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Kansas (multiple locations)
Project Name
Just ASK (Autonomy and Safety of Kansas)
Partners
Kansas Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence (KCSDV) 
(http://www.kcsdv.org)
Kansas Association of Centers for Independent Living (KACIL)
(http://www.kacil.org)
Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE)
(http://www.kdheks.gov)
Overview
The Kansas-based collaboration – formally named Just ASK (Autonomy and Safety of Kansas) – is comprised of the state association for centers for independent living, the state coalition against sexual and domestic violence, and the state’s department of health and environment. By combining their collective experiences and knowledge, Just ASK seeks to increase access points for women with disabilities who are survivors of sexual assault or domestic violence. They hope to build bridges between independent living centers and domestic violence/sexual assault programs by drawing on common definitions of domestic violence, sexual assault, and disability, common values of safety and autonomy, and joint leadership in creating change.
Just ASK collaboration members possess state-level influence with their member programs. The Kansas Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence (KCSDV) represents 30 member programs across the state working to end sexual and domestic violence. The Kansas Association of Centers for Independent Living (KACIL) represents 10 Centers for Independent Living (CILs) in the state of Kansas. Finally, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) intersects with all of these organizations as both a partner for change and as a funding entity in the state. This collaborative’s work builds on their previous work together as recipients of the Office on Violence Against Women’s Grants to End Violence Against Women with Disabilities in 2002. After their funding ended in 2004, they continued to receive and respond to calls for training and technical assistance from across Kansas. They are using the lessons learned from this previous work to better inform their current initiative.
Just ASK ultimately wants to effect statewide change in Kansas, but initially they are focusing their efforts in Wichita and Salina. Their work within these sites will be used to inform future efforts across the state of Kansas. Having completed their planning phase, Just ASK is preparing to implement their strategic plans in the pilot communities. They will focus on fostering collaborations between disability organizations and violence against women organization, reviewing and changing the policies and practices in these organizations, and cultivating a shared knowledge base.
Contact Information
Kansas Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence
Erin George
785-232-9784 ext. 325 (v)
egeorge@kcsdv.org
Kansas Association of Centers for Independent Living
Stephanie Sanford
785-215-8048 (v/tty)
stephanies@kacil.org
Kansas Department of Health and Environment
Ann Branden
785-296-7818 (v)
1-800-332-6262 (tdd)
abranden@kdheks.gov
