By Karen Dehais on October 7, 2021
Evaluation and Learning Officer
Health Forward Foundation
In 2011 I was diagnosed with breast cancer and embarked on a treatment journey that brought me to a significant milestone – I’m thankful today to be celebrating 10 years cancer free. This year an estimated 281,550 women in the United States (about 2,100 in Kansas and 4,600 in Missouri) will be diagnosed with breast […]
By El Centro on September 17, 2021
Editor’s note: Voces de Medicaid is a community storytelling experience presented by El Centro. In January 2018, El Centro joined Community Catalyst in their Community Voices of Medicaid initiative, which focuses on informing and educating the community about Medicaid, while raising the voices of people impacted by the program. The following is an excerpt from […]
By McClain Bryant Macklin on August 20, 2020
Director of Policy and Strategic Initiatives
Health Forward Foundation
At the beginning of August, Missouri voters sent a clear message: it’s time to provide Missourians the health care we all need and for Missouri’s tax dollars come back home to benefit the state and its residents. The passage of Medicaid expansion on August 4 was a huge success for the uninsured and underserved, and […]
By Cecilia Belser-Patton on July 20, 2020
Inclusion & Equity Director
Yes On 2/Healthcare For Missouri
Earlier this month, we celebrated our nation’s Independence Day and the as-yet-unrealized vision of the Founders to secure, “Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” Of course, not all of us have enjoyed these allegedly inalienable rights. COVID-19 has shone a bright light on the health care disparities that have plagued our state since long […]
By Erica Andrade on July 8, 2020
Chief Program Officer
El Centro Inc.
How I dread having to utter the words, “Sorry, you don’t qualify.” Every year, as we assist hard-working families to sign up for Medicaid or the insurance marketplace, this is a phase we have to use often. Worst yet is when we explain to someone that their income is too low to qualify for marketplace […]
By Richard von Glahn on June 25, 2020
Policy Director
Missouri Jobs with Justice
I will admit that, in the midst of a global health pandemic that appears to be resurging in Missouri, as well as the protest movement for racial justice, it can be easy to lose focus on things that would otherwise command our attention. Elections, especially primary elections that tend to have lower turnout anyway, can […]
By Health Forward Foundation on June 18, 2020
Medicaid expansion will be on the ballot in Missouri on Tuesday, August 4. Health Forward has long recognized that a lack of insurance is a critical barrier to health. As such, Health Forward has been proud to lead efforts to place the decision to expand Medicaid before Missouri voters. It’s a decision that has the […]
By Qiana Thomason on April 23, 2020
President/CEO
Health Forward Foundation
An abundance of national historical data reminds us that in public health, when America catches a cold, people of color catch pneumonia. As coronavirus (COVID-19) rips through our communities, it exposes social injustice and divisions that determine whether people have necessary resources to be healthy. As such, we are paying acute attention to nascent local […]
By Qiana Thomason on March 13, 2020
President/CEO
Health Forward Foundation
As the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic continues to sweep across the globe, we are witnessing its tremendous impact internationally, nationally, and locally. Prohibitions on travel from certain countries, state of emergency proclamations by state and local governments, universities moving to online courses, and major entertainment and sporting events are shutting its doors to the public. With […]
By Jason Wesco on October 30, 2019
Executive Vice-President
Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas in Pittsburg
“Whatever happened to the idea…that we all do better when we all do better?” — Former Senator Paul Wellstone I live in the poorest town in the poorest county in […]
