Kansas Children’s Cabinet chair resigns; Dr. Lietta Felter elected by acclamation

The Kansas Children’s Cabinet and Trust Fund accepted the resignation of its chair during its April meeting and elected Dr. Lietta Felter to replace him by acclamation.

The outgoing chair said he must step down immediately to focus on his wife’s serious heart condition and that he would remain through the end of the meeting before resigning from the cabinet. The board opened nominations and a member nominated Dr. Lietta Felter; after a second the body moved and voted to elect her as chair.

Why it matters: leadership changes can affect continuity for long-term initiatives the cabinet oversees, including the Early Childhood Block Grant evaluation cycle and the office’s transition to the Docking State Office Building.

Board members offered condolences and thanks to the outgoing chair for his years of service. Dr. Lietta Felter thanked the cabinet for its trust and said she would “take the baton” and work to carry on the cabinet’s legacy of supporting Kansas families and children.

The newly seated chair then moved the agenda forward, announcing approval of earlier minutes by acclamation and noting a heavy agenda on early childhood block grant recommendations and agency updates.