Chad Childs

Chad Childs is a parent and stepparent of five incredible children and the partner of an incredible leader.  He is the Prevention Initiatives Manager for the Community Engagement Institute. Chad is a Licensed Clinical Marriage and Family Therapist with over 20 years of management and leadership experience in the mental and behavioral healthcare field and the fields of higher education, child welfare, and prevention.  He is a current board member of the Kansas Association for Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health, Kansas Mental Health Coalition, and the Kansas Balance of State Continuum of Care (Steering Committee). Chad is a member of the Sedgwick County Suicide Prevention Coalition, Sedgwick County CCBHC Advisory Board, and Chair of the Kansas Zero Suicide Advisory Council, Chairperson of the Governor’s Behavioral Health Services Planning Council Kansas Citizen’s Committee and Secretary of the Tobacco Subcommittee.  Chad’s career focus has been on providing direct services and facilitating larger systems changes with the goal of helping people to both overcome barriers to their well-being and using their strengths and resources to improve their quality of life. 

Janell Stang, LMSW

Janell Stang is a Community Program Specialist on the Prevention team at the Community Engagement Institute (CEI) at Wichita State University. In this role, she supports statewide efforts to prevent substance misuse and suicide through the Kansas Prevention Collaborative (KPC). Janell leads the planning of several KPC initiatives, including the annual Kansas Prevention Conference.

Janell currently serves as Chair of the Service Members, Veterans, and their Families (SMVF) State Subcommittee under the Governor’s Behavioral Health Services Planning Council and is a member of the Kansas Governor’s Challenge to prevent suicide among the SMVF population. She is also actively involved in local suicide prevention efforts as a member of the Sedgwick County Suicide Prevention Coalition and serves as Secretary on the Kansas Suicide Prevention Coalition.

Janell holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and a Master of Social Work, both from Newman University in Wichita, Kansas. She is a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) with a strong passion for prevention, equity, and community well-being.

Title: Cultivating Mental Health in Agriculture

Description:
Farmers and ranchers face unique stressors — unpredictable weather, financial pressures, isolation, and long hours. This session explores practical tools to support mental health and well-being in agricultural communities. Learn how to recognize signs of mental health strain, start supportive conversations, and when to connect to available resources. Together, we’ll discuss how to reduce stigma, strengthen resilience, and support the culture of care across the ag industry.