AdventHealth Shawnee Mission Advocates for Access at Kansas Mental Health Advocacy Day, Continues Fundraising and Community Outreach Efforts

In March 2025, behavioral health team members from AdventHealth Shawnee Mission advocated for improved access to care during Mental Health Advocacy Day at the Capitol in Topeka, Kan. Along with other clinical and mental health leaders from across the state, they engaged with state legislators to emphasize the importance of treating mental health with the same urgency and care as physical health.

“We were grateful for the opportunity to be advocates for our patients and communities during Mental Health Advocacy Day,” said Rennie Shuler-McKinney, administrative director of behavioral health services at AdventHealth Shawnee Mission. “This day highlighted the critical need for increasing behavioral health services through more psychiatric beds, achieving reimbursement parity, and providing support for involuntarily admitted patients in emergency departments.”

Other issues advocated for included the 988 National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, supporting an increase in Medicaid rates, advocating for increased bed availability at Osawatomie State Hospital, and support for Kansas’s new psychiatric hospital in Wichita.

“All of these discussions are vital as we strive to enhance mental health care services that are available to our community,” said Shuler-McKinney. “Together with our elected officials, we can make a significant impact on mental health care in Kansas.”

AdventHealth Shawnee Mission, which was named by The Pitch Magazine as the Best Rehab Treatment Center (Addiction and Recovery) in Kansas City in 2024, has a rich 50-year history of providing comprehensive behavioral health services in Johnson County; and the demand for care continues to grow. In November 2024, to support the demand for behavioral health care services in the region, the AdventHealth Kansas City Foundation launched a fundraising campaign with three goals: completing the first floor of the new behavioral health outpatient clinic located at AdventHealth Shawnee Mission, creating a dedicated space to expand Intensive Outpatient Therapy, and renovating the hospital’s inpatient behavioral health unit.

“For the past several years, our Community Health Needs Assessments have shown that behavioral health continues to be a major challenge in our community, with a lack of available resources and treatment options,” said Laurie McCormack, executive director of AdventHealth Kansas City Foundation, in November. “Launching the public phase of this campaign will help ensure Kansas Citians have access to the care and resources they need, backed by AdventHealth’s whole-person approach.”

In addition to the advocacy and fundraising efforts, AdventHealth Shawnee Mission provides support for the community where the community needs it the most.

As part of the hospital’s community impact end-of-year giving campaign, AdventHealth Shawnee Mission donated $20,000 to Resurrection, A United Methodist Church’s Recovery Ministry program. The Resurrection Recovery program, which consists of more than 20 groups across seven locations, is funded solely through grants and donations. This donation will allow Resurrection Recovery to provide transportation, treatment referrals, therapy, rent, personal hygiene care, and dental health to attendees.