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Civic and Community Engagement

KHF recognizes individuals’ health and well-being are also influenced by where and how they live. And stronger communities also help improve the health of Kansans.

Health Equity Access to Care Healthy Behaviors Civic and Community Engagement Educational Attainment Core Support

KHF recognizes individuals’ health and well-being are also influenced by where and how they live. And stronger communities also help improve the health of Kansans. However, Kansas data indicates that individuals and groups that traditionally experience poor health outcomes may be less likely to participate in the election process, contact their elected officials or attend public meetings. Active, engaged community members help to shape policies, express needs and expectations, determine how resources are allocated, and elect their representatives. KHF invests in programs that help to build stronger communities and to encourage more Kansans to be civically engaged, and provides the support for leadership, information and data. The result is improved health outcomes for residents and healthy, vibrant communities for all.

Voter Turnout

Health outcomes in communities have been found to be higher in areas where populations are active and engaged in civic issues. One measure of this is voter turnout. The map below shows the unofficial voter turnout data, by county, from the 2018 Kansas gubernatorial election. This data comes from the Kansas Secretary of State’s Office.

Select a county to see data from that area.
Percent voter turnout = 51.2%
Percent voter turnout = 51.3%
Percent voter turnout = 48.1%
Percent voter turnout = 61%
Percent voter turnout = 48.4%
Percent voter turnout = 41.8%
Percent voter turnout = 56.6%
Percent voter turnout = 50%
Percent voter turnout = 67.2%
Percent voter turnout = 48.8%
Percent voter turnout = 43.6%
Percent voter turnout = 59.4%
Percent voter turnout = 56.3%
Percent voter turnout = 55.6%
Percent voter turnout = 54.9%
Percent voter turnout = 57.6%
Percent voter turnout = 61.6%
Percent voter turnout = 52.5%
Percent voter turnout = 59.5%
Percent voter turnout = 54.7%
Percent voter turnout = 51.5%
Percent voter turnout = 52.5%
Percent voter turnout = 61.3%
Percent voter turnout = 59.5%
Percent voter turnout = 61.6%
Percent voter turnout = 59.1%
Percent voter turnout = 54.7%
Percent voter turnout = 42.3%
Percent voter turnout = 47%
Percent voter turnout = 52.2%
Percent voter turnout = 36.4%
Percent voter turnout = 66.8%
Percent voter turnout = 60.9%
Percent voter turnout = 52%
Percent voter turnout = 60%
Percent voter turnout = 57.5%
Percent voter turnout = 49.6%
Percent voter turnout = 49.7%
Percent voter turnout = 52.8%
Percent voter turnout = 60.9%
Percent voter turnout = 46.7%
Percent voter turnout = 63%
Percent voter turnout = 54.1%
Percent voter turnout = 56%
Percent voter turnout = 56.7%
Percent voter turnout = 62.5%
Percent voter turnout = 58.4%
Percent voter turnout = 63.1%
Percent voter turnout = 62.2%
Percent voter turnout = 47.3%
Percent voter turnout = 57.9%
Percent voter turnout = 57%
Percent voter turnout = 59.2%
Percent voter turnout = 54.8%
Percent voter turnout = 61.2%
Percent voter turnout = 53.1%
Percent voter turnout = 60.4%
Percent voter turnout = 60.6%
Percent voter turnout = 64.1%
Percent voter turnout = 44.1%
Percent voter turnout = 55.4%
Percent voter turnout = 55.6%
Percent voter turnout = 31.6%
Percent voter turnout = 60%
Percent voter turnout = 47.9%
Percent voter turnout = 62.8%
Percent voter turnout = 46.3%
Percent voter turnout = 61.9%
Percent voter turnout = 56%
Percent voter turnout = 56.3%
Percent voter turnout = 54.6%
Percent voter turnout = 56.5%
Percent voter turnout = 57.1%
Percent voter turnout = 61.4%
Percent voter turnout = 63.8%
Percent voter turnout = 63.5%
Percent voter turnout = 58.2%
Percent voter turnout = 51.2%
Percent voter turnout = 57.5%
Percent voter turnout = 53.1%
Percent voter turnout = 55%
Percent voter turnout = 61%
Percent voter turnout = 61.9%
Percent voter turnout = 60%
Percent voter turnout = 50.8%
Percent voter turnout = 56.3%
Percent voter turnout = 55.2%
Percent voter turnout = 36.8%
Percent voter turnout = 64%
Percent voter turnout = 62.1%
Percent voter turnout = 58.1%
Percent voter turnout = 61.3%
Percent voter turnout = 61.2%
Percent voter turnout = 54%
Percent voter turnout = 50.9%
Percent voter turnout = 46.9%
Percent voter turnout = 60.5%
Percent voter turnout = 60.3%
Percent voter turnout = 64.8%
Percent voter turnout = 63.5%
Percent voter turnout = 67.8%
Percent voter turnout = 55.8%
Percent voter turnout = 59.3%
Percent voter turnout = 56.5%
Percent voter turnout = 49.1%

Map Key

  • 39.4% or less
  • 39.5% to 46.5%
  • 46.6% to 53.6 %
  • 53.7% to 60.7%
  • 60.8% or higher

Based on past data, voter turnout should trend higher across all counties during the 2020 Presidential Election. However, voter turnout in state or local elections is more indicative of the actual civic participation in a given community.

Grantmaking

KHF’s objective for the Civic and Community Engagement impact area is: Strengthen the health and vitality of our communities by connecting more Kansans to democratic, civic and economic development processes. In 2021, KHF will be actively engaged in funding the following major initiatives in this impact area. Please note, the amounts indicated represent the total, multi-year commitment of these grants.

  • Healthy Communities Initiative: Health Equity (HCI3) ($7,290,370)
  • Kansas Community Investment Fund ($3,240,271)
  • Kansas Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) ($1,630,825)
  • Integrated Voter Engagement Initiative Bridge Funding ($400,011)
  • Public Health Law Center Technical Assistance ($300,000)
  • Leveraging Resources for Kansas Organizations ($299,312)
  • Building Inclusive Nonprofit Boards and Leadership in Kansas ($165,000)
  • Accessible and Open Kansas Voting Data ($80,000)

Civic and Community Engagement Success Stories

Repurposed grant funds meet immediate needs in Wyandotte County

Learn More

Community members step up to provide PPE for Miami County

Learn More

2020 Census crucial for communities, nonprofits

Learn More
View All Posts

Related Evaluations

Kansas Health Institute: Health Impact Assessments 

Health Equity Partnership Initiative 

Kansas News Service 

Kansas Health Institute Stakeholder Survey 

View All Evaluations

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We envision a culture in which every Kansan can make healthy choices where they live, work and play.

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