Heartspring and the University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita to Host 2026 KSKidsMAP Conference to Strengthen Coordinated Care for Children with Neurodevelopmental Needs Across Kansas

WICHITA, Kan., May 12, 2026 — Heartspring, in partnership with the University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita and as part of the statewide KSKidsMAP program, is hosting the 2026 KSKidsMAP Conference on Friday, May 15, bringing together physicians and healthcare professionals from across Kansas for a day of practical education focused on caring for children with autism, intellectual disabilities, and other neurodevelopmental disorders.

Established in 2019, KSKidsMAP is Kansas’ Pediatric Mental Health Care Access (PMHCA) program, providing free, statewide support to help pediatric health professionals identify, assess, treat, and refer children and adolescents with mental and behavioral health care needs. KSKidsMAP operates through a statewide telehealth network and is supported through a federal Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) grant administered in partnership with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. The program is a joint effort between the University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita Departments of Pediatrics and Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences.

“This year’s conference brings together expertise from KU School of Medicine-Wichita, Wichita State University, Heartspring, and invited professionals from across the field, highlighting the importance of multidisciplinary collaboration to improve access and enhance outcomes for patients and families we serve,” said Cassie Karlsson, M.D., clinical associate professor and Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship Program director, KU School of Medicine-Wichita Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences; and Chief Medical Officer, Heartspring.
As demand for neurodevelopmental and behavioral health services continues to rise—and wait times for care increase—families are often left navigating fragmented systems with limited visibility into what happens after a referral is made. While clinicians play a critical role in identifying needs early, many providers lack clear insight into how services connect across the continuum of care or what families experience once they enter that system. KSKidsMAP helps bridge that gap by strengthening care coordination, improving referral understanding, and equipping clinicians to connect children and families to appropriate services and community resources sooner.

Attendees include pediatricians, family medicine physicians, advanced practice registered nurses, physician assistants, behavioral health clinicians, and other healthcare professionals who regularly refer children for neurodevelopmental services.

“For too long, families have been expected to navigate a complex system of services with little visibility or coordination,” said Dan Soliday, President & CEO of Heartspring. “Clinicians play a critical role in shaping early care decisions, but they don’t always have insight into what happens next. This conference reflects a shared responsibility to close that gap and build a more connected, navigable continuum of care for children and families across Kansas.”

Conference sessions provide practical insight into the services children commonly receive after referral, including applied behavior analysis (ABA), speech therapy, physical therapy, feeding therapy, developmental pediatrics, audiology, genetics, dental care, and behavioral health supports, with a focus on when referrals are appropriate, what families can expect, and how clinicians can connect patients to effective care. The conference is also supported by the Kansas Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

“This conference creates an opportunity to connect clinical decision‑making with real‑world service delivery,” said Laura Tatpati, M.D., professor and Dean of the University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita. “When clinicians understand what happens after referral, they can make more confident decisions that lead to earlier support and better outcomes for children and families.”

Clinicians often see families at moments of uncertainty, when delays, behaviors, or developmental differences raise important questions, but by showing how services work together and what families experience, they can make more confident, informed decisions for their patients.
By strengthening shared understanding across disciplines and improving visibility after referral, the conference supports a broader effort to improve advocacy, care coordination, and access for children with neurodevelopmental needs across Kansas.

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About Heartspring
Heartspring is a place of possibility for children the world underestimates. Based in Wichita, Kansas, Heartspring assesses, diagnoses, treats, educates and inspires children with neurodevelopmental needs.

Founded in 1934 as the Institute of Logopedics, Heartspring has a 92-year legacy of delivering evidence-based therapies and education for children with neurodevelopmental conditions. Its Pediatric Outpatient Clinic and Residential Program within its Therapeutic Residential & Day School earned a three-year accreditation from CARF International in August 2024. The organization is expanding with a new state-of-the-art, multi-clinic facility in Wichita’s downtown healthcare corridor, adjacent to the Wichita Biomedical Campus.