Quality Services for Persons with Disabilities

The largest specialty service CARES has to offer is the provision of canine assistants to people across the United States. This aspect is what makes CARES so unique among other canine assistance schools. CARES is one of the only schools that acts as a center for independent living, which is the provision of services to the elderly and disabled. Another quality that makes CARES unique is that they are one of only 5 percent of canine assistance schools that accepts applications for children and persons with multiple disabilities. CARES aspires to offer choices so that disabled persons will have the opportunity to strive for greater independence.

We have provided adult services to over 250 clients. Since CARES began in 1994, the state of Kansas privatized the services provided and established several different programs through which people can receive services. CARES coordinates services for people on the Home and Community Based Services Program. Within HCBS, a person's services are paid for by the Frail and Elderly Waiver, Traumatic Brain Injury Waiver, Senior Care Act or Income Eligible Program. These Medicaid programs are reimbursable programs through which CARES adult services are funded. In addition to people serviced through the Medicaid programs, CARES also has clients that are self-paying and utilize the same services available to those on Medicaid.

CARES coordinated the full-time employment equivalent of more than 50 people through our adult services program. Of these people, 75% are low-income single mothers.

CARES staff provides well over one thousand hours of advocacy and consultation to people all over Kansas and the United States annually. CARES has networked with over 150 different agencies to provide information and services to people with disabilities. Sarah Holbert, CEO, is the County Coordinator for the National Organization of Disabilities. News articles and legislative issues will be included in a newsletter to be added to this website.

Organization:
CARES has a volunteer Board of Directors consisting of 5 members. According to the CARES by-laws, over half of CARES' Board members are required to have a disability in order to serve. Currently the CARES' board meets that requirement 100%. They meet monthly and hold an annual meeting. Other meetings are scheduled as necessary. Board members are Danny McReynolds, Jerry Kinser, Sandi Kinser, Kenny Knoettgen and Janelle Reiger.

CARES offers a variety of services that if offered separately are not necessarily unique, but when offered together make CARES one-of-a-kind for the elderly and disabled community. This aspect of CARES allows life for those people in need of our services to be less complicated. This is something we enjoy tremendously and hope to continue and expand in the future.

For more information, please feel free to contact Sarah Holbert, Megan Lewellyn, or Amanda Blackwood at 800-498-1077.

Sarah Holbert, CEO
Sarah Holbert founded CARES in the spring of 1994 to provide assistance dogs for the community. Her focus on empowering people to live independently led to training dogs for various disabilities and needs.

Her credentials include Assistance Dogs International, Delta Society, International Dog Trainer Association and certified to judge 4H dogs. She has started dog training programs with El Dorado Correctional Facility, Ellsworth Correctional Facility, Kansas, Tipton Boys and Meadowlark Girls Academy in Kansas, Huerfano County Correctional Facility in Colorado, and Atchison Kansas Juvenile Facility.

CARES has placed 759 dogs across 36 states and in 3 foreign countries: Peru, Puerto Rico and Belgium. She chaired committees to formulate the Kansas Public Access Statute.

Sarah is a leader in the field of professional assistance dogs and provides continuous support during and after placement. Her primary love for animals and helping people is why CARES is the leading provider of professional assistance dogs.

P.O. Box 314
Concordia, KS 66901
Voice or TDD: 785-243-1077 * 800-498-1077 * Fax: 785-243-1079
E-Mail: cares.ks@sbcglobal.net

CARES, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) Not-For-Profit Organization