The Kansas Office of the Governor, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE), and the Wichita State University Community Engagement Institute collaborated on an ambitious project in 2021 to address vaccination health equity in Kansas.
The Increase the Reach Grant was a portion of the federal government’s response to the Coronavirus pandemic. Federal grant funds were awarded to the State of Kansas. KDHE wanted to strategically invest these funds for Kansans to best combat the pandemic. It was recognized that community-based organizations are trusted voices in the community and these funds were allocated to organizations working within the populations they serve.
The Community Engagement Institute served as the grant administrator for Increase the Reach project.
In total, there were 41 awards to 36 organizations (5 of which received a second grant).
Increase the Reach
Project Successes
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36 Organizations across Kansas were awarded a total of $7 million in grant funding.
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Increase the Reach funded projects focused on: Improving Health Equity, Expanding Access, Listening to Understand and Better Serve
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Increase the Reach projects worked within 78 counties across the state of Kansas