Elsie's Place Opens for Foster Youth | Lawrence News

Elsie’s Place, a new family service center at O’Connell Children’s Shelter, opens its doors with three crisis beds for teens aged ten to eighteen facing mental or behavioral health challenges — offering up to thirty days of stability before next steps. Named after Elsie O’Connell, who gifted the land fifty years ago, the center also houses administrative staff, therapy rooms, a snack shop, and offices — all designed to bridge care gaps for foster youth and the community. While Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach praised the shelter’s mission during the ribbon-cutting, his office’s recent stance on restricting gender-affirming care for minors raised questions about alignment with the shelter’s inclusive values. Funded by state agencies and private donors totaling $1.3–1.5 million, the center features safety upgrades and personalized touches like quilts for each child. With on-site wraparound care — including therapists, nurses, and case managers — and community programs like Generations, Elsie’s Place aims to stabilize families early and prevent further disruption. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/113fde3f9904aa34