Board of Douglas County, KS, Commissioners Work Session on June 17, 2026

The Douglas County, Kansas Board of Commissioners held a work session on June 17, 2026, focused on addressing the community's need for social detox beds for individuals with substance use disorders. The discussion involved multiple behavioral health partners, including Avalon Wellness and Recovery, DECA, Bert Nash, and others. Avalon proposed establishing 4 to 6 social detox beds with 24-hour supervision to fill gaps in current services, particularly for men, as existing beds primarily serve women. The proposal included a six-month funding request to support startup costs, with a transition to reimbursement-based funding thereafter. Commissioners and partners discussed the challenges of coordinating care, funding allocations, and the potential impact of involving a for-profit provider alongside nonprofits. No formal vote was taken; the proposal was presented as a preview for the upcoming budget cycle, with commissioners requesting further collaboration among partners to refine referral processes, data collection, and outcomes tracking before moving forward.