Kansas

Things to know...

Details that are different from state to state and may make your posting just a little bit easier!

• Weather & Natural Disasters

  Kansas is known for its severe weather, with tornadoes, thunderstorms, hail, and extreme heat being the most common natural hazards. The states hot, humid summers, exhibit temperatures often climbing into the 90s, while winters can be cold, with average temperatures in the 20s to 40s. The state is famously prone to severe thunderstorms, with tornadoes being particularly common in spring and early summer. Kansas also occasionally experiences winter storms and blizzards.
  
  Tornadoes
  Kansas’ peak tornado season spans from March to May, with an average of 50 tornadoes occurring each year. Tornadoes can be violent, and preparedness is essential. If you hear a siren, it's crucial to immediately head to your designated tornado shelter or safe room. It's also wise to keep an emergency kit stocked with supplies for several days and to regularly practice your family's tornado plan, just as you would a fire escape plan. Kansas has a statewide tornado siren system, and sirens are typically tested on the first Wednesday of each month at varying times depending on the county.
  
  Thunderstorms
  Severe thunderstorms with hail, strong winds, and heavy rain are frequent, especially in spring and summer. Flash flooding can occur quickly, especially in low-lying areas, so avoid driving through flooded roads.
  
  Receiving weather warnings, alerts and updates through multiple means will ensure that you and your family can be prepared and act quickly. NOAA weather radio, local weather broadcasts, outdoor sirens, wireless emergency alerts (if you switch to an American area code), weather apps, and social media are all great tools to receive national and statewide disaster and emergency alerts.
  
  For more in-depth information, check out ready.gov, a national campaign aimed at educating and empowering individuals to prepare for, respond to, and mitigate emergencies and disasters.

• Neighbourhoods
  Leavenworth is home to Fort Leavenworth, a U.S. Army installation specializing in leadership development and professional military education. The base is located within the city, providing immediate access to military facilities and services. CAF families enjoy minimal commute times to Fort Leavenworth. Off-base housing options in Leavenworth and nearby communities offer commutes ranging from 10 to 30 minutes, depending on traffic.
  
  Use this tool to help you learn more about a community. You can get information on schools, home values, weather, population and more > Access the Military One Source Neighbourhood Navigator.
   
• Fort Leavenworth
  For more detailed information about each base, including contact information and specific services offered, you can visit Military One Source and select your state followed by your installation or click the links below.
  Spouses and dependents with valid Department of Defense (DoD) identification cards have access to Fort Leavenworth.

  • Fort Leavenworth offers a variety of amenities, including Commissary, PX, Exchange (PX), Gruber Fitness Center, Child Development Center & Outdoor Recreation. Additional amenities include a 18-hole golf course, parks, picnic areas, and scenic views overlooking the Missouri River. The installation also features historic sites, a world-class museum, and the nation's premier Buffalo Soldier monument. For the most updated information on Fort Leavenworth MWR facilities and services > visit Ft Leavenworth MWR
• Getting Around
  Getting around Leavenworth is primarily car-dependent, with major roads like US-73 and K-7 providing access to Kansas City and surrounding areas. Traffic can be heavier near Fort Leavenworth, especially during base entry and exit times. Public transportation options are limited, but Leavenworth Citywide provides on-demand bus services for residents, and nearby Kansas City offers more extensive transit through RideKC.
• On-Base Medical Treatment Facility
  Munson Army Health Center (MAHC) at Fort Leavenworth provides comprehensive medical care to CAF Families who have been enrolled in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS) and have TRICARE eligibility.
   
• Critters & Wildlife
  Kansas is home to wildlife such as venomous snakes like the Western Diamondback rattlesnake and the prairie rattlesnake, as well as ticks that can carry Lyme disease, especially in grassy and wooded areas. The state also has insects like mosquitoes, fire ants, and occasional encounters with coyotes and mountain lions in more rural regions. Compared to Canada, Kansas has a broader range of reptiles and insects due to its warmer climate, making routine pest control recommended to manage pests like mosquitoes, ticks, and termites.
• Children's Education
  There are several public schools within a 25-mile radius, along with a French immersion charter school approximately 35-40 miles of Fort Leavenworth.

  • Fort Leavenworth USD 207
  • Leavenworth USD 453
  • Lansing USD 469
  • Easton USD 449
  • Basehor-Linwood USD 458
     

  Académie Lafayette
  Académie Lafayette, located in Kansas City, Missouri, is a French immersion charter school offering education from kindergarten through 12th grade. Please note that Académie Lafayette requires students to reside within the Kansas City Public Schools District (KCPSD) boundaries for enrollment and parents/guardians will be asked to show proof of residency during enrollment/re-enrollment. Académie Lafayette will not enroll students who live outside the KCPSD boundaries, this is an important consideration when conducting your HHT.
  Campuses & Age requirements:

  • Grades K-5: Cherry Street Campus and Oak Street Campus **Kindergarten applicants must be five (5) years old by July 31 to start kindergarten.
  • Grades 6-12: Armour Campus

  Also important to note is that the enrollment for Académie Lafayette is lottery based, and the application period typically begins the first week of November and ends the first week of March. Applications received after the open application period closes are placed on a waiting list. Therefore, if your posting message is not expected until after the March enrollment deadline it may be beneficial to apply before you receive your official posting message. For more information, you can visit their website.
  
  It is highly recommended that you utilize your installation’s School Liaison Officer, who is available to offer valuable information on local school districts, serve as a bridge between the military community and school administrators, and provide expert consultation on educational matters.
  Click here for School Liaison Officer information and contact for Fort Huachuca. To find the most updated contact information for a School Liaison Program, visit Military One Source Program and Services Contacts and select School Liaison Program and your location.
• Childcare
  Child Development Centers
  
  Child development centers (CDCs) generally offer childcare for children ages 6 weeks to 5 years. Care is available Monday through Friday, with some locations offering options such as extended hours, weekend care and respite care. Child development centers vary in size and larger installations may operate multiple facilities. Programs are certified by the Defense Department and accredited by a national accrediting body, such as the National Association for the Education of Young Children.
  
  The Fort Leavenworth Child Development Center (CDC) offers full-day care, part-day preschool, hourly care, and before-and-after school programs for children aged 6 weeks to 5 years. Additional services include short-term childcare for on-post meetings and deployment-related events. For more details, visit Fort Leavenworth MWR.
  
  For a full list of all military-operated childcare programs, including Child Development Centers, Childcare programs, before- and after-school care, as well as summer and holiday camps – visit MilitaryChildCare.com. Here you can enter in your location or Military installation and find a comprehensive list of all Childcare programs as well as initiate a request for childcare through child development centers, school-age care programs and DOD certified family childcare providers.
  
  Additional Child and Development related resources:

  • Zero to Three is a national nonprofit organization whose mission is to promote the healthy development of our nation’s infants and toddlers
  • Birth to Five watch me Thrive is a podcast from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Early Childhood Development provides information for parents about celebrating milestones, the importance of health screenings, how to identify delays and early concerns and how to provide developmental supports for children.
  • Exceptional Family Member Program works with other community and military agencies to make sure military parents have the early intervention services their infants and toddlers need.
  • Thrive — a free, online parenting program that promotes positive parenting, stress management and healthy lifestyle practices.
  • The Military Child Education Coalition is a nonprofit organization that promotes partnerships and provides for networking of military installations and their supporting school districts. 
  • The Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children is designed to make transitions smooth for families moving to a new duty station. 
  • Military K-12 Partnership between the DOD and the Department of Defense Education Activity, has all of the services working with educators and administrators across the nation to provide quality education for all children of military families. 
  • Exceptional Family Member Program can help families navigate the DOD’s network of services and support if they have a child with a disability or special need.
  • The MWR Digital Library is a free, online resource for service members and their families that offers a wide variety of activities and materials for all ages. 
  • Sesame Workshop has various toolkits to help military families with young children handle the challenges of military life.
  • Military OneSource education consultants provide one-on-one, free and confidential services. These consultants can provide referrals to in-home tutors and tutoring centers in their area as well as public and private school information. They enable parents to speak to specialists with various areas of expertise. They include the New MilParent specialty consultation, designed for expectant parents and parents of children up to the age of 5 which provides support for a wide range of parenting issues
• Automobile Registration, Plates & Licenses
  The Kansas Department of Revenue provides guidelines for transferring out-of-state titles and licenses. Kansas offers a "Real ID" compliant driver's license, which can be used for federal identification purposes.