|
Organizational Development Coordinator Kevin Bomhoff has been with the Self-Help Network since 1999. Kevin brings to his work at SHN over 25 years of experience serving Kansans in a variety of leadership roles. One of Kevin's personal passions involves helping to grow the statewide mental health recovery movement. He is integral to SHN's long-term commitment to help mental health consumers develop and manage nonprofit organizations that provide services and supports for their peers. Whether it be helping a small group of mental health consumers grow into a psychosocial clubhouse model program called Breakthrough Club, working with others to start the first volunteer and consumer "friendship match" Compeer program in Kansas, creating large-scale change in both the mental health and developmental disabilities service delivery system, or facilitating growth of a vibrant consumer mental health movement in Kansas, he is always at the cutting edge of innovative community approaches. Before coming to Self-Help Network, Kevin worked to integrate community mental health services for persons with severe and persistent mental illnesses as Community Support Services Director for Sedgwick County Mental Health. In this capacity, Kevin helped the county to partner with private providers who had the niche capacity to serve unique needs. Later, as head of the Sedgwick County Community Developmental Disability Organization, Kevin facilitated a large-scale system change process with private providers of developmental disability services, consumers, and other key partners as they established a nationally recognized locally managed system of care. Affectionately known throughout Kansas as the "Flip Chart Man," Kevin also brings vast experience facilitating nonprofit organizations as they clarify their vision, mission, and goals; develop shared leadership capacity to manage daily challenges; and create and implement change strategies. As a native of Kansas, Kevin enjoys traveling the state working with other Kansans who want to improve their communities. For Kevin, all of this activity can be summed in one word - encouragement. "Encouragement is really the bridge between our vision and the accomplishment of our dreams." Kevin believes we can focus too much on the final product as a measure of our success. In reality, people need encouragement along the way. "I want people around me to recognize that they have something to offer and that they are already doing many things well. We can build on that. They can dream and join others in taking first steps toward reaching for their heart's desire." Kevin has a masters degree in Social Welfare Administration and Planning from the University of Kansas. He is the recipient of the Kansas Mental Health Consumer Advisory Council Chamberlain and Rapp Exemplary Leadership Award (2002), Breakthrough Club's Robert Parker Award (2000), the Kansas Mental Health Leadership Award (1993), the Compeer National Program Award for Meritorious Leadership (1990), and the National Mental Health Association Ruth P. Brudney Memorial Award for Outstanding Care and Treatment of the Mentally Ill (1989). When not working, Kevin is a "family guy and home maintenance expert" who enjoys sports and church-related youth activities with his two teenagers and wife Susan.
|
