Nick is the Systems Change Advocacy Coordinator and Lead Investigator for the Disability Rights Center of Kansas (DRC). The DRC is located in Topeka, is part of the federally funded Protection and Advocacy system, and is a member organization of the National Disability Rights Network. Nick’s focus is on policy issues that aim to improve the public mental health system in order to reduce needless institutionalization and assist Kansans with psychiatric disabilities or dual diagnosis to access community based services and supports. Much of his work is also done with the legal department at the DRC to investigate reports of abuse, neglect, and exploitation of any Kansan with a disability.
Nick has spent the past several years working with Medicaid-funded behavioral health programs. For some time he worked directly with families to help children at risk for institutionalization to remain in least restrictive, community based settings. From there he went on to promote strengths based mental health services in a collaborative effort between the State Office of Mental Health and the University of Kansas’ School of Social Welfare. In 2008, Nick brought his experience and knowledge of state public programs to the advocacy efforts of the DRC. Nick married his college sweetheart, Kathy, in the summer of 2009. They both now live in Topeka where they enjoy involvement in several of the city’s clubs and civic organizations like the Topeka chapter of Big Brothers/Big Sisters and The Family Peace Initiative.