Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback will be in KCK next month to hold one of his town hall-style forums on reducing childhood poverty in the state.

The meetings, entitled “Rising to the Challenge: Reducing Childhood Poverty and Improving Childhood Outcomes in Kansas,” will take place in KCK, Wichita and Garden City.

“Studies show children who grow up in poverty are less likely to succeed in school and later on in life,” Governor Brownback said.

“The goal of the town hall meetings is to gather insights and strategies to reduce childhood poverty, increase childhood educational outcomes and decrease child abuse and neglect.”

Reducing the number of Kansas children living in poverty is a cornerstone of Brownback’s first term as governor. In 2010, nearly a quarter of Kansas children (23.7 percent) were living in poverty. That is a five percent increase compared to 2009 child poverty levels and is two percent higher than the national average.

Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services Secretary Rob Siedlecki will oversee the childhood poverty town hall meetings as a part of the Governor’s Roadmap for Kansas.

“What has been done in the past clearly didn’t work. We are looking for new ideas and new approaches, and believe Kansans can provide us with ideas that will help us rise to meet this challenge,” Siedlecki said.

The KCK meeting will be at 1:30 p.m. Nov. 14 at the Jack Reardon Convention Center, 500 Minnesota Ave.