One Mission MANY VOICES
FROM THE PRESIDENT & CEO
At Wyandot Behavioral Health Network, our mission has always been rooted in listening to the voices of our community. We serve a county that is richly diverse in culture, background, and experience. That diversity comes with an equally diverse set of needs, hopes and challenges. We know those needs cannot be met with a one-sizefits-all approach.
We work hard to ensure that each person who walks through our doors feels seen and heard. That means offering care that is tailored to the individual — care that aligns with their goals, their timeline, and their definition of recovery. Whether we’re providing therapy, crisis support or housing assistance, we know that listening and adapting are key to meaningful, lasting impact.
Listening to our community is what led us to invest in a new downtown Kansas City, Kansas, service location — bringing care closer to the areas with the highest need and expanding access across the county. This work closely aligns with our role as the Lead Behavioral Health Agency for Wyandotte County’s Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP). When the community identified behavioral health as a top concern, we listened — and we’re working with our CHIP partners to address those concerns head-on.
Our mission remains unchanged. And so does our commitment to listening — to our staff, our stakeholders, and the community we serve.
WHAT’S NEXT FOR WYANDOT BHN?
Over the next year, Wyandot BHN will continue listening to our community and responding with care. As the lead behavioral health agency for Wyandotte County’s CHIP, we’re working with primary care partners to care for both body and mind.
We’re also focused on the basics that make recovery possible. We plan to expand transitional and permanent housing opportunities for people with behavioral health needs who are unhoused, especially those returning from Osawatomie State Hospital or Nursing Facilities for Mental Health. We’re also growing our substance use and opioid treatment programs so more people can get help close to home. And we’re taking steps to become a licensed Crisis Intervention Center in 2026, so people in crisis — and those who care about them — have a safe place to turn.
COMMUNITY IMPACT
*Unaudited financials
Our audited financial statements are prepared by RSM and will be available on our website at wyandotbhn.org when complete.
Kim Wilson Housing
402 adults received case management
151 individuals found housing support
One Mission. Many Voices
When Jason* arrived at our crisis center, he was overwhelmed and unsure of where to turn. With the support of our care team, he found the stability and tools he needed to begin healing. Jason now feels stronger, more hopeful, and credits the staff and his new medication for helping him turn things around. “There wasn’t a bad egg in the batch. Top marks all around,” he shared. Recently, Jason returned to drop off a thank you gift of UNO cards and a basketball for others in crisis. His journey is a powerful reminder that recovery is possible with the right support.
David* has made incredible progress since moving to Lester Paul’s Place in February 2024. After spending 17 years incarcerated and experiencing homelessness, he was determined to turn his life around. In just eight months, David found a full-time job, moved into a fully furnished home, and has kept it clean and organized. He now works as a warehouse associate, earning praise for his dedication and hard work.
David has also embraced his passion for art, using it as a creative outlet and a way to connect with others. He’s even started sharing his work and exploring ways to sell it locally. Living in his new home, David is enjoying his independence and building a future full of hope and opportunity.
Chris* first came to PACES at 8 years old and now receives support from Wyandot Center. At 27, he is proud to be living on his own for the first time, something he once thought was impossible. With help from Wyandot Center, Chris built life skills like cooking and managing a home. He enjoys creative hobbies and dreams of earning a degree in archaeology while giving back as a blood donor.
Emma* has participated in nearly every PACES service, from psychosocial groups to Robert’s Place. PACES supported her and her family through challenges, including hospitalization and struggles with communication at home. Today, she is thriving in school, engaging with peers, and building a stronger relationship with her mother, proof of her resilience and the impact of PACES.
*Names
COMING SOON: OUR DOWNTOWN SERVICE EXPANSION
In 2026, Wyandot Behavioral Health Network will take a significant step forward toward its goal of making behavioral health care more accessible. Renovations are currently underway at our new downtown outpatient service location at 1211 North 8th Street, just two blocks north of State Avenue. This new facility will give us the space needed to provide outpatient therapy, substance use treatment, and psychiatry services for youth and adults in the area. The downtown location will also serve as a hub for our mobile crisis response team and certain Kim Wilson Housing program staff. This new location is designed to meet the growing need for mental health support east of I-635, so that quality care is easily accessible for those in our community who need it most. We are planning to open in late January or early February of 2026. Look for additional updates on our social media pages and on our website, wyandotbhn.org.
CELEBRATING A DECADE OF IMPACT
Since opening its doors in 2015, Robert’s Place has served as a safe haven for hundreds of youth in Wyandotte County during times of crisis and for families needing short-term respite care. Whether they’ve experienced abuse, neglect, or other challenging circumstances, children arriving at Robert’s Place are met with comfort, stability, and compassionate care.
In August, we honored this milestone with a community birthday bash featuring interactive children’s activities and community resource tables. The event brought together local partners, families, and supporters to reflect on ten years of impact and to recommit to the future of Robert’s Place. From a CIT K9 to a birthday cake, the day was a joyful celebration of Robert’s Place — a place to be safe… because they’re kids.
As Program Manager Chanda Wright explains, “We may only have 72 hours with a child, but in that time we plant as many seeds of hope as we can so they leave feeling safe, valued, and able to dream again.”
Wyandot Center Board of Directors
Rosemary Podrebarac, Chairperson
Therese Bysel, Vice Chairperson
DeAnthony Frazier, Secretary/Treasurer
Mike Belfonte
Frank Piper
Wyandot Center Board of Directors
Therese Bysel, Chairperson
Martin Cervantes, Vice Chairperson
Fred Zang, Secretary
Wayne Headrick, Treasurer
Denise Baynham
Rosemary Podrebarac
Brenda Adams
PACES Board of Directors
Mike Belfonte, Chairperson
Minnette Santos, Secretary/Treasurer
Scott Cahill
Octavio Estrella
Octavio Estrella
De’Anthony Frazier
Wayne Headrick
Maximillian Mendoza
Amada DeVriese-Sebilla
Kim Wilson Housing Board of Directors
Rosemary Podrebarac, Chairperson
Frank Piper, Vice Chairperson
Gilda Hodge, Secretary
Johnny Johntz, Treasurer
Brenda Adams
Dustin Hardison
Joseph Lalli
RSI Board of Directors
Fred Zang, Chairperson
Gary Bachman, Vice Chairperson
Capt. Mark Fitzgerald, Secretary/Treasurer
Wayne Headrick
Brynn Mroz
Rosemary Podrebarac
Captain Curtis Bowman
