What we’re watching: February 2025 local and federal policy update

Here’s what’s happening on the local level so far this year.  

Kansas Localities

Allen County 

• Thrive Allen County, a nonprofit organization that is focused on building healthy and vibrant rural communities, launched its 2025 application cycle for the Child Care Professional Insurance Stipend Program. This program will provide stipends of up to $3,600 a year to childcare providers to assist with the cost of purchasing health coverage in Kansas. Application materials are reviewed on a first-come, first-serve basis.  More information is available here. 

Johnson County 

• United Community Services of Johnson County has planned a Housing and Homelessness Capitol Hill Advocacy Day, taking place March 7 in Topeka. This is an opportunity for partners and allies of the Kansas Housing Advocacy Network (KHAN) to connect with legislators and provide education on housing needs and evidence-based solutions in your region. KHAN is a statewide network comprised of nonprofits, service providers, local government, faith-based organizations, and all five of Kansas’ continuums of care, coming together to address housing and homelessness. Register for KHAN Advocacy Day here.

Wyandotte County 

• On Feb. 3, during the Neighborhood and Community Development Standing Committee Meeting, an ordinance amending the Unified Government’s (UG) existing Community Benefits Ordinance was passed. Two major highlights of this amended ordinance are that it creates the Affordable Housing Trust Fund and adds the Housing Trust Fund as an acceptable use of the Community Benefits fund — essentially linking the Affordable Housing Trust Fund it to an established funding source in the UG. Additionally, the amended ordinance created an 11-member community benefits advisory board that will be appointed by the Mayor and Commissioners of Wyandotte County to govern the fund and steward its dollars. This same advisory board will serve as the Affordable Housing Trust Fund Advisory Board as well.   

Missouri Localities

Cass County 

• On Jan. 15, Swope Health opened its new dental clinic in Belton. This is a new addition to Swope’s previously existing medical clinic, which has been providing services in Cass County for 11 years. The addition of the dental clinic further highlights Swope’s commitment to eliminating barriers to health care. This becomes the second full-time safety net dental clinic in Cass County, in addition to the Cass Community Health Foundation dental clinic, which broke ground on a new location in May 2024.   

KCMO/Jackson County 

• On Thursday, Feb. 13, a federal judge blocked the Kansas City, Missouri, housing ordinance that prevented landlords from refusing rent to tenants based on source of income, including Section 8 vouchers. This news comes roughly one year after two Kansas City landlords filed a lawsuit against the city to upend the City Council ordinance that established the tenant housing access program in March of 2024. With the future of this program now uncertain, the ability for many Kansas Citians to access housing is now in jeopardy. 

Platte County 

• In December 2024, Platte County legislators voted unanimously to overturn the results of a county-wide vote to establish a children’s services fund in Platte County. The children’s services fund would support youth mental health care through a quarter cent sales tax. Commissioners in Platte County cite a January 2025 36-page report produced by the Platte County Health Department as the basis for overturning the public vote. Members of the community are considering organizing to have the commissioners enforce the will of the voters. 

Lafayette County 

• In December 2024, HCC network received $1 million in HRSA funding to support post-incarceration care. The funds will be utilized to strengthen re-entry care for individuals who will soon be released from incarceration by connecting them to comprehensive, integrated health care and support services. This includes support for mental health and substance use disorders, addressing health-related social needs such as food and housing insecurity and providing chronic disease management.  

Federal 

There have been many new presidential executive orders established since the beginning of 2025. A link to a full list of these orders can be found here. We know that many of these executive orders have implications locally as they affect funding for activities of local organizations and the safety and economic security of local residents. Our Health Forward team is monitoring and reviewing these orders and their impact on our local communities. 

As always, we are here to serve you and our communities as we continue to work each day to support and build inclusive, powerful, and healthy communities by prioritizing people who experience the greatest injustices in health outcomes. Until next time, stay safe and continue to advocate boldly!