Overview

Have you heard the word “disparities?” When applied to health, this essentially means there’s a difference in health outcomes from one group/demographic/population to another. The Kansans in rural areas might not have the same access to mental health providers. Those living in urban areas might not have the same availability of parks or green spaces on which to be active physically. Some neighborhoods don’t have a grocery store near them to access fresh fruits and vegetables. Those without at least a high school diploma don’t have the same career prospects as those who’ve reached that milestone.

We want Kansas to be a place where we don’t see the types of inequities that lead to health disparities. Whether the disparity is along the lines of race, income, geography or education, our goal is to eliminate the inequity, as discussed in our three-part purpose statement.

What We’re Doing

To best work to eliminate these inequities, we’re working in three primary ways:

• Coaching/Support: We have personnel specifically working on community-based challenges. They’re trained and certified to provide guidance, advice and expertise to both the communities themselves, and the organizations working to assist those communities.
• Funding: A chunk of our grantmaking every year goes to general funding support for nonprofit organizations working directly with those experiencing the greatest health disparities.
• Influence: We want to build the power and influence of organizations and communities experiencing the greatest health disparities. Sometimes, this means inviting different voices to the “table.” Other times, it means helping them create a “table” of their own.