
By Health Forward Blog Team on December 19, 2017
By Health Forward Blog Team on December 19, 2017
Well, here it is, dear readers. The end of another year. And what an interesting year 2017 has been! As Americans, we persevered through a tumultuous year. As Missourians and Kansans, we saw some successes in health. And closer to our home, Health Forward experienced quite a bit of change. Before we get too far […]
By Anne F. Rauth, MBA on December 18, 2017
Marketing and Development Director
Mercy and Truth Medical Missions
The state of Kansas, and specifically the Kansas Department of Commerce, created an interesting program that assists nonprofits in achieving fundraising goals. Through their Community Service Program, state tax credits are annually awarded to nonprofits through a highly competitive application. Nonprofits can then pass these tax credits on to any donor who contributes $250 or […]
By Michelene Krueger, M.A. on December 14, 2017
Chronic Disease Program
Johnson County Department of Health & Environment
In 2015, Johnson County Department of Health and Environment (JCDHE) partnered with Shawnee Mission Health to conduct its most recent Community Health Assessment. Staff and volunteers surveyed over 500 households and gained valuable insight into the health of our community. The Johnson County Community Health Assessment and Community Profile was released in 2016. Using that […]
By Toniann Richard on December 7, 2017
Executive Director
Health Care Collaborative of Rural Missouri
Last year when Dr. Karl Grant joined the Live Well Health Center in Buckner, we knew he would be a good fit for our fabulous rural community. He interviewed in cowboy boots and came from fixing fence and working cattle. It was an immediate partnership for Live Well and the Health Care Collaborative of Rural […]
By Health Forward Blog Team on November 30, 2017
Isolated by language, culture and poverty, many Latino immigrants in Kansas City face chronic health risks often made worse by their limited knowledge of nutrition and inadequate access to healthy foods. El Centro Inc., a 40-year-old area nonprofit, is reducing that isolation with an innovative program that draws from the oral tradition to educate vulnerable […]
By Allyson Klos, MS, LPC on November 16, 2017
School-based Therapist
Pathways Community Health
Eight years ago, we debuted the ACCESS program, a partnership between Pathways Community Health and Belton School District. The program started with much anticipation during the 2010-2011 school year and was implemented in all 10 schools in the district. All of the schools offer the same individual and family therapy support provided by the five […]
By Donna Bushur on November 15, 2017
Program Officer
Health Forward Foundation
Shannon Morris
Senior Program Officer, Health Forward Foundation
All of us at Health Forward recognize that children who are well are more likely to succeed in school and life. That’s why we are proud to have provided nearly $7 million in grants for school-based health services, particularly mental health services (see here, here and here for examples). Read how school-based therapy is helping […]
By Susan Richardson on November 9, 2017
Receptionist/Governance and Operations Assistant
Health Forward Foundation
“Better living through chemistry.” “Thank God we have health insurance!” Those were two things I said to my husband as we drove home along Interstate 35 in August 1998. We had just come from Children’s Mercy Hospital, where the good doctors there had just confirmed a Turner Syndrome (TS) diagnosis for our 10-year-old daughter. TS […]
By Tania Hewett-Mader on November 9, 2017
Policy Associate
Health Forward Foundation
I have a distinct memory from a few years ago of a friend telling me, “Kansas City is unassuming. You will eventually fall in love with this place.” Fast forward a few years, I now live here and am beginning to scratch the surface of understanding people’s fierce loyalty to this city and love for […]
By Bradford T. Hart on November 1, 2017
Senior Program Officer
Health Forward Foundation
A year ago, I had the opportunity to write a blog about prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMPs) and the regional efforts that we hoped would come to fruition in 2017. I am pleased to be able to write a new entry this year, that celebrates the work being done in Jackson County and 35 other counties […]