Kansas Health Foundation Awards Health Improvement Grants to 17 Organizations

WICHITA, Kansas, Aug. 8 -- Kansas Health Foundation issued the following news release:

The Kansas Health Foundation (KHF) has awarded more than $362,000 to 17 organizations across the state in an effort to build capacity to reduce health disparities through its Impact and Capacity Grants (ICG) Initiative.

These grants of up to $25,000 are given to nonprofits addressing at least one of KHF's four impact areas: educational attainment, access to care, healthy behaviors or civic and community engagement.

"These grants for direct health-improvement projects and building organization capacity will help address health needs of Kansans," said Michael Lennen, KHF interim president and CEO. "We look forward to seeing what difference these projects can make."

KHF is continuing to accept ICG applications through Aug. 30, with the remainder of awarded grants being announced this fall.

The following organizations have received grant funding so far in 2019:

GRANTEES WORKING ON EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT

Elizabeth Ballard Community Center - $21,125 (capacity building grant): To increase organizational capacity to effectively expand childhood education and wraparound services to low-income children, ages 2 to pre-K, in Douglas County by implementing donor management/accounting software specific to child care services.

USD 249, Frontenac Schools - $6,000 (impact grant): To implement a new mentoring program targeting the 43.1 percent of students approved for free- or reduced-price lunches to improve academic achievement and increase graduation rates.

USD 267, Renwick - $21,152 (capacity building grant): Train district resilience coaches to raise awareness of adverse childhood experiences, thereby, reducing students' behavioral issues and improving academic achievement.

USD 435, Abilene School District - $10,000 (impact grant): Based on the 2018 Community Needs Assessment, USD 435 will offer social skill support groups focused on social-emotional development to better prepare pre-school children and their parents for entry to kindergarten.

GRANTEES WORKING TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO CARE

Arc of Sedgwick County - $25,000 (capacity building grant): To expand communications and outreach strategies to improve access to care for underserved Butler County adults with developmental disabilities.

Friends of Kiowa District Hospital and Manor Foundation - $25,000 (capacity building grant): To hire a community health worker to increase capacity of staff to better understand and resolve health care access barriers for underserved Barber County community members.

Horizons Mental Health Center - $5,000 (impact grant): To co-fund four nationally-recognized speakers at the 40th Annual Conference on Behavioral Health in Kansas to increase visibility to additional audiences - including public health and primary practitioners - while continuing to offer workforce development.

Kansas City Medical Society Foundation - $25,000 (capacity building grant): To conduct in-depth audit and analysis of compliance of safety-net clinics that refer patients for specialty care. This funding will also provide technical support to improve the referral processes for low-income, uninsured people in Wyandotte and Johnson counties.

Shawnee Regional Prevention and Recovery Services - $25,000 (capacity building grant): Enhance communication strategies by rebranding, creating Spanish resources and building awareness to improve access to services for targeted populations in Shawnee County - especially Hispanic communities.

GRANTEES WORKING TO IMPROVE HEALTHY BEHAVIORS

Kansas Breastfeeding Coalition - $24,970 (impact grant): To increase the number of physicians receiving the Kansas Breastfeeding Friendly Practice Designation to improve the continuity of breastfeeding by expanding efforts in Finney, Harvey, Leavenworth, Seward and Shawnee counties.

Kansas University Endowment Association - $25,000 (impact grant): To create a social marketing campaign that will educate pregnant women most at risk of smoking in Sedgwick County about the link between smoking and sleep-related infant deaths.

Lawrence Public Library Foundation - $25,000 (impact grant): To create and implement a "retirement bootcamp" (around health and nutrition; self-identity and purpose; relationships and social life; and financial planning best practices) for fixed- and low-income seniors in Douglas County with the intent of providing the curriculum to Kansas libraries.

GRANTEES WORKING ON INCREASING CIVIC AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Topeka Justice Unity and Ministry Project (JUMP) - $25,000 (capacity building grant): To pay for training workshops for JUMP members and volunteers to help organize to influence policy and funding for a robust, affordable and reliable transit system to increase access to education, recreational and after-school activities, healthier food options, health care facilities, jobs, friends and family for low-income and marginalized populations in Shawnee County.

Flint Hills Volunteer Center Inc - $24,200 (capacity building grant): Provide suicide prevention awareness training to staff and community volunteers to recognize the signs and risk factors among high-risk, rural populations in Riley and Geary counties.

Friends of Johnson County Developmental Support - $24,614 (capacity building grant): To hire a business manager focused on expanding accessibility support for lower-income individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, so they are able to experience healthy options of play, work and life not otherwise affordable or accessible in Johnson County.

Justice Matters - $25,000 (capacity building grant): To develop and implement a strategic plan focused on fostering deep, relational grassroots advocacy networks that advance civic participation to increase access to care, educational opportunities and transportation in Douglas County.

Kansas Association of Local Health Departments - $25,000 (capacity building grant): To simplify and conduct legislative tracking and create legislative testimony and letter templates to assist local health department leaders across the state in becoming involved on behalf of their respective communities.

For more information about the ICG program, as well as how to apply, please visit https://kansashealth.org/grant-opportunities/impactandcapacity/.

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About the Kansas Health Foundation

The Kansas Health Foundation is based in Wichita, but statewide in its focus. With a mission to improve the health of all Kansans, KHF envisions a culture in which every Kansan can make healthy choices where they live, work and play. To achieve this, KHF focuses its work in four impact areas: access to affordable health care, healthy behaviors, civic and community engagement and educational attainment. During its history, KHF has provided more than $500 million in grants to Kansas communities and organizations, and looks forward to working toward its mission and vision for many years to come.