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In February, our team hosted our annual Kansas and Missouri Days at the Capitol. These events bring together nonprofits and community partners to engage directly in the policymaking process and strengthen our collective voice.
The time we spent together was a strong reminder of how important nonprofits are to communities. As trusted, on-the-ground partners, nonprofits bring real stories and lived experience into conversations with policymakers. This perspective is critical to informing decisions that affect people’s daily lives and strengthen communities.
Legislative sessions are well underway in both Kansas and Missouri, with thousands of bills already filed and hundreds positioned for consideration. Many proposals impact Health Forward’s core priorities across housing (Place), civic participation (Power), health access (People), and equity and civil rights (Platform).
During the Kansas Day at the Capitol, a partner spoke about the importance of advocacy and the legislative process and provided useful insights into efforts to make it harder to qualify for public assistance benefit programs and to restrict diversity, equity, and inclusion in colleges and universities.
In Missouri, small groups met with legislators on voting rights, health access, food as medicine, and housing policy.
In both state capitals, we held discussions on the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP), as each state had to submit its own plan. Panelists shared insights on the future of rural health care and the policies needed to strengthen it.
Advocacy is at the heart of Health Forward’s work, and the efforts we are all undertaking reflect a shared commitment to rowing in the same direction toward systems change. These events help us set the stage for a busy year of meaningful, collaborative actions. Together, we are all working to advance the policies that will improve the lives of our communities.
It will be a busy year. We’re grateful for our partners and remain ready to lend our voice and support where it matters most.
