In 2017, the United Methodist Health Ministry Fund Board of Directors voted to honor the organization’s founding president with the establishment of the Kim Moore Award for Visionary Leadership. Each year, the Fund solicits nominations in a chosen strategic field of work and honors one individual whose leadership has had a positive effect on the …
News and Resources
Learn more about things happening at the Health Fund, and in our areas of focus
Nominations open – Kim Moore Visionary Leadership Award
Diversifying the teacher workforce will benefit Kansas students
This commentary originally ran in the Kansas Reflector on August 30, 2022. About the authors: Dr. Tiffany Anderson, superintendent of Topeka USD 501, and Dr. Shannon Portillo, associate dean and professor at the University of Kansas, served as co-chairs of the Governor’s Commission on Racial Equity and Justice; David Jordan, president and CEO of the …
Black women breastfeed
This guest blog post was authored by Joyea Marshall-Crowley, CBS, Wichita Black Breastfeeding Coalition. In the Wichita area, we have heard from Black and brown mothers that they are not even being asked about breastfeeding as an initial feeding choice, and that their healthcare providers assume they are formula-feeding their babies. This makes it difficult …
How WIC supports breastfeeding
This guest blog post was authored by Heather Peterson RDN, LD, CLC, Reno County WIC Coordinator. Every day, I look forward to going to work in WIC: we truly are the Happy, Healthy Baby People! WIC is a supplemental food program that serves pregnant, breastfeeding, and postpartum women, infants, and children to age 5. Nearly half …
Musings on the importance of breastfeeding and a review of current recommendations
This guest blog post was authored by Sonder Crane, MD, IBCLC, Pediatrician, Chapter Breastfeeding Coordinator-Kansas Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics. “I think it’s time for mommy milk!” said my 5-year-old to my 2-year-old as their 1-month-old baby brother began to fuss. “Mommy milk” has always been the term for breast milk in our …
The state of breastfeeding in Kansas
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 …
Disrupting the school-to-prison pipeline will reduce disparities for Kansans
This commentary originally ran in the Kansas Reflector on August 4, 2022. About the authors: Dr. Tiffany Anderson, superintendent of Topeka USD 501, and Dr. Shannon Portillo, associate dean and professor at the University of Kansas, served as co-chairs of the Governor’s Commission on Racial Equity and Justice; David Jordan, president and CEO of the …
Kansas’ breastfeeding journey: reflections and the road ahead
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 …
Using Proven Early Childhood Interventions to Combat ACEs
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 …
God’s Temple: Health and Holiness in the Body of Christ
Our health is strongly influenced by a combination of biological, social, and environmental factors beyond our control: the conditions in our communities, the schools in our neighborhoods, the availability of healthy food and good jobs, and how close we are to hospitals and clinics. As we continue to explore what it means to be healthy, …