Kansas CROs

Vision & Mission
The mission of Wings Upon the Prairie is to serve past and present consumers in northwest Kansas who suffer from mental illnesses by providing companionship, socialization, information and transportation. With community cooperation, the individual will have the freedom to develop positive self-esteem, which will help in the recovery process.

Primary Programs and Activities
Wings Upon the Prairie, Inc. is being formed by people with persistent, severe mental illness to promote and increase public awareness and understanding of mental illness; and to provide services needed to enable persons with persistent, severe mental illness to be able to live independent lives within the general community. According to the High Plains Mental Health Center, there are currently more than 50 people with mental illness in the Thomas County area. Professional services provided by the mental health center included medication management, psychosocial education groups, case management, and individual counseling. Unfortunately, these services are only available during regular weekday office hours and are not peer based.

Additionally, during the last ten years, the state of Kansas as part of statewide cost-cutting measures has substantially reduced in- and out-patient services for the mentally ill in Thomas County by closing a former mental health hospital and care facility in Hays leaving the entire northwest region, including Thomas County, with very few resources for people with mental illness. Wings Upon the Prairie, Inc. will focus upon a mutual help approach where persons with mental illness will provide the programs and activities to other people with mental illness and to the general public. Research has shown that persons with persistent, severe mental illness, who have been stigmatized in the past, have a positive experience by providing and/or receiving help from other persons with similar problems. In particular, lack of employment and social support from the community at large were attributed to the stigma.

There is a great need for transportation services for people with mental illness in Thomas County. Many people suffering with persistent, severe mental illness do not have vehicles or the money to pay for transportation to activities and employment. Regularly scheduled public transportation does not exist in this region of Kansas, although there is some limited transportation available (weekdays from 8am-5pm). One of Wings Upon the Prairie, Inc.'s goals is to begin a transportation service. A transportation program would enable individuals with persistent, severe mental illness to have the opportunity to seek employment and access to activities where they can make friends with persons in the community at large and at the drop-in who will be vital to their recovery.

Contact Information
Dana Schmid, Executive Director
485 N. Franklin, PO Box 385
Colby, KS 67701
(785) 465-7477
wings@colbyweb.com