Kansas’ first Teen Suicide Prevention Coordinator

The Kansas attorney general has appointed the state’s first Kansas Youth Suicide Prevention Coordinator.

Attorney General Derek Schmidt on Tuesday appointed Gina Meier-Hummel to the job, which was created after recommendations from a task force.

Meier-Hummel was secretary of the Kansas Department of Children and Families under former Gov. Jeff Colyer. Previously, she was executive director of The Shelter, a nonprofit focused on intervention with at-risk youth.

The appointment takes effect immediately. Meier-Hummel will be coordinator on a part-time basis because of her work as executive director of the O’Connell Youth Ranch in Douglas County.