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COVID resources for housing and human service providers

Nonprofit agencies providing housing, health and human services are key stakeholders in preventing and protecting against COVID-19 in Douglas County. Many of these agencies are serving our communities most vulnerable populations including individuals experiencing physical and mental disabilities, homelessness, and domestic violence.

Here are some resources to assist agencies in mitigating the risks associated with COVID-19 and responding to incidents related to this serious public health threat:

Criminal Justice Coordinating Council receives presentation about racial disparities in local system

Douglas County Data Analyst Matt Cravens provided a presentation about racial disparities in the local criminal justice system during the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council’s June 9 meeting, which was held using Zoom.

Cravens was hired in December 2019 to help support the work of the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (CJCC). To meet the group’s challenges, Cravens collected and analyzed data on bookings and length of stay in the Douglas County Correctional Facility.

DA Branson Reaches out to Residents who Believe Employees at Lawrence Kia Misrepresented their Income Information

District Attorney Charles Branson wants to hear from Douglas County residents who believe that employees at the Lawrence Kia dealership inflated or misrepresented their income on their loan applications when purchasing a new or used automobile. As the Lawrence Journal-World recently reported, at least one person has alleged that someone at the dealership overstated her income when submitting her loan application. It is unknown at this time how many customers have been impacted.

 

District Attorney’s Office Will Not File Cases Related to Peaceful Protests

Monday afternoon, law enforcement officers with the Lawrence Police Department and Douglas County Sheriff’s Office made six arrests and issued three citations while attempting to clear protesters from Massachusetts Street. The protesters in question had been asked to leave the roadway but declined to follow the officers’ orders in violation of K.S.A. 8-1503. Later that same evening, law enforcement closed the street for continued use by protesters.  

Douglas County Behavioral Health Summit set for July 27-August 7

Registration is now open for the Virtual 2020 Douglas County Behavioral Health Prevention Summit, July 27-August 7. A session will be held each weekday from noon to 1 p.m. 

Topics include: drug abuse prevention, mental health impact of COVID, Good Behavior Game, working with youth who engage in self-harm, brain science and trauma, and prevention in the age of vape.

Registration is free for anyone working or living in Douglas County and $25 for others.

Douglas County buildings, Lone Star Lake campgrounds open to public

Douglas County buildings are open to the public. The public should wear a face covering when inside buildings and maintain six feet of distance between employees and others in the building. Departments and elected officials may have additional screening tools for clients and visitors, depending on the services provided.

Lone Star Lake campgrounds, restrooms and the swimming beach are open. Visitors should practice good hygiene and social distancing.

Douglas County District Court to begin seeing customers by appointment only

Effective immediately, the Douglas County District Court Clerk’s Office will be open to the public for limited purposes by appointment only. Appointments must be made at least 24 hours in advance, and all persons entering the Judicial and Law Enforcement Center will be required to wear a mask and follow established social distancing guidelines. Any person with a temperature over 100 degrees will be denied entry.

Douglas County receives $52,000 in funding for Open Space Plan development

Douglas County Government and the Douglas County Community Foundation received a $26,000 matching grant from Partners for Places. The match was provided through local donations to the Douglas County Community Foundation.

The $52,000 in total funding will be used to complete Phase 1 of a three-phase Open Space Plan development and implementation process:

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