By Tania Hewett-Mader on June 6, 2019
Policy Associate
Health Forward Foundation
Health Forward maintains a commitment to igniting communities of health for those most in need. One of the ways we do so is by using our voice to ensure that our elected leaders prioritize policy changes that support the health and well-being of our communities. Our policy agenda guides our work and keeps us on […]
By Anne F. Rauth, MBA on April 11, 2019
Marketing and Development Director
Mercy and Truth Medical Missions
Advocacy efforts have been underway for several years now in Missouri and Kansas to expand coverage of Medicaid. Through my work at safety net clinic Mercy and Truth Medical Missions, I see individuals every week that are not covered under the plan, and they struggle to cover the cost of a co-pay to see a […]
By Karen Dehais on April 1, 2019
Evaluation and Learning Officer
Health Forward Foundation
What comes to mind when you hear about the Census? Filling out forms? Census workers knocking on doors? Long statistical reports? While those descriptors might be true, they don’t tell the whole story. The Census is a powerful tool that directly influences how political and economic resources are distributed. It affects all of us — […]
By Tania Hewett-Mader on March 25, 2019
Policy Associate
Health Forward Foundation
We are finally seeing light at the end of the tunnel of a seemingly never-ending winter, and I, for one, could not be happier to feel the sunshine! The warming weather also means both the Kansas and Missouri legislatures have a limited amount of time left to get bills passed in 2019. Both legislatures are […]
By Tania Hewett-Mader 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-Mader 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 […]
