Department for Aging and Disability Services
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Parsons State Hospital
2601 Gabriel Avenue
Parsons, KS 67357
620-421-6550
620-421-3623 (Fax)
Parsons State Hospital (PSH)
Mission
To improve lives by connecting people with supports and services.
Vision
People experiencing the highest quality of life regardless of the challenges.
About Us
Parsons State Hospital (PSH) is one of two residential treatment and care facilities operated by the State of Kansas to serve individuals with intellectual disabilities and receives primary funding through the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services. The Center is certified by the State Department of Health and Environment under Title XIX of the Social Security Act as an Intermediate Care Facility for persons with Intellectual Disabilities (ICF/IID). As such, the facility must meet established participation conditions and is subject to semi-annual review. Residents living on-site must be eligible for the ICF/IID level of care and receive active treatment for the facility to be reimbursed. For more information on ICF/IIDs or the ICF/IID review process, see Intermediate Care Facilities for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities (ICF/IID).
The Hospital is certified by the Kansas Hospital Association as a special Mental Hospital and by the State Department of Education as a Special Purpose School.
The Hospital opened in 1903 as a State Hospital for Epileptics. In 1957, the Hospital was renamed Parsons State Hospital and Training Center and began providing programs for individuals with intellectual disabilities. The Hospital occupies 43 buildings on 163 acres. Major components include residential services, the Behavior Stabilization Unit, the Special Purpose School of the Southeast Regional Education Service Center, and the Southeast Kansas Agricultural Research Center, located at Kansas State University.
As of July 2025, 148 individuals were receiving services as residents on the PSHTC campus. In addition to having an intellectual disability, approximately 90 percent of individuals are also dually diagnosed with a psychiatric impairment or behavioral disorder. An additional 11 individuals receive inpatient services through the Sex Predator Treatment Program Maple/Willow House Reintegration Facility.
Individuals (minimum age six years) are admitted voluntarily with the signed consent of the parents or legal guardians. Individuals must be classified as eligible for the ICF/IID level of care and need active treatment. The Community Developmental Disability Organization and Managed Care Organization, working with the person and parent or legal guardian, must determine that services are not available in the community and that PSH is the least restrictive environment for the individual before requesting admission.
The Admission Committee screens applications, and KDADS makes the final determination. After admission, the process of Person-Centered Planning takes place. Services are based on the values and goals of each resident. Staff members listen to how individuals want to live and then try to meet those requests while balancing obligations to keep people healthy and safe. Efforts to help individuals return to their home communities are a priority from admission through the successful return to community-based services.
PSH has enjoyed a national and international reputation in the field of intellectual disabilities.
Our Approach
PSH strives to provide compassionate services and supports through the implementation of a Trauma-Informed Care approach. The central focus of this approach is building a resilient, trauma-informed care culture by understanding essential concepts such as, the awareness of the prevalence of trauma, the physical and behavioral health impact from trauma-related experiences and developing ways to support resilience and self-care for the individuals that reside at PSH and the staff that support them. All PSH staff receive ongoing training on these key concepts, while individualized supports to foster resilience and self-care are identified and incorporated into the individual's program plan or behavior support plan.
PSH utilizes two nationally recognized crisis intervention programs that promote trauma-informed care practices and interventions to safely support individuals in crises, as described below:
PSH uses the Ukeru™ Comfort vs. Control™ safe blocking crisis management system. Ukeru® is a national crisis intervention training program that offers an alternative to coercive physical safety hold (restraint) interventions. Rooted in trauma-informed care, Ukeru® (the Japanese word meaning “to receive”) has developed specialized Safe Blocking® equipment that staff will use to manage and defuse individuals in crisis safely. For this restraint-free approach, Ukeru® developed custom-made, cushioned blocking pads to keep both staff and those in their care safe and comfortable. These specially made, patent-pending blocking pads are made from high-quality layered foam, wrapped in washable, antimicrobial, heavy-duty, soft vinyl. Ukeru® blocking pads come in a variety of sizes, enabling staff to safely block aggressive behavior rather than initially resorting to physical safety hold (restraint) measures.
PSH uses the Nonviolent Crisis Intervention® with Advanced Physical Skills program developed by the Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI) as the basis for effective supports when responding to an individual who is presenting an imminent or immediate risk of harm to self or others. CPI’s Nonviolent Crisis Intervention® (NCI®) with Advanced Physical Skills is a certified training program internationally recognized as a safe, nonharmful behavior management system designed to help staff carry out CPI’s philosophy of providing the best possible Care, Welfare, Safety, and SecuritySM of individuals presenting a range of crisis behaviors staff may encounter when supporting individuals who reside at PSH.
