Author: Jeff

HUTCHINSON, Kan.— United Methodist Health Ministry Fund presented Lisse Regehr with the 2023 Kim Moore Award for Visionary Leadership at an April 19 celebration in Salina. Regehr is President and CEO of Thrive Allen County, Iola, which works to improve quality of life in Allen County by focusing on health, wellness, recreation and education conditions, and by engaging people and institutions around a common vision for the future.

Regehr’s vision and guidance has enabled Thrive’s success in increasing access to healthcare, connecting people to programs and services, encouraging residents to live healthier, more active lives, and providing leadership on important public issues.

Learn more about Lisse and Thrive’s work in the inaugural episode of our Pioneers in Health podcast:

Regehr, a native of Iola, oversaw Thrive’s Navigator Program from 2014 to 2017, reducing the county’s uninsured rate from 21% in 2013 to 9% in 2017—one of the biggest improvements in Kansas. The program has spread across the state and now helps enroll thousands of individuals in insurance and safety-net programs.

Shortly after becoming President and CEO in 2019, Lisse and Thrive helped Allen County navigate challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, including stepping up to the plate to administer the county’s SPARK funding, bringing in additional grant funding, creating programs to assist local businesses and nonprofits, and defending local health department efforts to ensure the public had access to accurate information on the pandemic and how to stay safe.

Regehr has been active in supporting Allen County’s prosperity and growth. She helped the community transform the loss of a local employer into a significant new opportunity, and was instrumental in working with the state to open a new state park in Iola in 2023, creating further economic development opportunities.

Regehr also oversees Thrive’s efforts to build a statewide rural health advocacy network, called Thrive Kansas, which works on regional substance misuse initiatives; assists Kansas with enrolling for Medicaid, Medicare, and Marketplace insurance; and increases awareness around statewide child care issues.

Jessica Thompson, Deputy Director of Thrive Allen County, notes Regehr’s innovation and commitment to sharing for the good of all Kansans. “Lisse firmly believes a rising tide lifts all boats, and she is not afraid to share resources, ideas, and initiatives with other rural communities across Kansas. She is innovative and is constantly looking for ways to improve not only her community but communities across Kansas,” Thompson said.

With 98 of Kansas’ 105 counties considered rural, Lisse recognizes that what is good for Allen County is likely good for others, and has demonstrated a strong ability to scale Thrive’s local successes into successes for the entire state – such as creating a statewide bike-share-in-a-box program modeled after Thrive’s successful bike share program. She also regularly coordinates engagement with state and local policymakers on issues including child care, rural community development, and health care coverage.

The Health Fund is honored to recognize Lisse’s vision and work with this award, and is proud to continue its successful partnership with Thrive in working to ensure healthy rural individuals and communities along with brighter futures for our youngest Kansans.

Established in 2017 to honor the Fund’s founding president, the Kim Moore Visionary Leadership Award is presented each year to a Kansan exemplifying visionary leadership in one of the Fund’s strategic focus areas. For 2023, the chosen focus area is access to care. The individual receives a cash award of $500, and if associated with an organization, that agency receives an additional $2,000 to use as it deems.

We’re excited to introduce the Health Fund’s new podcast, Pioneers in Health. With each episode we’ll share the inspiring stories of pioneering leaders working to improve health. We’ll bring you guests from our state, from our nation and from your backyard to tell their stories of how they broke new ground and changed the landscape of health care.

You can look forward to hearing from community and state leaders, policy makers, advocates, and researchers working on innovative efforts to improve health. Every podcast you’ll hear from David Jordan, the president and CEO of the Health Fund, who brings perspective and a rich background with building community and leading advocacy in health care. He will lead you through thought-provoking interviews and inspiring conversations with our guests. 

Listen on your favorite podcast service and subscribe to stay up-to-date with each new episode

The Health Fund is a statewide health philanthropy dedicated to improving the health and wholeness of all Kansans—especially those in rural and under-served communities. Leveraging our strengths by convening, partnering, providing hands-on expertise, strengthening policies and systems, and focusing on sustainability, we work to advance innovative solutions to improve Kansans’ health for generations to come. To maximize our impact, we focus on three strategic areas: Access to Care, Thriving Children, and Engaged Congregations and Communities. 

We view health as more than health care. Health depends on things beyond your control – including the conditions in your community, the schools in your neighborhood, the availability of healthy food and good jobs, and whether you have health providers and hospitals close to you. These are factors that we can change together, and as part of this podcast we’ll be bringing you stories of pioneers who have led important changes to improve health.

Through this podcast, we aim to bring you news and educate you, our listeners, on ways that you can promote better health in your lives and in your communities. Our hope is that the voices and perspectives that you find here will encourage you to take bold action. 

If you ever have questions for us, we invite you to get in touch.

Thank you to all who joined us in Salina – see below for resources. We hope to see you in 2025.

Thursday, April 18, 2024

Designed for Great Plains United Methodists, the 2024 Healthy Congregations Retreat featured an interactive workshop Leaving a Legacy of Abundance in a Culture of Scarcity facilitated by Adam Barlow-Thompson, Executive Director & Co-Founder of The Neighboring Movement. In the workshop, participants practiced moving from scarcity to abundance. The activities and tools in the workshop are available for use in local settings and help churches see the power of becoming community connectors. The workshop focused as well on reducing the sense of isolation and loneliness that is created when doing ministry in a culture of scarcity.
Full event program flyer

Resources

• The Neighboring Movement overview
• The ReCycle 10 Minute Meditation
• From Scarcity to Abundance (slides)

Friday, April 19, 2024

Designed for participants from faith communities and the fields of public health, health care, and non-profits, along with community members, Intersections of Faith & Health explores current and emerging health issues with an emphasis on how stakeholders can work together and leverage their unique strengths to improve community health.
 
Participants heard from health experts from across the state on topics including food security, maternal and child health, Medicaid expansion, voting and civic engagement, child care, and more – then explored further and connected with resources through facilitated small-group conversations.

Resources

• Kansas Appleseed Food Security slides
• KBC Coverage of Community-Based Doula Care
• KBC Kansas Momnibus flyer
• KBC Maternal & Child Health in Kansas slides
• KIFA Caring for the Common Good slides
• KWU & UUMC Community Resilience slides
• Health Fund Supporting Thriving Families slides
• Voter Network Election Knowledge quiz
• Voter Network slides
• UMC Mercy and Justice slides

Featured presenters:

• Brenda Bandy, Executive Director, Kansas Breastfeeding Coalition
• Adam Barlow-Thompson, Executive Director & Co-Founder, The Neighboring Movement
• Lindsay Ford, Executive Director, The Voter Network
• Anne Gahn, Chair of the Great Plains Conference Mercy and Justice Team
• April Holman, Executive Director, Alliance for a Healthy Kansas
• Judy Johnston, Research Instructor, Dept. of Population Health, KU School of Medicine – Wichita
• Haley Kottler, Thriving and Civic Engagement Director, Kansas Appleseed
• Miranda Miller-Klugesherz, Director, Kansas Food Action Network (KFAN)
• Rev. Rachael Pryor, Director of Engagement, Kansas Interfaith Action
• Sabrina Rosario, Creation Care Minister/Community Garden Leader, University UMC Salina and Campus Coordinator, Community Resilience Hub, Kansas Wesleyan University
• John Wilson, President, Kansas Action for Children

We hope you’ll join us in 2025 for learning, conversation, and fellowship at this year’s event.

The Health Fund is funding an opportunity for Kansas home visitors to become trained and rostered in the provision of Attachment and Biobehavioral Catch-Up (ABC) at no cost. The trainings will be held virtually in 2024.

Social-emotional development in young children is a critical factor related to later life outcomes such as school success, social interactions, and mental health. Healthy early childhood development provides a strong foundation for future learning and helps children reach their full potential, but risk factors including toxic stress, adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and other challenges can derail this crucial process. 

Attachment and Biobehavioral Catch-Up (ABC) is an evidence-based ten-session home visiting program for families with children up to age 4 who have experienced early adversity. Designed to buffer the harmful effects of toxic stress and help restore normal early childhood development, ABC has been studied and found efficacious in randomized controlled trials with families referred by Child Protective Services, foster families, and parents adopting children from international orphanage care.

Broadly, ABC focuses on building healthy families through the development of secure attachment, nurturance, and positive regard. Each week, parent coaches discuss three target behaviors with parents using manualized content that includes showing example videos, citing research support, and encouraging practice activities between parents and their children. Most importantly, target-relevant parent behaviors are also supported by parent coaches making frequent in-the-moment comments. To learn more, please visit www.ABCintervention.org

Through this opportunity, the Health Fund will cover training costs and also provide the necessary equipment/materials for the coaches. To apply:

1. Download, review, and complete the ABC Training Application and Expectations (fillable pdf) by March 15, 2024. Return completed form via email.
2. Schedule and complete a 30-minute video conference interview with the University of Delaware (UD) ABC. UD uses an evidence-based half-hour screening process to predict which individuals are likely to have success training in ABC.

The trainings will be held virtually in 2024; dates and times will be determined based on availability and category. Questions? Please contact Katie Schoenhoff katie@healthfund.org.

Join us at a regional rally featuring Kansas health resources and conversations on the future of health care in our communities. Each rally will include:

• Round-table discussions on the changing healthcare landscape and what Medicaid expansion can or would mean to rural areas and your community
• Resources and programs available to Kansans now, and where to find help
• Opportunities to enroll in services and programs (local navigators will be present to assist)
• Ways you can take action to improve the health of your community
• Lunch or dinner

A strong health system is critical to the future of rural Kansas communities. As Kansas and health care changes, and more Kansans become uninsured, our health systems and communities face increasing challenges.

Thrive Kansas and the United Methodist Health Ministry Fund invite you to a conversation on the future of rural health, Medicaid expansion, and for a resource rally to better connect rural Kansans to available services.

At the meeting, we’ll discuss the changing landscape of health care in Kansas, the importance of Medicaid expansion to rural communities and, most importantly, share resources and programs available to Kansans now. We will also provide an opportunity to enroll in programs and to take action to improve the health of your community. Please use the form below to register. Lunch or dinner will be provided.

Atchison – Nov. 30
Hays, Colby – Dec. 4
Dodge City – Dec. 5
Pittsburg (register below) – December 13th from noon to 2 p.m. at the CHC/SEK John Parolo Education Center, 3015 N. Michigan

The registration form is now closed – thank you for your interest. Please contact David Jordan david@healthfund.org for waiting list or future events.

Community Health Workers are a vital part of Kansas health care. Recently, 20 Kansas organizations joined the Health Fund in signing onto a comment letter to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment to show their support of this profession. In partnership with these organizations, we delivered a letter to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) asking for their continued support of CHWs in Kansas through an improved reimbursement strategy. 

The letter, found here, asks that KDHE strengthen their approach to CHW reimbursement strategy by:
 

1. Allowing flexibility in who can supervise a CHW and where a CHW can be employed to be reimbursed, specifically by community-based organizations.
2. Ensuring there is adequate reimbursement for the services provided by CHWs.
3. Committing to ongoing partnership with stakeholders to ensure the policy is implemented.

By ensuring the sustainability of CHWs in Kansas, our kids can thrive, our communities will benefit and the future of health care in Kansas will be a little brighter.

If you’re interested in learning more about what CHWs do and how you can support them, visit: Kansas CHWs.  You can read the full letter here and see the full list of partners who joined us in supporting CHWs in Kansas.

In addition to the sign-on letter, the Health Fund also submitted in-depth comments regarding the proposed CHW payment policy, which you can read here.

Thank you to our partners who join us in this endeavor.

2022 Year in Review

As we reflect on 2022 and look forward to the work ahead, it is important to celebrate where we have been and the partnerships that we have forged to improve health. Inside:

• A new strategic plan and focus area updates
• Program highlights
• Board and staff updates
• Award announcements
• Financial summary

Applications due: The next nationwide cohort begins in January 2024.

The Good Neighbor Experiment (GNE) is a cohort-based learning process for congregations who wish to engage their community as neighbors. GNE is rooted in the practices of Asset-Based Community Development and the Christian Faith. The material has been used in congregations since 2017 and the Neighboring Movement team has refined the material with each cohort led. The process includes a 4 week worship series, online events with other participating churches from across the country, 3 action-based “Labs” of small group materials you do with your own congregation (each 5 weeks long) and congregational coaching for churches; all occurring over a 4 month period.

The Health Fund is excited to partner with NeighboringMovement.org and the Lilly Endowment to offer Great Plains United Methodist Churches a special opportunity for current or new signup Healthy Congregations (HC) teams to participate in the The Good Neighbor Experiment (GNE) at no cost. Not a Great Plains United Methodist Church? You are still welcome participate in GNE – please visit https://neighboringmovement.org/gne to learn more.

To get started, please fill out the below interest form. There is no obligation – staff will reach out to you to guide next steps and answer questions. To learn more about GNE first, please visit the GNE website. Questions? Please email dashinika@healthfund.org or ian@neighboringmovement.org.

Good Neighbor Experiment Interest Form

Good Neighbor Experiment Healthy Congregations Special Opportunity Interest Form

Not with a Kansas or Nebraska (Great Plains Conference) United Methodist Church? You can still participate in GNE - please visit https://neighboringmovement.org/good-neighbor-experiment

First Name *

Last Name *

Email *

Phone *

Address *

Address

Address

Address

City

City

State AlabamaAlaskaArkansasArizonaCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareDistrict of ColumbiaFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWest VirginiaWisconsinWyoming

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Zip/Postal

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What is your role at your church?

(pastor, staff, volunteer, outreach team leader, etc.)

My church's Healthy Congregations participation *

Currently participating in Healthy Congregations

Interested, but not sure if our church is in Healthy Congregations

Wanting to sign up as a new Healthy Congregations team

GNE is available at no cost to current and new-signup Healthy Congregations teams. Not already in Healthy Congregations? You can sign up and gain access to benefits of participation, including this and other special opportunities supporting congregational and community health ministry. We'll reach out to answer any questions and help guide you along the way.

State where HC church is located *

KS

NE

City where HC church is located *

Name of HC Church *

HC Participating Churches List Agenda UMC Alma UMC Neb Atwood UMC Augusta UMC Aurora UMC Neb Baldwin City First UMC Baldwin City Ives Chapel UMC Belle Plaine UMC Bellevue Aldersgate UMC Neb Bennington UMC Bladen UMC Neb Blair First UMC Neb Blue Hill UMC Neb Bonner Springs UMC Broken Bow UMC Neb Chapman UMC Neb Colby UMC Columbus First UMC NE Columbus UMC Concordia First UMC Corbin UMC Cozad UMC Neb Dakota City UMC Neb Davenport UMC Neb Derby Madison Avenue UMC Derby Woodlawn UMC DeWitt UMC Neb Douglass UMC Downs UMC Eddyville Grace UMC Neb Ellis UMC Elm Creek UMC Neb Elmwood St. Paul UMC Neb Emporia First UMC Emporia Grace UMC Erie Federated Church Eudora UMC FaithWestwood UMC Neb Florence UMC Fredonia UMC Fremont Calvary UMC Neb Glasco UMC Grand Island First/Faith UMC Neb Grand Island Trinity UMC Great Bend Trinity UMC Halstead UMC Harvard First UMC Neb Hastings First UMC Neb Hastings Grace UMC Hays First UMC Hiawatha First UMC Hoisington First UMC Holstein Grace UMC Neb Holton First UMC Hooper Faith UMC Neb Howard UMC Hoxie UMC Hutchinson First UMC Iola Wesley UMC Ithaca UMC Neb Jetmore UMC Juniata UMC Neb Kearney First UMC Neb Kincaid/Selma UMC Kirwin UMC LaCygne UMC Lawrence First UMC Leawood UMC Lincoln St. Luke UMC Neb Lindsborg UMC Louisburg UMC Lyona UMC Madison Trinity UMC Neb McCool Junction UMC McLouth UMC Melvern UMC Miller UMC Neb Minneapolis First UMC Mount Hope UMC Murdock Ebenezer UMC Neb Newton First UMC Nickerson UMC O'Neill First UMC Neb Ogden Friendship House Olathe Aldersgate UMC Olathe Church of the Resurrection -west campus Olathe Grace UMC Olive Crest UMC Neb Omaha Clair Memorial UMC Neb Omaha First UMC Neb Omaha St. Andrews UMC Neb Omaha St. Paul UMC Neb Ong UMC Neb Oskaloosa UMC Ottawa First UMC Overland Park Heritage UMC Overland Park Indian Heights UMC Overton UMC Neb Palmer UMC Neb Paola UMC Parsons Wesley UMC Pittsburg College Heights UMC Pretty Prairie & Murdock UMCs Reading UMC Red Cloud NE First UMC Republican City UMC Neb Richter UMC Rock UMC Russell Trinity UMC Saffordville UMC Salina Church of the Cross UMC Salina First UMC Salina University UMC Schuyler Christ UMC Neb Seward UMC Neb Shickley UMC Neb Silver Lake UMC St. Francis UMC St. Paul UMC NE Sterling UMC Tecumseh UMC Topeka First UMC Topeka Highland Park UMC Topeka New Hope UMC Tri-Parish (Admire, Allen, Miller) Vinland UMC Wahoo First UMC Neb Wamego UMC Waverly First UMC Neb Waverly UMC Westridge UMC Neb Wichita Aldersgate UMC Wichita Cedar Chapel UMC Wichita Chapel Hill Fellowship UMC Wichita East Heights UMC Wichita New Covenant UMC Wichita University UMC Wichita West Heights UMC Williamsburg UMC Wilson UMC Winfield First UMC Woodbine UMC Worden UMC

Check this list of participating Healthy Congregations and select your church if it is listed. If you don't see your church, don't worry - complete the below and we'll follow up with you.

State where your United Methodist Church is located *

City where your United Methodist church is located *

Church Name *

In which cohort is your church interested in participating?

January 2024 national cohort

I'd like to start a cohort in my area

I am not sure and would like more information

Please list name and email for any other church contacts we should know.

Comments / Notes

(Optional) add any comments, notes, or questions you'd like us to see.

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More about the Good Neighbor Experiment:

Who is it for?

GNE was created for local congregations of Christian churches. It is done best when 4-12 people from a church are willing to commit to the full scope of the training, including attending all the online kickoff events and personally participating in all 15 weeks of the small group curriculum.

NOT a church growth program

While some congregations do experience numerical growth, GNE is not intended to increase attendance on Sunday mornings or financial contributions. Instead, GNE is meant to create renewed vitality and to help the congregation become more deeply embedded within its community. GNE is for churches that are tired of creating programs that nobody wants to come to. Many of us have been taught that you can only engage your neighbor through evangelism or by providing a service to them; GNE offers another option. Throughout the experiment, churches are invited to move from scarcity to abundance and to see their role shift from service provider to community connector.

How do you participate?

GNE offers two ways to participate in a cohort:

• Nationwide cohort: The Neighboring Movement staff leads two cohorts a year that will usually start in April and July.
• Local facilitator/coach: If you would like to become a neighboring coach for local congregations near you as they participate in GNE and beyond, please contact ian@neighboringmovement.org.

Curriculum and Continuation

Learn more about the GNE curriculum and alumni program on their website.

Cost and Commitments

Responsibility for Churches

• Financial Costs: Great Plains Conference (UMC) church participation is covered at no cost. For other congregations, cohorts cost $1000 per church, though some local or regional conferences or organizations may provide financial support, depending on the area.
• People Power: Churches are asked to form a team with a minimum of 4 lay people and 1 church staff person who are committed to attending every workshop and doing all 15 weeks of the small group curriculum.

Responsibilities of Individuals

• Action Ready: GNE only works if the church is committed to actually engaging their neighbors. All participants should have the expectation of meeting their actual neighbors, both where they live and in the neighborhood of the church.

Kansas workers, health providers and employers increasingly rely on broadband access for their jobs, health care and enterprises. Held December 12 in Topeka, “Broadband Access and Telehealth: Exploring Policy Approaches for Kansas” engaged state policymakers, hospital and health system leaders, insurers and rural network directors during a presentation of recent studies and program developments followed by a policy leader panel offering perspectives on future broadband expansion and telehealth usage.

The program was hosted by the United Methodist Health Ministry Fund, REACH Healthcare Foundation, and the Kansas Health Institute.

Featured speakers:

• Jade Piros de Carvalho, Director of the Kansas Office of Broadband Development – Update on Kansas Broadband Plan and State Broadband Grants
• Dorothy Hughes, Ph.D., MHSA, University of Kansas School of Medicine – Consumer and Health Provider Perspectives on Telehealth

Policy leader panel:

• Kari Bruffett, President & CEO, Kansas Health Institute
• Jennifer Findley, Vice President, Education & Special Projects, Kansas Hospital Association
• Brock Slabach, Chief Operations Officer, National Rural Health Association
• Angie Strecker, Vice President, Provider Relations and Medical Economics, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas