Topeka JUMP

In USD 501 Topeka Public schools, thousands of students were falling through the cracks because they did not have access to wrap around services to ensure their success in the classroom. JUMP challenged the Superintendent to expand a program called Communities in Schools (CIS). As a result, in 2015 1,000 more students had access to CIS and were more successful in the classroom.

In 2017, our public transportation system was inadequate for workforce needs. So, we implored Topeka Metro to make a plan to expand public transit to major employers outside the city limits. This partnership created the SOTO and NETO pilot programs launched in 2018. SOTO and NETO gave 26,360 rides by the end of 2019. We’ve won funding for the programs annually since 2018.

Addiction Focus – During the isolation of the pandemic JUMP Members voted to focus on Mental Health and addiction. A major barrier to overcoming addiction is social support, reliable employment, and stable housing. The Oxford House is a proven strategy that helps provide all of these. In May 2021 JUMP secured $261,000 in funding to open up to 100 new Oxford House beds in Topeka and Shawnee County. As of July 2022, six new houses have been opened and over 50 people are receiving services that were previously on waitlists. 

Crisis Care Focus – It is estimated that 40 percent of incarcerated adults and 70 percent of incarcerated youth struggle with a diagnosed or undiagnosed mental illness. There is no place in Topeka and Shawnee County for individuals in crisis to receive care if they are non-cooperative or refuse care, this leads to people becoming unnecessarily involved in the criminal justice system. in May 2022 JUMP challenged local mental health providers to commit to expanding crisis beds to help individuals in crisis stay out of Jail and they committed to working on a plan to expand services.