By Tania Hewett on February 11, 2019
Policy Associate
Health Forward Foundation
Last year brought shifts in the political landscape and along with them, opportunities to advocate for the issues we support and to defend against cuts to social service programs that benefit those most in need. But 2019 presents fresh opportunities to influence the health policy decisions that have an impact on our bi-state region. (Review […]
By Tania Hewett on September 27, 2018
Policy Associate
Health Forward Foundation
In November of last year, Kansas City embarked on a months-long process of evaluating the city’s most pressing housing needs through hosting a series of public meetings, conducting a citywide housing survey of residents, engaging city leaders, and hosting input sessions with a stakeholder group of local experts. The ultimate goal being the development of […]
By Bert Malone, M.P.A on August 16, 2018
Vice President
Missouri Public Health Association
As a member of the board of directors of the largest voluntary public health organization in the state of Missouri and a concerned advocate for public health, I remain appalled at the continuing dissolution of the public health infrastructure in our state. In the past 15 years alone, the line item in the state budget […]
By Jane Mosley, PhD on August 9, 2018
Program and Evaluation Officer
Health Forward Foundation
Communities often need richer detail on access to health care and coverage than federal surveys can offer. That is why the Health Forward Foundation, along with our partners the Kansas Health Foundation, Missouri Foundation for Health, REACH Healthcare Foundation, and United Methodist Healthy Ministry Fund, co-funded the Kansas and Missouri Consumer Health Access Survey (KMHS). […]
By Rebecca Garza on July 26, 2018
Unified Government Health Department
Tobacco Free Wyandotte Coordinator
Do you ever look at your next project and just wonder, “how the heck are we going to get that done?!” Well in the summer of 2017, I started working with the KCK Housing Authority (KCKHA) on the long road to creating a smoke-free environment in their 2050 public housing units. Public housing provides a […]
By Karen Siebert on July 18, 2018
Advocacy and Public Policy Advisor
Harvesters—The Community Food Network
Summer is the time to enjoy the bounty of the Midwest. Fresh Missouri peaches. Sweet Kansas corn. Juicy red tomatoes. But while we’re enjoying these fresh seasonal foods, it’s important to remember the policies that impact how and what we eat all year long. The farm bill, which governs food and agriculture policy in the […]
By Bridget McCandless, MD on June 28, 2018
President and CEO
Health Forward Foundation
Our focus at Health Forward has always been to advocate for the health of those in our community who are most in need. It was a promise we made at the inception of the organization in 2003. It is not only our obligation to do this, but our privilege. Over the years, we have supported […]
By Jessica Hembree on May 30, 2018
Policy Officer
Health Forward Foundation
Health Forward focuses on igniting a culture of health by advocating for health and wellness and working to ensure that the health of those most in need is prioritized by our elected leaders. Health Forward’s policy agenda helps guide the ways that Health Forward uses its own voice in support of policy change, but it’s […]
By Michael Kelley on May 3, 2018
Policy Coordinator
BikeWalkKC
I was fortunate to be able to attend the advocacy training hosted by the Health Forward Foundation and the Alliance for Justice last week. The speaker for the course, Nona Randois, the California director for Alliance for Justice, used an example and an activity to help frame the conversation. The example was from a school […]
By Tania Hewett on May 2, 2018
Policy Associate
Health Forward Foundation
Public charities can lobby! There is a common misconception that 501(c)(3) public charities are prohibited from lobbying, and because of this myth, many nonprofit organizations are cautious when it comes to engaging in any advocacy work. On April 19th and 20th we hosted Bolder Advocacy, an initiative of Alliance for Justice (AFJ), to demystify the […]
