Celebrating Jennifer Sykes’ 15-year anniversary
December 9, 2021
Communications director Jennifer Sykes has helmed Health Forward’s communications for 15 years. She has seen the organization through some significant projects, including strategic planning, logo redesigns, website development, our 10-year and 15-year celebrations, our name change and rebranding in 2018, and media campaigns around important issues like tobacco prevention and Medicaid Expansion. While Jen’s role […]
Schedule your health screenings
May 17, 2018
For going on 20 years, I’ve worked as a communicator in the health industry. I’ve written countless letters to the editor, newsletter articles, blogs, social media posts on whatever national “week” or “month” it is. This week is no different. Mother’s Day kicked off National Women’s Health Week. Our blog administrator asked that I write […]
New alliance advances KanCare expansion discussions
December 7, 2016
As 2016 winds down, we begin our annual blog series where Health Forward associates review highlights from our work this past year. In our third post, Jennifer Sykes highlights the creation and momentum of the Alliance for a Healthy Kansas. Join us as we look back on 2016. In case you haven’t heard – Kansas is in […]
A look back at 2015: Telling a good story
January 1, 2016
Everyone loves a good story. The best part of my job as as the Communications Officer at the Health Forward Foundation is being able to share the stories of our community partners as they work to create healthier communities. This isn’t always easy. While there have never been more ways to reach audiences in today’s digital […]
HATCH: Helping You Tell Stories with Purpose
January 12, 2015
Happy New Year! If you were like me over the holiday break, you spent time catching up. Reading papers, magazines, watching news stories, visiting with friends and families. Telling and hearing stories. It was during this down time that I explored Hatch. Hatch is a new platform for digital storytelling. Created by Hattaway Communications and […]
Filling the Void in Health Reporting
December 16, 2014
Before we bid farewell to an eventful year dominated by the rollout of the Affordable Care Act, our Health Forward associates take a look back at significant events and projects and share their insights about the year 2013. On day six of our year in review, Health Forward Communications Officer Jennifer Sykes looks at the […]
Heartland Health Monitor: Transforming Health News in Kansas City
December 11, 2014
As has become an annual activity for our organization, before we ring in the new year, we take a look back at events, projects and moments from 2014 that have impacted the health care scene in our communities and our nation. On day four of our Year In Review series, Health Forward Communications Officer Jennifer […]
Why Was the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge Such a Success?
August 28, 2014
There’s probably a good chance that at some point over the past month you’ve poured a bucket of ice water on your head … and not because of the scorching end-of-summer heat. A phenomenon hit our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram feeds this summer called the #ALSicebucketchallenge. In case you’ve been living under a rock, the […]
Together We Can Improve Community Health
October 24, 2013
Every other year The Community Advisory Committee, the supported organization of Health Forward, hosts a Health Forum to hear from community health directors and other health leaders about health issues facing their community. More than 150 people attended our Tuesday event, where three panels of experts discussed both accomplishments and challenges around improving all facets […]
The Decision
December 10, 2012
It’s been a busy year for Health Forward and our grantees. Before we bid farewell to an eventful year, our Health Forward associates take a look back at significant events and projects that helped make 2012 a productive year. On day one of our year in review, Health Forward Communications Officer Jennifer Sykes looks back […]
A Spoonful of Sugar Helps the Poison Go Down
August 24, 2012
Thanks to tobacco control efforts, over the past decade consumption of cigarettes are down, however sales of other harmful tobacco products have increased. There are currently three major cigar products – little cigars, cigarillos and cigars. According to experts at last week’s National Conference on Tobacco or Health, the sales of cigarillos and little cigars […]
The State of Tobacco Control
August 23, 2012
“Yesterday is history. Today is a mystery. Tomorrow is a gift. That is why they call it a present.” At the opening plenary of last week’s National Conference on Tobacco or Health, Dr. Howard Koh, M.D., MPH, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, compared our health to a gift. More than 2,000 tobacco control […]
How Social Media Has Changed Communications and Why Non Profits Should Jump on Board
September 1, 2011
Think of a recent major event. How did you find out about the tornado in Joplin, MO? I was driving home and saw a status update on Facebook from a friend. I grew up in the area, so for the next 48-hours I was glued to Facebook, following friends’ status updates to get the latest […]
How Fear Has Conquered Facts in the Debate About Water Fluoridation
March 10, 2011
I grew up in a small town in Southeast Kansas without fluoridated water. I do not need statistics to tell me the benefits of fluoridated water. Despite being the model patient and doing everything I was told by my dentist, I still heard those dreaded words: you have a cavity. Statistics tell us: Water fluoridation […]