Genesis Family Health shared an interview with Alex Titus on her experience with the COVID-19 vaccine and provides reassurance for those who may be on the fence.

To check out the interview, click here.

On June 24, El Centro, Inc. held a Health Fair in Kansas City, Kansas. At the event, health services available were:

• Screenings for blood pressure, BMI, and blood glucose

• Skin and colon cancer screenings

• COVID and T-DAP vaccines

• Community resources

On Saturday, June 17th, the Community Health Program team attended a health fair at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Kansas City, KS from 11am-2pm. This was a collaborative partner health event with St. Paul’s, Juntos, and Pharmacy of Grace. Heart to Heart International offered COVID vaccinations and hygiene kits and Juntos did the marketing, canvassing, and translation services. We had one gentleman named James, who came to our table for a vaccination. James has a seizure disorder and takes medications twice daily but does not have any medical insurance. After vaccinating James for COVID, we walked him over to Pharmacy of Grace to talk to a representative about access to medications. There, he learned he can get his medications for free. With tears in his eyes, James said “you have no idea how much you just helped me”.

On June 6, Heart to Heart International, Mercy & Truth Medical Missions, & Kansas Civic Engagement Table collaborated for the Kickin’ It With The Chiefs community Event.

At a health fair event the HHI team provided COVID vaccinations, A1c checks and hygiene products. KC Wolf even came out and got his COVID booster and his A1c checked! While we can't tell you his test results, as you can see for the pictures, he was very brave.

While national Mental Health Awareness Day has come and gone, we know that every day is critically important to recognize the importance of our mental health! Promoting the awareness of mental health is especially important for people who are affected by substance use disorders (SUD) and who are working very hard on their recovery journeys together.

Rise Up Central Kansas is a task force under the Central Kansas Partnership with a mission of growing a resilient community for all through healing, hope and understanding. Rise Up's vision is community healing for all. 

As an Increase the Reach vaccine equity grantee, Rise Up Central Kansas provides services to help people in their recovery efforts. This is done in various ways, including holding mobile meetings, providing support by walking beside people on their paths to sobriety and delivering trainings for family members, caregivers and organizations to create resilience.

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What better way then for Mental Health Awareness Day to be celebrated than having Rise Up Central Kansas' project coordinator Amy Ferguson and Peer Navigators show compassion in action at the Barton County Courthouse Square on May 23, 2023. The Mental Health Awareness Day event included various informational booths, food, fun games, a drum circle and bounce house.

Sponsors for the event included United Healthcare, Aetna Better Health of Kansas, Valley Hope, and Sunflower Health Plan. Community partners who participated included: Rise Up Central Kansas, Catholic Charities, Rhythm Making, Kansas Children's Service League (KCSL), Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE), Heart of Kansas, Youth crew, Family Crisis Center, Smoky Hills PBS, Kansas Department of Children and Families, Communities Organizing to Promote Equity (COPE)/Local Health Equity Action Team (LHEAT), Mindfulness Yoga and Harvest America Corporation.

ITR project coordinator Amy Ferguson said, "Celebrating Mental Health Awareness Day was important for Rise Up Central Kansas to do. We are proud to be part of many stakeholders to help build universal awareness of resilience and trauma through education, connections and engagement opportunities. We work collaboratively with the Center for Counseling and Consultation, the City of Great Bend, ESSDAK, the Oxford House, USD 428 Great Bend Public Schools as well as people with lived experiences of substance abuse disorder, poverty and mental health issues. We're committed to creating a strong network for our peer navigators, families, individuals, schools, businesses, health care and beyond."

On April 26, El Centro, Inc. provided a Facebook Live opportunity for the community to receive updates from their directors about vaccine clinics and other services available.

To check out the video, click here.

On April 26, Avenue of Life held a Dia De Los Ninos community event in Kansas City, KS. At the event, attendees enjoyed candy, snacks, a pinata, and more! Vaccinations were provided and prizes and raffles for participating.

Alce su voz shared a recent blog post about their work building a coalition with Mayan communities in Coffeyville, KS.

To check out the post, click here.  

On April 1st, KC Healthy Kids kicked off the Farmers' Market season by hosting the Eat Local & Organic Expo. Farmers from the Kansas City metro area met with thousands of local community members to share their produce and gardening tips. There was even a "Kids Zone" where KC Healthy Kids' Trauma-Informed Care team promoted healthy living by practicing mindful eating and staying up to date on lifespan and COVID-19 vaccines. Throughout the event, hundreds of CDC fliers on vaccine awareness were passed out, and thoughtful conversations about vaccine hesitancy were had with local community members. Overall, the event was a huge success for KC Healthy Kids, local farmers, and the Kansas City community!

Family Counts & Consultants recently partnered with Ryan Uptown to help create a theme song for their youth task force work.

Ryan Uptown is a local Digital creator, songwriter, rapper, producer, and founder of Uptown Music. A 2003 graduate of Sumner Academy of Arts & Science.  Ryan's messages are written to inspire today’s youth through song. Ryan is a computer technician at Cerner Labs and every Wednesday and Sunday he serves as Youth Ministry at his home church.  

Ryan created Uptown Music while attending and graduating from the University of Missouri, Kansas City (UMKC). Dr. Tammy Counts, Director/CEO of Family Counts & Consultants, LLC was excited to be able to partner with Ryan through funds available through the Increase the Reach grant, as she has personally watched Ryan grow throughout his career. Giving Ryan the freedom to create “Breathe Again” was Family Counts and Consultant’s first budgetary expenditure consideration within the Increase the Reach grant funds they received. This rap set the tone and inspiration for the youth task force working on this grant project that has a focus on social media campaigns. Search Uptown Music on YouTube, Spotify, Facebook, and TikTok to listen to more of what Ryan wants to share with today's youth and the world.

Keep up with Family Counts & Consultants’ social media pages here:

• Facebook

• TikTok

In March, Heart to Heart International participated in the Kansas Mission of Mercy Event in Topeka, KS. Staff were there to assist vaccinations and information to attendees throughout the event.

On March 21st Heart to Heart International was at Mercy and Truth Medical Missions in Wyandotte County, Kansas City, KS. There were several partners that participated, including Pharmacy of Grace, Juntos, Wyandotte Angels, Church of the resurrection, and Charlie’s House. The theme was “Spring has Sprung” so we had 4 Royals tickets that were raffled off, free food boxes, socks, and free cleaning supplies. Heart to Heart International was there to hand out some of our products like hygiene kits, socks, hand sanitizer. We were also able to administer COVID and flu vaccines, while Mercy and Truth did blood pressure and cholesterol checks. 56% of the vaccines we gave that day were monovalent (first or second doses). Channel 4, 5, and 9 were there doing interviews as well!