The Center for Community Support and Research at Wichita State University will kick off its sixth year of the Compassion Kansas initiative in October with informational workshops.

Attendance at one of these workshops is required for qualifying organizations interested in applying for small grant awards and technical assistance. Workshops are held from 1-5 p.m. in various locations throughout Kansas on the following dates:

• Tuesday, Oct. 27, WSU Hughes Metropolitan Complex
• Wednesday, Oct. 28, Garden City Community College
• Monday, Nov. 2, Capitol Plaza Hotel in Topeka
• Tuesday, Nov. 3, WSU Marcus Welcome Center

A maximum of two people per organization may attend. To register, e-mail the date of the workshop you would like to attend along with your name, organization, telephone and e-mail address to angela.gaughan@wichita.edu.

Registrations are also accepted at (316) 978-3843 or (800) 445-0116.

Qualifying organizations include faith-based and community organizations in Kansas that serve (or plan to serve) at least one of the following target populations: the homeless, elders in need, at-risk children, those in transition from welfare to work, intensive rehabilitation populations (such as addicts or prisoners), and/or marriage education and preparation.

Priority will be given to organizations with annual operating budgets of less than $500,000 that have not previously received funding from the federal government.

Compassion Kansas, funded by the federal Compassion Capital Fund, is designed to offer qualifying Kansas faith-based and community organizations small grant awards and a variety of technical assistance opportunities that include strategic planning, facilitation, leadership skills, collaboration, service expansion, communication, evaluation research and efficiency improvement.

For information about Compassion Kansas, call Sarah Jolley at (316) 978-5487.Robin Fertner, (316) 978-6746 or robin.fertner@wichita.edu.