The Barton County Commission Monday morning approved funding the Sunflower Diversified Early Childhood Intervention Program for $15,000. The money was included in the county’s 2021 operating budget and this is something the county has done since 1970.

The program provides individualized services to children ages birth to 3 years with a developmental delay or disability, said Sunflower’s Executive Director Jon Prescott. But last year was challenging due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The program serves children from the agency’s five-county catchment area, including Barton, Pawnee, Rice, Rush and Stafford counties, with most coming from Barton. Sunflower’s staff serves children in the home, thus including the family actively in the educational process. 

“COVID was tough,” he said. “We had a very tough year in 2020, but that’s not a new story. Everybody really struggled.”

Sunflower lost $147,000 in Children’s Services funding in 2020. They were down 30% in the number of kids that they served, mainly because a lot of families would not allow staff to come into their homes because of the fear of COVID.

“This has a direct effect on the money the agency receives from the state,” he said. The per-child subsidy doesn’t cover 100% of their expense and they have to raise the balance.

“We had a lot of families decline,” he said. Even when they came back and offered a video service, a lot of families didn’t have the resources, internet, or a computer. 

“So it’s a big hit,” he said. “But things are looking better.”

The silver lining

He has said in the past that there were 150 kids with a diagnosis of autism in central Kansas and the five counties they serve. “And that has not changed,” Prescott said.

Sunflower has invested a lot of money, and made a commitment to serve these children. They are the only such center in the area, with the other closest ones being in Wichita and Kansas City.

“These families had no services, not with the expertise, certification and credentialing as autism specialists, to help their kids develop from birth to age 5,” he said. “It’s exciting to see that we’re finally getting traction on that.”

They are now helping seven children with autism and there are five on the waiting list. They would be able to meet all these needs, but can’t find employees “who have the heart to serve and support kids to help train them to get caught up,” he said.

“There’s a lot more in need,” he said. And, there is the potential that Sunflower may in the future need a new school building to accommodate the growth.

Over all, he said they are on pace to serve more children than in 2019.

“So we’re going to ignore that 2020 even existed,” he said. “2021 has really gained some momentum. People are becoming comfortable.”

Most of the staff and clients have had their COVID vaccinations, and Prescott thanked the Barton County Health Department, which came out to their locations and provided the shots.

“So, 2021 is going to be a new year, regardless what COVID is or is not,” he said. They are pushing forward.

An area-wide effort

In response to a question from District 5 Commissioner Jennifer Schartz, Prescott said the majority of the children they serve are in Barton County, but the other four counties also provide funds. Rice County provides $33,000, Pawnee and Stafford counties each provide $22,500, and Rush County provides $5,500 (most children there go to Hays).

In fact, he said individuals Larned, Lyons have reached out to Sunflower to provide on-site autism services in those communities. 

“I just want to say thank you,” commission Chairman Jim Daily, District 4,said. “You guys provide a tremendous service out there.”

Sunflower has served children since 1966, and also operates the Incredible Years Preschool which serves older children. In addition, in 1969, it added adult services.

The Early Education Center is one of 33 tiny-K networks (tiny Kansans) serving special needs children from birth to 3 across the state. The overall goal of early education is to help the child overcome, or diminish, the delay to allow for an easier transition into future required services.

“We’ve been providing services for children and adults for 55 years, which I think is amazing,” Prescott said.