Category: Early Childhoood Development News

The state of breastfeeding in Kansas

Posted on by Lindsey Fields

This guest blog post was authored by Brenda Bandy, IBCLC, and Jennie Toland, BSN, RN, CLC, Co-Executive Directors of the Kansas Breastfeeding Coalition.

“[…] exclusive breastfeeding goes a long way toward canceling out the health difference between being born into poverty and being born into affluence…It is almost as if breastfeeding takes the infant out of poverty for those first few months in order to give the child a fairer start in life […]”

– James P. Grant, former UNICEF executive director

We are thrilled to report the state of breastfeeding in Kansas is strong! According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released on August 1, Kansas exceeds the national rates of breastfeeding in all measures. Kansas ranks 14th in the nation in the percent of infants exclusively breastfeeding at 6 months of age for babies born in 2019. This is up from 27th place only five years ago.

The data show nearly 90% of families in Kansas choose to breastfeed. However, the choice to breastfeed is negatively influenced by lack of support in the workplace, lack of access to clinical and peer lactation support, and often lack of family support. Without the right support, the choice to breastfeed isn’t a choice at all.

Consider this map above of breastfeeding initiation rates by county. The counties in pink exceed the state average in breastfeeding initiation rates. The counties in white have the lowest rates of breastfeeding initiation. Social determinants of health can greatly impact breastfeeding rates. We must carefully consider what factors are making it difficult for families to be able to choose to breastfeed.

The graph above illustrates the gaps in breastfeeding rates. These disparities result from structural barriers and historical trauma that make it more difficult for Black, Indigenous and Latina mothers to engage in a traditional practice that has sustained their cultures over generations. While Black and Indigenous families do breastfeed, they do so despite bias and inequities.

The KBC has taken the following action to address racial disparities in breastfeeding rates with support from our partners at the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) and the United Methodist Health Ministry Fund (Health Fund):

How can we make impactful and sustainable improvements to breastfeeding?  The answer lies within the community. It is our responsibility to support communities and ensure they have needed resources. While we celebrate increased breastfeeding rates in Kansas, a “rising tide” of breastfeeding support is not enough when some families in Kansas are not even in a boat.

The American Academy of Pediatrics’ (AAP) new Position Statement: Breastfeeding and the Use of Human Milk highlights the importance of supportive policies and systems. The AAP statement recommends “Policies that protect breastfeeding, including universal paid maternity leave, the right of a woman to breastfeed in public, insurance coverage for lactation support and breast pumps, on-site child care; universal workplace break time with a clean, private location for expressing milk, the right to feed expressed milk, and the right to breastfeed in child care centers and lactation rooms in schools are all essential to supporting families in sustaining breastfeeding.”

The KBC and our partners, including the Health Fund and KDHE, are working on improving policies, systems and environments to be more supportive of breastfeeding families.

A recent policy “win” for families in Kansas was the extension of Medicaid postpartum coverage for mothers from a mere 60 days to a full year. This extension of access to coverage will increase access to breastfeeding support in addition to essential physical and mental health services during the first year after giving birth.

Many hospitals across Kansas have contributed to the rising breastfeeding rates in Kansas. Thanks to the Health Fund’s investment in High 5 for Mom & Baby, Kansas ranks 13th in the nation for maternity care practices as measured by the CDC Maternity Practices in Infant Nutrition and Care survey.

If you are curious what breastfeeding support looks like in your county, visit the KBC’s Breastfeeding Support by Kansas County. This document allows you to easily see not only breastfeeding rates but also peer, clinical, and systems-level support for breastfeeding.

We invite you to join the Kansas Breastfeeding Coalition to build on this momentum and continue to improve policies, systems and environments to support Kansas families to breastfeed.

Please consider taking the following actions to support breastfeeding in your community.

ACTION IDEAS

INDIVIDUALS CAN:

HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS CAN:

BUSINESSES CAN:

HOSPITALS CAN:

STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT CAN:

  • Help hospitals connect parents to community breastfeeding resources once they leave the hospital.
  • Support and participate in local breastfeeding coalitions.
  • Support paid family leave.
  • Support KanCare coverage of lactation and doula services.

About the series

This is the second post in a series on breastfeeding in Kansas. The full blog series includes:

Kansas’ breastfeeding journey: reflections and the road ahead

Posted on by Lindsey Fields

By Katie Schoenhoff, Director of Programs

Happy National Breastfeeding Month.

As we celebrate National Breastfeeding Month, we are reminded of the gains achieved and the work ahead in helping ensure that breastfeeding’s numerous health benefits are available to all mothers and children.

At the United Methodist Health Ministry Fund, we have worked to support breastfeeding for more than 15 years. In early years, we supported breastfeeding as a proven way to help prevent early childhood obesity. Since 2010, breastfeeding support has been a cornerstone of our strategic work, and the more we’ve gained understanding about the physical, emotional, and relational benefits that breastfeeding has for both a child’s and mother’s well-being, the more importance we’ve placed on this work.

A 2007 breastfeeding support grant to United Methodist Mexican-American Ministries (now Genesis Family Health) in western Kansas was a success in its own right, but also highlighted several challenges and opportunities that have guided our subsequent work.

One early learning was that mothers often face challenges which make it difficult to continue breastfeeding when returning to work. In 2010, we began supporting the Kansas Breastfeeding Coalition’s Business Case for Breastfeeding program, which illustrates the bottom-line benefits of supporting breastfeeding employees and simple, low-cost ways to do so.

We learned that supportive maternity facility policies and procedures, trained health care providers, and post-delivery/postpartum access to lactation support make a huge difference in initiating and maintaining successful breastfeeding. We also learned the importance and value of collaboration across the national, state, and local levels.

The Health Fund worked with the Kansas Breastfeeding Workgroup to develop the High 5 for Mom and Baby program that started in 2011. This program provides training, resources, and a framework to help Kansas hospitals and birth facilities implement five or more evidence-based practices proven to support successful breastfeeding, improving maternal and infant health outcomes while also reducing racial and ethnic health disparities.

To obtain High 5 for Mom & Baby recognition, facilities complete a voluntary, self-reported evaluation and follow five or more of the evidence-based High 5 for Mom & Baby practices.

In 2014, we co-sponsored the Kansas Health Summit on Breastfeeding with the Kansas Health Foundation (KHF). From there, we and KHF used the summit to inform a grant initiative where we co-funded 10 projects to work on physician education, lactation support services, regional coalition development, and more.

We’ve continued to work in partnership with the Kansas Breastfeeding Coalition and have long funded the organization’s leadership as well as various projects providing a continuum of care for women prenatally and throughout their breastfeeding journey.

Gaining experience through these projects, we have continued to adapt and modify our breastfeeding work as we saw more Kansas hospitals taking on maternity care best practices each year. Starting in 2016, we provided funding for five hospitals to work toward the rigorous Baby-Friendly designation, which all five have now achieved. We then partnered with Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) to co-fund another five hospitals. At this time, 10 Kansas hospitals maintain the Baby-Friendly designation, covering nearly 50% of births in our state.

While Baby-Friendly designation is the “gold standard” for supporting breastfeeding in maternity care settings, we recognized that many other hospitals are working to improve their goals and may not have the staffing or financial means to achieve the designation.

In 2020, we launched the High 5 for Mom and Baby Premier program. These facilities follow all 10 of the evidence-based High 5 for Mom & Baby practices. This spring we announced that 22 facilities had achieved premier recognition, which is the largest number of hospitals to earn the premier recognition since it was introduced.

Since we’ve entered the breastfeeding field, we have seen significant increases in breastfeeding initiation and duration rates for the state. In 2021, Kansas reached the top 15 states for all measures for the first time.

This is in part because multiple funding partners have worked together to support the field, including KDHE and KHF. So much traction has been gained and we have valuable leadership from the Kansas Breastfeeding Coalition and local coalitions across the state that have helped Kansas see significant gains in lactation support and policies within hospitals and communities. This work has led to more women receiving supports in various settings—local businesses, workplaces, places of worship, health departments, and more. All of us working together has made a significant difference for women and children across our state.

While there is much to celebrate, there is much left to do. Although the overall breastfeeding rates are improving, rates for Black and brown women–as was the case in 2007 and unfortunately remains true today–are not seeing as many improvements and these gaps need to be narrowed. In recent years, our work with the Kansas Breastfeeding Coalition has focused on working with coalitions led by women of color to support their communities. We continue to proudly support the work that the coalition is doing to amplify all voices.

During National Breastfeeding Month we should celebrate the work that has been accomplished, but we still must all come together and continue to help every Kansas family achieve their infant feeding goals to create the best outcomes for mothers and babies.  

About the series

This is the first in a multipart series on the state of breastfeeding in Kansas. Next week we’ll learn more from the Kansas Breastfeeding Coalition on how our state ranks in breastfeeding and how individuals and businesses can support breastfeeding mothers.

The full blog series includes:

High 5 for Mom & Baby Practices

The ten High 5 for Mom & Baby practices are based on the WHO/UNICEF Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding – evidence-based practices proven to increase breastfeeding success and reduce racial and ethnic disparities.

1. Facility will have a written maternity care and infant feeding policy that addresses all ten High 5 for Mom & Baby practices supporting breastfeeding 

2. Facility will maintain staff competency in lactation support

3. All pregnant women will receive information and instruction on breastfeeding

4. Assure immediate and sustained skin-to-skin contact between mother and baby after birth

5. All families will receive individualized infant feeding counseling

6. Give newborn infants no food or drink other than breastmilk unless medically indicated

7. Practice “rooming in” – allow mothers and infants to remain together 24 hours a day

8. Families will be encouraged to feed their babies when the baby exhibits feeding cues, regardless of feeding methods

9. Give no pacifiers or artificial nipples to breastfeeding infants

10. Provide mothers options for breastfeeding support in the community (such as a telephone number, walk-in clinic information, support groups, etc.) upon discharge 

Using Proven Early Childhood Interventions to Combat ACEs

Posted on by Lindsey Fields

This piece originally appeared in the Kansas Child summer 2022 issue. David Jordan is president and CEO of the United Methodist Health Ministry Fund.

It’s true what they say: children don’t come with an instruction manual. These days, many families are struggling to feel successful raising their children while also coping with the many demands and challenges of modern life.

Toxic stress and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are major influences on a child’s overall development — affecting school readiness, student success, physical and mental health, and other factors, including the ability to exercise self-control. ACEs include abuse, neglect, witnessing violence, mental health or substance use problems in the household, and instability in the household, such as separated parents, among other experiences.

ACEs are incredibly common. According to the CDC, approximately 61% of adults surveyed across 25 states reported that they had experienced at least one ACE, while 1 in 6 had experienced at least four. In Kansas, 39% of children have experienced an ACE, and 20% have experienced two or more ACEs.

The first step toward addressing toxic stress and supporting children’s physical health and social-emotional development is to screen early and regularly. Performing a developmental screening when a child first enrolls in early care and education can identify potential risk factors or barriers to success. In many cases, when these concerns are identified and addressed early, the interventions are less intrusive, and children reach developmental milestones more quickly.

Programs and Interventions

Caring and responsive relationships are critical for every child’s healthy development. A number of programs and interventions, including evidence-based home visiting models within the state, nurture caring relationships and positive childhood experiences.

For example, evidence-based early literacy programs promote stronger caregiver-child relationships. Programs like Reach Out and Read (ROR) engage parents, children, and health care providers. ROR’s Perry Klass notes that by reading to young children, parents and educators are teaching responsiveness and cultivating routines and structures that will help children feel safe. These relationships and routines will stimulate healthy brain development and foster a love of reading, leading to improved language skills and health outcomes.

For kids with significant needs, caring and responsive relationships mitigate the effects of toxic stress. Research shows that infants and toddlers who have experienced adversity can benefit from early intervention that focuses on building supportive adult relationships.

One strategy to counteract early adversity is the evidence-based Attachment and Biobehavioral Catch-up (ABC) program. Over the course of the 10-week program, parents increase their knowledge and skills in order to create secure attachments and help their children have better outcomes. While babies cannot verbalize their needs, parents can learn to recognize and respond to their child’s cues, which leads to strong and healthy relationships.

Through support for evidence‐based early childhood development programs, we can ensure that the youngest Kansans enjoy nurturing family environments that prepare them for healthy lives and academic success. Investing in proven early childhood interventions as a state will result in a more capable workforce, reduced health care and mortality costs, and reduced demand for public services. Kansas’ future depends on the children we invest in today.

Child Care Providers & Infant Mental Health

No one can say that caring for infants is simple work. Understanding infants and toddlers and making sure they receive appropriate behavioral health support is difficult.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, as many as 1 in 10 preschoolers are affected by emotional, relationship, and behavioral problems. A young child’s misbehavior may be due to mental health concerns. Ensuring that children receive age-appropriate support as early as possible is important for their future health and school readiness.

How can child care providers promote good mental health?

• Connect parents to local resources, such as early childhood development centers that specialize in home visiting and building parents’ caregiving confidence and skills.
• Provide age-appropriate screenings for children in your care. If you are not currently using screenings, you can attend ASQ trainings through the Kansas Technical Assistance System Network (TASN).
• Advocate for statewide policy changes that would benefit infant mental health, such as increased consultation services and the use of the DC: 0-5 diagnostic classification tool.

New certification program promises better health care experiences for Kansans

Posted on by Lindsey Fields

Most Americans struggle to navigate health care. They worry about how expensive the health care system is and how hard it is to understand.

We often wish someone could walk us through insurance applications or help us understand doctor’s orders. The challenges can be amplified for uninsured patients and patients whose primary language isn’t English.

Thankfully, there is growing interest in Kansas and beyond in establishing the widespread practice of community health workers to help patients navigate our complicated health system.

A community health worker (CHW) is a member of the health care team who serves as a bridge between patients and providers. They translate doctor jargon. They fill out paperwork and connect patients to needed resources. CHWs help patients overcome obstacles to seeking care, such as transportation or language barriers.

CHWs make the system work better for patients and providers, which is why the United Methodist Health Ministry Fund has invested in supporting the use of CHWs in health care settings throughout Kansas and is partnering with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, the Health Forward Foundation and over 20 health care and community stakeholders to create certification and payment policies to establish and sustain the profession in Kansas.

CHWs Impact: Lucy’s first patient

Lucy Watie of Bob Wilson Hospital is one of approximately 500 CHWs practicing in Kansas today. As a resident of Ulysses who works at her local hospital, she is passionate about improving the health of her neighbors and community.

“One of my first referrals was a 23-year-old, obstetric patient, mother of two,” said Watie. “The client had no insurance and was considering canceling her ultrasound appointment.”

This patient’s health was impacted by more than what happened at her doctor’s office. All of us are affected by the social determinants of health—the conditions where we live, learn, work and play. This patient lived in a deteriorating apartment with two small children and very little money.

She couldn’t afford to pay for a safe place to live. Paying for an ultrasound was out of the question. Watie helped her apply for Medicaid, SNAP, and WIC. During their time working together, the patient moved from an unsafe apartment to subsidized housing, obtained a library card for internet access, enrolled in the adult learning center to work on her diploma, and established care with a dentist.

“This young lady has endured trauma in her life and been diagnosed with mental illness,” said Watie. “It’s so rewarding to see how well this client is doing since her discharge. She is happier, healthier and has become very self-sufficient.”

Working with a CHW was a lifechanging experience.

Community health workers are becoming more common in Kansas as health care organizations realize their value as part of the care team. Although CHWs improve access to services while reducing disparities and the cost of care, there are challenges to implementing them.

A 2021 study commissioned by the United Methodist Health Ministry Fund identified opportunities to expand the use of CHWs in Kansas, including standardizing education and training, and exploring alternative funding sources because most CHW positions are largely dependent on grant funding. Until now, there has been no baseline education and training to becoming a CHW in Kansas.

Certification program announced

Kansas is one of a growing number of states that are recognizing the community health worker profession by formalizing the certification process. This week, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) and the Kansas Community Health Worker Coalition announced the certification process, which has two pathways. Interested individuals can become a CHW by completing a KDHE-approved CHW training program or through a combination of work experience and letters of recommendation.

The decision to move forward with the state certification process is the result of workgroup recommendations made by a group of health care professionals including providers, payers, community health advocates, and community health workers, convened by KDHE and the United Methodist Health Ministry Fund, with support from the Health Forward Foundation, that explored the role of community health workers in Kansas, a certification process and sustainability issues—including Medicaid payment policy. The group continues to work collaboratively to explore sustainability issues.

As momentum and support for the profession grows in Kansas and nationally, the state of Kansas has recently received two grants to support the use and deployment of nearly 100 community health workers to help Kansans navigate the health care system and challenges resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Through return on investment, community health workers actually pay for themselves. They reduce reliance on emergency care and increase primary care use. A 2020 study at Penn Medicine found each dollar invested in their CHW program would have a $2.47 return on investment to an average Medicaid payer within the fiscal year.

To become a sustainable part of patient-centered health care, the next challenge to overcome will be creating sustainable funding for CHW positions. The 2021 research study found that more sustainable funding options could include Medicaid, service reimbursement strategies, and other innovative and unique payment ideas. Integrating CHWs into a care team can also create new possibilities for funding.

What’s clear is that CHWs can improve health and bring down costs. Recognizing the profession through a certification process is an important step forward. Establishing sustainable financing will ensure better patient care and reduce costs for providers and payers, like state Medicaid programs.

Resources

Black maternal health crisis conversation

Posted on by Lindsey Fields

Among industrialized countries, the United States has the highest maternal mortality rate. In Kansas, the maternal mortality rate is 14.8—meaning 14.8 women die for every 100,000 live births. Black women are more likely to die than white or Hispanic women.

Dr. Sharla Smith of the Kansas Birth Equity Network joined Health Fund CEO David Jordan for a conversation on the Black maternal health crisis.

Conversation with Dr. Sharla Smith of the Kansas Birth Equity Network

“Black women are two to three times more likely to die of childbirth-related issues than white women,” said Dr. Smith. “We’re seeing that crisis happen in the absence of the social determinants of health. So, Black women from the wealthiest communities still have worse outcomes. Black educated women still have worse outcomes than all other women.”

Postpartum coverage extension is great news for Kansas families

Posted on by Lindsey Fields

Through its new budget, Kansas is taking an important step in improving maternal and infant health outcomes. Today, Governor Laura Kelly signed the new budget bill which contains funding for extending postpartum KanCare (Medicaid) coverage from 60 days to 12 months. 

More than 30% of Kansas births are covered by KanCare. Extending postpartum coverage will allow mothers to access early interventions and coordinated care, preventing postpartum complications that arise more than 60 days after delivery. Now more mothers will have health insurance and access to care in the first full year postpartum when the mother is still at risk for complications, including pregnancy-related death. 

In response to the COVID-19 public health emergency, a temporary federal expansion of postpartum benefits to 12 months has allowed mothers to access or continue accessing health care and mental health services that provide both mother and child with a healthier start to life. A significant aspect of these improved health outcomes results from mothers being able to access early interventions and coordinated care, preventing postpartum complications that arise more than 60 days after delivery and keeping chronic conditions from worsening due to early identification and intervention.  

Last year, the United Methodist Health Ministry Fund (Health Fund) and 28 partners urged the Kansas Legislature to permanently extend postpartum coverage.   

“We commend Governor Kelly and the Kansas Legislature for extending postpartum KanCare coverage to 12 months,” said David Jordan, president and CEO of the Health Fund. “This will positively impact 9,000 Kansas mothers each year—reducing maternal mortality, improving health outcomes, and reducing disparities.” 

Extended postpartum KanCare is an important step toward improved health for mothers. We need to remain attentive to and advocate for mothers’ access to quality physical and mental health care in all Kansas communities. 

Related Materials 

In Support of Postpartum Coverage
Extending postpartum Medicaid coverage in Kansas will improve health of mother and infant

2022 High 5 for Mom & Baby Premier recognition

Posted on by Lindsey Fields

Breastfeeding plays a crucial role in the overall health of babies and mothers and demonstrates hospitals’ commitment to improving infant and maternal health.

The United Methodist Health Ministry Fund, through its High 5 for Mom & Baby program, is committed to promoting breastfeeding best practices and to supporting hospitals’ efforts to ensure their staff are prepared to support parents’ breastfeeding needs and goals.

Twenty-two Kansas hospitals’ commitment to improving infant and maternal health has earned them recognition through High 5 for Mom & Baby Premier. These facilities follow all ten of the evidence-based High 5 for Mom & Baby practices. This is the largest number of hospitals to earn the highest level of High 5 for Mom & Baby recognition since the program was introduced.

High 5 for Mom & Baby Premier provides training, resources, and a framework to help Kansas hospitals and birth facilities implement ten evidence-based practices proven to support successful breastfeeding, improving maternal and infant health outcomes while also reducing racial and ethnic health disparities.  

To obtain High 5 for Mom & Baby Premier recognition, each facility must complete a voluntary, self-reported evaluation and follow all ten of the evidence-based High 5 for Mom & Baby practices: 

  1. Facility will have a written maternity care and infant feeding policy that addresses all ten High 5 for Mom & Baby practices supporting breastfeeding 
  2. Facility will maintain staff competency in lactation support
  3. All pregnant women will receive information and instruction on breastfeeding
  4. Assure immediate and sustained skin-to-skin contact between mother and baby after birth
  5. All families will receive individualized infant feeding counseling
  6. Give newborn infants no food or drink other than breastmilk unless medically indicated
  7. Practice “rooming in” – allow mothers and infants to remain together 24 hours a day
  8. Families will be encouraged to feed their babies when the baby exhibits feeding cues, regardless of feeding methods
  9. Give no pacifiers or artificial nipples to breastfeeding infants
  10. Provide mothers options for breastfeeding support in the community (such as a telephone number, walk-in clinic information, support groups, etc.) upon discharge 

For a list of the 18 additional Kansas hospitals that maintain at least five of the evidence-based practices above and are recognized as High 5 for Mom and Baby facilities, visit https://www.high5kansas.org/. For more information on High 5 for Mom & Baby, contact Cara Gerhardt, Program Coordinator: coordinator@high5kansas.org.

2022 High 5 for Mom & Baby recognition

Posted on by Lindsey Fields

Breastfeeding plays a crucial role in the overall health of babies and mothers and demonstrates hospitals’ commitment to improving infant and maternal health.

The United Methodist Health Ministry Fund, through its High 5 for Mom & Baby program, is committed to promoting breastfeeding best practices and to supporting hospitals’ efforts to ensure their staff are prepared to support parents’ breastfeeding needs and goals.

Eighteen Kansas hospitals’ commitment to improving infant and maternal health has earned them recognition through High 5 for Mom & Baby.

High 5 for Mom & Baby provides training, resources, and a framework to help Kansas hospitals and birth facilities implement five or more evidence-based practices proven to support successful breastfeeding, improving maternal and infant health outcomes while also reducing racial and ethnic health disparities.  

To obtain High 5 for Mom & Baby recognition, each facility must complete a voluntary, self-reported evaluation and follow five or more of the evidence-based High 5 for Mom & Baby practices: 

  1. Facility will have a written maternity care and infant feeding policy that addresses all ten High 5 for Mom & Baby practices supporting breastfeeding 
  2. Facility will maintain staff competency in lactation support
  3. All pregnant women will receive information and instruction on breastfeeding
  4. Assure immediate and sustained skin-to-skin contact between mother and baby after birth
  5. All families will receive individualized infant feeding counseling
  6. Give newborn infants no food or drink other than breastmilk unless medically indicated
  7. Practice “rooming in” – allow mothers and infants to remain together 24 hours a day
  8. Families will be encouraged to feed their babies when the baby exhibits feeding cues, regardless of feeding methods
  9. Give no pacifiers or artificial nipples to breastfeeding infants
  10. Provide mothers options for breastfeeding support in the community (such as a telephone number, walk-in clinic information, support groups, etc.) upon discharge 

For a list of the 22 additional Kansas hospitals that maintain all ten of the evidence-based practices above and are recognized as High 5 for Mom and Baby Premier facilities, visit https://www.high5kansas.org/. For more information on High 5 for Mom & Baby, contact Cara Gerhardt, Program Coordinator: coordinator@high5kansas.org.

Improving Racial Equity in Kansas

Posted on by Lindsey Fields

A Three-Part Series Examining the Commission on Racial Equity and Justice’s Final Recommendations

Following months of discussions with community members and stakeholders, the Governor’s Commission on Racial Equity and Justice developed recommendations to address racial equity in Kansas by focusing on social determinants of health, particularly looking at factors that influence the economic, educational, and health outcomes of our citizens.

The Commission’s recommendations address items that may take place on the state/agency, legislative, and/or local level. Each webinar in this series explores recommendations applicable at a specific level of government.

Examining CREJ Legislative Recommendations

This webinar details the Governor’s Commission on Racial Equity and Justice’s final recommendations for legislative changes that would influence the economic, educational, and health outcomes of our citizens.

View the slides from the legislative level webinar.

Examining CREJ Local Government Recommendations

This webinar details the Governor’s Commission on Racial Equity and Justice’s final recommendations for local government changes that would influence the economic, educational, and health outcomes of our citizens.

View the slides from the local level webinar. This webinar was co-sponsored by the Kansas Association of Counties, League of Kansas Municipalities, and the KU School of Public Affairs and Administration.

Examining CREJ State and Agency Recommendations

This webinar details the Governor’s Commission on Racial Equity and Justice’s final recommendations for state and agency changes that would influence the economic, educational, and health outcomes of our citizens.

View slides from the state and agency level webinar. This webinar was co-sponsored by the KU School of Public Affairs and Administration.

In Support of Postpartum Coverage

Posted on by Lindsey Fields

We support and invest in early childhood initiatives because research shows investing early creates the best health outcomes and the greatest return on investment. To ensure the healthiest start for Kansas kids, we also support policies that lead to healthier parents and healthier families.

Health Fund President David Jordan recently submitted testimony to both the Kansas House and Kansas Senate in support of extending postpartum KanCare coverage to 12 months, universal home visiting, and adding adult dental coverage to Medicaid benefits.

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