/2026

Hays Lions Club supports DSNWK with grant

Developmental Services of Northwest Kansas (DSNWK) is excited to announce that they have received a $1,000.00 grant award from the Hays Lions Club to benefit its Medical Fund for the people they serve who have developmental disabilities. 

This Fund assists individuals with the cost of medical items and care that are not covered by Medicaid, items such as eye glasses and other vision needs.  “As the Lions Club focuses on sight programs and eye care, this grant award will help improve the vision care needs of the people we serve and in turn their quality of life and independence, " states Jerry Michaud DSNWK President.

DSNWK would like to thank the Hays Lions Club for their continuous support of people with developmental disabilities.

03/11/2026

PDC Receives Grant from Second Century Fund

Developmental Services of Northwest Kansas (DSNWK) is pleased to announce a grant award of $700.00 from the Second Century Fund for the purchase of an ice machine for its Community Room at Prairie Developmental Center (PDC) in Atwood.

PDC’s Community Room functions as a space daily for instruction and classes for its College for Living program.  It is also a heavily utilized space for various organizations throughout the Atwood community. Clubs, groups and families use the kitchen area to prepare meals and serve participants and guests.  The ice maker will allow these groups to have ice for drinks without having to bring it in from the outside.

“Having an ice maker in the kitchen at PDC will make the community room a more attractive facility for the community, states Jerry Michaud, DSNWK President.  “It gives our staff and community members something practical, one less thing to worry about when setting up for their function.”

02/19/2026

Dancing Together for DSNWK set for March 1 in Hays

By TONY GUERRERO
Hays Post

Once the music starts, the stage won't be big enough to hold the joy at Dancing Together for Developmental Services of Northwest Kansas.

Organizers with DSNWK and Styles Dance Centre said the show is an inclusion-focused performance and fundraiser.

The event brings together Styles dancers and individuals served by DSNWK. Sarah Biggs, DSNWK director of programs and services, said the partnership brings many smiles to everyone involved.

"It's just a great mix," she said. "Interacting with them in the studio is so much fun."

The event is scheduled for 3 p.m. on March 1 at the Beach Schmidt Performing Arts Center at Fort Hays State University. Admission is by free-will donation, and raffle tickets will be sold, with all proceeds benefiting DSNWK.

Alyssa DeChant, owner of Styles Dance Centre, said she has helped coordinate the event for several years, and this year’s performance will include 50 DSNWK participants.

"Some are traveling from all over Kansas this year to participate," DeChant said. "It's a really great way for my kids to work with individuals with disabilities and bring them together into the studio."

Their first rehearsal on Monday prepared dancers for the show, which will end with a grand finale featuring cheerleaders and dancers from the Arc, Hays High School and FHSU. Participants practiced in large and small groups.

DSNWK participants are traveling from surrounding areas, including as far away as Norton. With the large number of performers, organizers said audience members can expect to see dancers in the aisles.

"You can just feel the whole auditorium moving, and it's a pretty cool piece," Biggs said.

Allison Dreiling, a Styles Dance Centre alumna, is again choreographing and leading rehearsals this year. The annual event began as a project in an FHSU leadership class and now fosters year-round connections.

"It's created such a community for my dancers that they may not have ever been introduced to if it weren't for this show," DeChant said. "We see these individuals out in the community and at other events. They remember us, they know our names and we know theirs."

Trudi Mapes, a DSNWK client and dancer, said she enjoyed the rehearsal and that it wasn't her first rodeo.

"I've done this lots of times—about four or five times," Mapes said.

The song she is learning to dance to is "You Don't Know You're Beautiful" by One Direction.

Biggs thanks the moms who work extra hours to make the event possible and the businesses that donated to the 20 raffle baskets.

DeChant said the show precedes her dancers’ upcoming competitions and offers an opportunity to practice while working with individuals with disabilities.