Children learn best through play, and finding playful ways to help children understand the amazing power of vaccines is a critical piece of reducing vaccine hesitancy for families. The Kansas Children’s Discovery Center created over 500 Learn, Play, Protect classroom kits for distribution throughout the state of Kansas. Each kit was filled with evidence-based activities developed by Discovery Center educators working in collaboration with public health experts, Kansas teachers, and local children who tested the activities. The kits are created with funding from Increase The Reach, a statewide initiative designed to improve health equity and increase vaccination rates.

The Wyandotte County CanVaxx team networked to combine a vaccination event with tax day at a local Liberty Tax which allowed them share timely & correct information about the COVID vaccine.  They had about 65 contacts which lead to 17 empathic interviews. Eleven community members got vaccinated: three were boosters but the other 8 were new vaccinations! The WyCo Connect - CanVaxx Initiative is a project of the Community Health Council of Wyandotte County in Kansas City, KS.

Photo: LeDarious Johnson (left) Carl McKinney (right) are both canvassers for the program.

One of the families that entered our program at Avenue of Life was a husband and wife that were expecting a new baby on the way. I met this family in October of 2021, and they disclosed to me that they were fearful of the Covid-19 vaccine. We spoke for an hour about all the information that had been shared to them from close family and friends. Most of the information was stories found on social media that unfortunately were not all factual. During that visit, Mom was 8 weeks along, with no intention of getting vaccinated. I knew the family was fearful at that moment, so I validated their feelings on why they were fearful, and explained that when they were ready, I’d like to share some other information with them. It was clear that the day I met them was not the day to have these discussions as the key with families living in poverty is to establish trust first, educate second.

In December, I met with the family again. This time they had more fears. Dad had just lost his own father to Covid-19. I questioned if now was the right time to have more discussions about vaccines, as they had just suffered a great loss. However, Mom asked if I’d share the information that I had on why the vaccine is best since she is pregnant. I grabbed some articles from the World Health Organization as well as two others from the Wyco Health Department on why pregnant women should get the vaccine. I also shared a list of common misconceptions that have been shared by the COC. I explained every article in simpler terms as sometimes the information is not user friendly. Still very apprehensive, she started asking more and more questions. She shared that all she wanted was to keep her baby safe and healthy. They left the meeting feeling like they had more than enough information to think on but still were not ready to get the vaccine.

Another 3 weeks passed and the family came in for a visit with their Navigator. I checked in with them, not even mentioning vaccines, and Mom and Dad both were thrilled to tell me they were recovering from their vaccine. They shared that after they spoke with me last that they went to their Doctor, and asked several questions. Their Doctor did recommend getting the vaccine as soon as possible, and they did.

Just this month, the family came in for a visit with their Navigator. Mom shared that she and her husband had contracted Covid, and only had really harsh symptoms even with the vaccine. She was kept in the hospital due to being several months pregnant. The Doctor told the family that had they not been vaccinated, they likely would have lost the baby, Mom, or both. The family was thankful that I gave them the information so they could make the best decision for their family. They also appreciated that information wasn’t pushed on them, but given as an option.

Mom delivered her baby girl on April 21, 2022. She is healthy and happy as can be. :)

To accommodate the timing of quarterly reports that are due to the CDC from KDHE related to this work, the timing of quarterly reports for Increase the Reach grantees will be adjusted going forward. This change will better allow KDHE to use info from your reports to send to the CDC.

The quarterly report due on April 15th (covering work from January through March) will stay the same, and the due dates will change after that as follows:  

• June 15th (covering work from April and May)  

• September 15th (covering work from June, July, and August)  

• December 15th (covering work from September, October, and November)  

• March 15th (covering work from December, January, and February)  

These quarterly report dates will continue through the remainder of your grant period. Please contact your Increase the Reach Support Team Member or Sarah Jolley (sarah.jolley@wichita.edu) if you have any questions.

Wichita State University Community Engagement Institute (WSU CEI) is helping the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) distribute funds to clinics and organizations with the goals of:

​

1. ​Increasing vaccine rates and/or

2. Decreasing vaccine hesitancy.

Applications will be accepted until funding is expended. Applications will be considered in the order in which they are received.

Wichita State University Community Engagement Institute (WSU CEI) is helping the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) distribute $3,000,000 in grants over the next three years to clinics and organizations with the goals of 1) increasing vaccine rates and/or 2) decreasing vaccine hesitancy.  

​

The second application round deadline has been extended to 

November 19, 2021 at 5 p.m. CT.

​

Award announcements will be made on December 17, 2021.

​

Please stay tuned to the Increase the Reach website for additional updates. 

Wichita State University Community Engagement Institute (WSU CEI) is helping the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) distribute $3,000,000 in grants over the next three years to clinics and organizations with the goals of 1) increasing vaccine rates and/or 2) decreasing vaccine hesitancy.  

​

The second round of applications for the Increase the Reach Request for Proposals (RFP) is now open.

Proposals will be accepted until 5 p.m. CT on November 12.

​

Overview webinars are scheduled to help provide additional context and answer questions from potential applicants. The scheduled webinars are going to be held: 

​

MONDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2021 - nOON-1 P.M.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

​

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2021 - 6 P.M.-7 P.M.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

​

​

Please stay tuned to the Increase the Reach website for additional updates. 

​

To bolster local organizations supporting health equity in communities across Kansas, Governor Laura Kelly today announced the “Increase the Reach” Grant Initiative.  

​

“Our community-based health organizations address critical needs, and the Increase the Reach grants will help them empower their constituents to stay safe by getting vaccinated,” said Governor Laura Kelly. “The COVID vaccine is safe, effective, free, and our best tool to beat this virus once and for all. I implore all Kansans to get vaccinated as soon as possible and encourage eligible organizations to apply for this new health equity initiative.”

​

The “Increase the Reach” Initiative, launching today through a partnership between the Wichita State University Community Engagement Institute and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE), provides an additional opportunity for community-based organizations to receive funding to continue their vital work in promoting health equity through vaccinations. The program specifically aims to reach socially vulnerable populations and those experiencing low vaccination rates, including both racial and ethnic minority populations as well as rural communities.

Wichita State University Community Engagement Institute (WSU CEI) is helping the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) distribute $3,000,000 in grants over the next three years to clinics and organizations with the goals of 1) increasing vaccine rates and/or 2) decreasing vaccine hesitancy.  

​

A second Request for Proposals (RFP) release is scheduled for October 18 and will close on November 12.

​

The first round of proposals will open on September 27 and will close October 15. 

​

Stay tuned to the Increase the Reach website for additional updates. 

​

Wichita State University Community Engagement Institute (WSU CEI) is helping the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) distribute $3,000,000 in grants over the next three years to clinics and organizations with the goals of 1) increasing vaccine rates and/or 2) decreasing vaccine hesitancy.  

WSU CEI will release the request for proposals (RFP) on September 27. There will be two identical informational webinars to answer questions for prospective applicants.   

​

• september 27, 2021 from 3-4 p.m.  click here  to register.

• september 28, 2021 from 6-7 p.m. click here to register.

• OCTOBER 5, 2021 from 1-2 p.m. click here to register.

• OCTOBER 7, 2021 from 5-6 p.m. click here to register.