SOS director briefs Coffey County commission on regional victim‑services and asks for 2027 budget support

Nikki Edwards, introduced to the commission as "SOS Director," presented the organization's 2027 budget request and summarized services SOS provides across a five‑county region that includes Coffey County. Edwards said SOS has an office in Burlington and offers crisis advocacy, domestic violence and sexual assault support, child‑advocacy forensic interviewing, supervised visitation (in Emporia because of security needs), and prevention education in schools. She noted SOS had over 600 services provided across the five counties in 2025 and more than 1,000 people impacted by SOS programs that year; the Coffey County figures in the packet included 276 follow‑up services and 156 counseling instances in 2025.

Edwards described operational staffing (about 44 total staff across programs, roughly 25 daytime staff) and two onsite therapists who provide free counseling for eligible clients. Lex, identified in the meeting as the local advocate, and board member Wade Billy joined Edwards at the commission table and answered questions about hotline operations and regional child‑advocacy services.

Commissioners thanked SOS for its services; discussion focused on program scope, local access and a request for budget support. The commission did not take a separate formal vote on the SOS request during the meeting but accepted Edwards' presentation and materials and invited follow‑up as part of the budget process.

Quotation (attributed): Nikki Edwards said the organization "had over a thousand people that accessed our services in 2025" across the five counties the group serves. The transcript includes program counts and staffing numbers from Edwards’ packet and oral presentation.

The county clerk and commissioners noted the SOS materials will be part of the county’s budget discussions this cycle and indicated appreciation for the agency’s regional work.