Alliances & Grantees
Working Together for Change.
A Community of Care
County-level DEC alliances are the foundation of the DEC approach. They connect local communities, institutions, and agencies with state and national coordination to improve outcomes for children.
Each alliance is a multidisciplinary team that may include:
- Educators
- Law enforcement
- Healthcare providers
- Behavioral health professionals
- Child welfare staff
- Faith leaders
- Community partners
Together, these partners work to:
- Identify children earlier
- Coordinate response across systems
- Reduce service gaps
- Strengthen trauma-informed practices
- Connect families to appropriate support
While each county responds to its unique context, all alliances share a common purpose: protect children, support families, and strengthen coordinated community response.
Explore All Alliances & Grantees
Visit the directory for local contacts, resources and more.
The DEC Approach
The Drug-Endangered Children (DEC) approach is a national model supported by the National Alliance for Drug Endangered Children (NADEC). NADEC develops, trains, implements, and supports State, Tribal, Local, and Regional DEC alliances.
DEC alliances are structured, multidisciplinary teams of professionals who share a common vision and collaborate effectively to respond to children impacted by substance use.
Alliances focus on:
- Community awareness
- Cross-system training
- Technical assistance
- Resource development
- Early identification and intervention
NADEC certifies alliances that meet established standards. Certified alliances become part of a national network committed to strengthening child safety and family stability.
In Kansas, KADEC supports county alliances through training, coordination, and ongoing technical assistance to ensure alignment with national best practices.
Raise Awareness
Take Action
Build Connections
How Alliances Strengthen Communities
Effective DEC alliances:
- Improve communication between agencies
- Formalize collaboration through shared protocols and MOUs
- Reduce duplication of services
- Strengthen referral pathways
- Increase early identification of children at risk
- Promote trauma-informed response
When communities coordinate earlier, children experience fewer gaps in care and stronger long-term outcomes.
Supporting Communities Through the DECK Grant Program
In partnership with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE), communities across Kansas are strengthening coordinated response for Drug Endangered Children through the Drug Endangered Children in Kansas (DECK) program.
Funded through a grant awarded to KDHE by the U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance, DECK supports local organizations working to improve early identification, prevention, and cross-system collaboration.
To date, 29 communities across Kansas have received a combined $3 million in funding to expand awareness, training, and protective response efforts.
What the DECK Program Supports
DECK funding helps communities:
- Increase identification of children impacted by caregiver substance use
- Strengthen partnerships between public health, behavioral health, education, law enforcement, and child welfare
- Expand trauma-informed training and professional development
- Improve referral systems and coordinated response protocols
- Raise awareness about the risks facing children in substance-impacted environments
The goal is not enforcement. The goal is earlier recognition, stronger partnerships, and better outcomes for children.
Why This Investment Matters
An estimated 165,847 Kansas children live in environments where a parent or caregiver uses substances.
Approximately 3,781 infants are born exposed to substances in Kansas each year.
Without coordinated systems of support, many of these children remain unseen.
Through DECK funding, communities are building the infrastructure needed to:
- Recognize signs earlier
- Respond with care and coordination
- Reduce preventable harm
- Strengthen long-term family stability
Current DECK Grantee Communities
The following organizations are among the 29 DECK grantees across Kansas:
- Central Kansas Partnership (Rice and Barton Counties)
- Clay County Health Department
- Franklin County Health Department
- Harvey County Health Department
- High Point Advocacy and Resource Center Inc. (Multi-county region)
- IMPACT Ulysses Inc. (Grant County)
- Jefferson County Health Department
- Jewell County Health Department
- Johnson County Mental Health Center
- Kansas City Kansas Police Department
- Liberal Area Coalition for Families (Seward County)
- McPherson County Health Department
- Miami County Health Department
- Mitchell County Regional Medical Foundation
- Project DREAM Inc. (Ellis County)
- Quality of Life Coalition, Inc. (Dickinson County)
- Riley County Health Department
- Rise Up Reno Prevention Network
- Sedgwick County KS Alliance for Drug Endangered Children
Each grantee strengthens the statewide network working to ensure every child is seen, supported, and safe.