The Kansas Institute for Positive Behavior Support (KIPBS) was founded in 2001 at The University of Kansas (KU) by Dr. Rachel Freeman and various state partners interested in improving quality of life and decreasing challenging behaviors using PBS. In 2005, PBS Kansas, later named the Positive Kansas Communities (PKC) Network, became an Association of PBS Network, formed by a statewide network of human service, education, and research professionals. In early 2021, with the support of KU and the state of Kansas, KIPBS and the PKC Network merged to form the non-profit, the Kansas Institute for Positive, Healthy, and Inclusive Communities (KIPHIC).
KIPHIC provides a broad spectrum of positive behavior support, quality of life, person-centered planning, implementation science, behavioral health, positive effective teaming, and disability related training, technical assistance, evaluation, and network activities. More specific details are available on the KIPHIC website, or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with any questions.
KIPHIC has a wide range of projects and funding sources. Historically, KIPHIC has partnered with the Kansas Department of Aging and Disabilities on various projects including the KS Medicaid Intensive PBS Service Training Project, KS Mental Health PBS Project, Systems Transformation HCBS Waiver Studies, and the Healthy Youth—Positive Practices Project. KIPHIC also collaborates on projects with individual organizations, counties, other states, and countries. Trainings are also made available to individual professionals and families. Some projects are funded by grants and others via fee for service.
Each KIPHIC project is carefully budgeted to cover only the expenses needed to effectively achieve objectives. Whenever possible, KIPHIC will work with individuals, non-profits, school districts, and government entities to obtain new or existing grant funding to cover expenses. When this is not an option, KIPHIC will work with non-profits and individuals to minimize costs whenever possible.
