By Bridget McCandless, MD on December 31, 2015
President and CEO
Health Forward Foundation
2015 was an exciting year for the Health Forward Foundation. It was during this year that we celebrated 10 years of grantmaking. Over the course of the past decade, we have funded over 440 organizations. We took an opportunity this year through our Decade of Difference report and website, events, and our #AHealthy10 series […]
By Health Forward Blog Team on December 23, 2015
‘Tis the season for holiday cheer! As we celebrate the holiday season, we asked Health Forward associates about their favorite holidays traditions. We hope you enjoy our latest infographic. We want to wish all of our grantees and community partners a very happy and healthy holiday season. As a reminder, the Health Forward offices will […]
By Jane Mosley, PhD on December 23, 2015
Program and Evaluation Officer
Health Forward Foundation
For the past 18 months, Health Forward has been working on a project that examined how we’ve advanced health in our region over the past 10 years. The fruits of that labor is featured on our new website – Health ForwardDecadeofDifference.org. While most of the report focuses on changes that have occurred, we also heard […]
By Krista Postai on December 18, 2015
CEO & President
Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas
Just over 100 miles southwest of Kansas City, there is a county of just over 13,000 residents that has created a model for community health improvement. A county that admitted collectively that it needed to improve health outcomes. A county that was willing to ask for help. A county that rolled up its sleeves (and […]
By Jessica Hembree on December 17, 2015
Policy Officer
Health Forward Foundation
On November 19, both Kansas City, Missouri, and Kansas City, Kansas, passed policies to increase the age of sale for tobacco products from 18 to 21. Having been part of many tobacco fights over the previous 15 years, this one felt different. We were quick to achieve success and fortunate to find a depth and breadth of […]
By Catherine Couch on December 11, 2015
Public Affairs Coordinator
Mid-America Regional Council
Dawn Lindsey is one of nearly 65,000 Missouri residents that have signed up this year for health insurance through the federal Marketplace. Lindsey, who is self-employed, knows firsthand how important having insurance is. Lindsey signed up for Marketplace coverage in 2013 during the first open enrollment period with assistance from the Cover KC coalition, a […]
By Health Forward Blog Team on December 7, 2015
While many people in this region are uninsured and underserved, over the past decade, legislation like the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) and other health care transformations has made health care more accessible to many in our communities. Local free clinics, community health centers, safety net hospitals and community organizations are seeing increased […]
By Valorie Carson on December 4, 2015
Community Planning Director
United Community Services of Johnson County
As the Health ForwardGKC’s Blog has been exploring this past month, childhood trauma is known to be directly tied to increased risk for poor health and health-related outcomes in adulthood. Since early 2012, a dozen and a half organizations have been meeting and working together to build a trauma-informed community in Johnson County, Kansas. […]
By Kristin Brumm on December 2, 2015
Executive Vice President
SAFEHOME
For the past 36 years, SAFEHOME has been working with some of Johnson County’s most vulnerable citizens – women, children and men who have experienced violence and abuse. Oftentimes, the abuse has been going on for years and the victims come to us with significant physical and emotional wounds. Our advocates learned over the years […]
By Health Forward Blog Team on November 25, 2015
In case you haven’t heard, during 2015, we have been celebrating Health Forward’s 10th anniversary of grantmaking. Whether a celebratory picnic in the park, a luncheon and report looking back on how health has advanced in our region, or through our #AHealthy10 series, we’ve enjoyed looking back on all the amazing work that has been done […]
