The relationships that infants and toddlers form with their caregivers are foundational. Through strong attachment and nurturance, children are better prepared for school and to hit developmental milestones on time. The Attachment and Biobehavioral Catch-up (ABC) home visiting program mitigates the effects of toxic stress in infants and toddlers. The Health Fund co-funded a pilot …
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ABC Phase II
Good Neighbor Experiment
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 …
Broadband Access and Telehealth Policy Forum
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 …
Looking ahead, here’s how we can support the health care workforce of a changing Kansas
This opinion piece by Health Fund President David Jordan originally appeared in the Kansas Reflector on November 17, 2022, the second in a two-part series on current and emerging challenges and how Kansans are looking ahead to develop innovative solutions and ensure health care for generations to come. Health care is vital for our communities …
How we can all nurture the health care workforce for a changing Kansas
This opinion piece by Health Fund President David Jordan originally appeared in the Kansas Reflector on November 10, 2022, the first in a two-part series on current and emerging challenges and how Kansans are looking ahead to develop innovative solutions and ensure health care for generations to come. View part 2: Looking ahead, here’s how …
Four Kansas community mental health centers awarded transformative grant funding
Access to behavioral health is a top concern for all Kansans. We all benefit when behavioral health services are better integrated into our health care system. For more than 30 years, Kansas has ensured that each county received safety net mental health services provided by a community mental health center. Community mental health centers have …
Mental Health First Aid training opportunities
Mental Health First Aid training is a proven and effective resource that teaches lay people how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental illnesses and substance use disorders in their community. We are excited to offer online training sessions at no cost to interested Kansans. Many sessions have filled quickly, demonstrating a large …
Telehealth in Kansas: Provider and Patient Experience During COVID-19 Cross-Study Report
The results of four phases of telehealth research during the COVID-19 pandemic are clear. Patients, providers, and administrators expressed that telehealth increased access to care and saw benefits beyond expanding access during the pandemic. The United Methodist Health Ministry Fund and REACH Healthcare Foundation commissioned research on telehealth in Kansas to understand its use by …
Consumer Focus Groups Find Kansans Want Telehealth to Stay
New consumer focus group research with Kansas patients demonstrates that telehealth has increased access to care, has room for improvement, and that patients want telehealth to be a permanent option. This research reinforces results from a 2021 consumer poll of Kansas voters—participants had positive experiences with telehealth, found it to be an important option, and …
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 …