In 2019, Warren was diagnosed with autism. The news came as a relief and an affirmation.
Because up until that point, it had been a long series of tests, questions, and feelings of being alone and not being heard.
Originally, Warren was given a different diagnosis. His parents were told he was too well-spoken and too social to be placed on the autism spectrum.
His parents suspected that diagnosis wasn’t correct and pushed for more testing. They took Warren to another facility where they were told, yes, absolutely, he has autism.
“You feel very alone,” Warren’s mom, Kat, said. “Knowing what the diagnosis was put us on the right path.”
Warren was 9; he’s 14 now. His parents, Kat and Chris, never stopped advocating for him.
“We worked really hard and went through a lot of different diagnoses, but it would address one symptom and not give us a complete-picture answer,” Kat said. “One doctor’s opinion when he was a baby was that there was nothing wrong. We’ve learned a lot about the importance of advocating; you have to keep looking until you have the answer.”
Warren was almost 6 when he started receiving services at the Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center.
“He had a rough time at school,” Kat said. “There was a safety intervention; it was very scary.”
Kat met Warren at the Bert Nash Center; he had been brought there by the school.
“It was very overwhelming at first,” Kat said.
It was determined that Warren qualified for SED waiver services. The Serious Emotional Disturbance (SED) waiver provides children with intensive support through community-based services provided by the Bert Nash Center. Warren has had an Individualized Education Program (IEP) since he was in preschool.
“He was a flight risk; he would panic and run,” Kat said. “He made it home twice when he was in grade school; one time barefoot. We lived about four blocks from the school.”
Warren’s SED waiver has included therapy, group respite, summer psych program, medication services, case management, and care coordination. The waiver also included parental services such as a support group.
“We would cry and laugh together,” Kat said of the parent support group. “I have some great friends, but they haven’t been through this. It’s different to talk to someone who is going through something similar. We share a lot of resources and it’s a chance to feel supported.”
Kat has been a member of the Bert Nash Center’s Governing Board for the past year and a half.
“I had no idea what to expect,” Kat said. “But it’s been really interesting.”
Kat is excited about the proposed Youth Recovery Center (YRC), which will fill a critical gap in the community’s crisis continuum of care by offering short-term emergency psychiatric services for children and teens. In addition, the YRC will encompass Bert Nash Center’s existing range of services for youth, including individual and group therapy, psychological assessments, other behavioral health supports, among new programs like intensive outpatient treatment all tailored for youth and families. This much-needed facility will be the first of its kind not only in Kansas but in the region. The hope is the project will be completed in 2026.
“I’m thrilled about the YRC,” Kat said. “I can’t wait for people to learn more about it.”
Thinking back to the time when Warren had an issue at school and they were talking about a placement at an out-of-town facility, Kat said the YRC would have been a much better option.
“That would have absolutely been a benefit,” Kat said. “The YRC will be such a good option for kids. I think it’s really going to change our community.”
Warren is a freshman in high school this year. He’s come a long, long way since that day he first was brought to the Bert Nash Center.
“Bert Nash has been fantastic,” Kat said. “My experience has been that the people who are here want to help and will try. It’s been really positive to work with Bert Nash and to see the progress Warren has made and is continuing to make.”
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