Kansas

A case for raising the legal sale age on tobacco products

Post date: August 28, 2014 2:08 AM
Submitted by natasha on August 28, 2014 2:08 AM

Adriana PecinaBy Adriana Pecina, HCF Program Officer

There are many milestones for a parent. Having your child turn 18 may be among the top. It’s an emotional time for a parent.

I should know — my oldest daughter turned 18 this year and she is now a legal adult who can make her own decisions. She can vote. She can join the military. And yes, she can legally buy tobacco products.

That is a lesson I learned the hard way.

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Blurred Lines: Oral health and overall health

Post date: June 19, 2014 10:57 PM
Submitted by natasha on June 19, 2014 10:57 PM

Jessica HembreeBy Jessica Hembree, HCF program officer

While also the name of a hit pop song, blurred lines is an apt summary of the recommendations stemming from HCF’s recently released oral health assessment. Oral health has traditionally been siloed apart from physical health and, unfortunately this separation has greatly impacted the cost, quality and access to oral health services.

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Free Mental Health First Aid training offered

Post date: June 2, 2014 12:21 PM
Submitted by natasha on June 2, 2014 12:21 PM

By Mark Wiebe, Wyandot Inc. Public Affairs Director

On July 10, the Metropolitan Council of Community Mental Health Centers will host a Mental Health First Aid ‘Day.’ This first-ever opportunity for the Kansas City area will be offered at no cost to the public thanks to funding from the Health Care Foundation and the Jackson County Community Mental Health Fund.

Our aim is to certify more than 250 Kansas Citians in the adult or youth version of the course and increase the ranks of people trained to respond to a mental health crisis. In the process, we hope to add momentum to an already robust conversation about mental health in the region.

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On mental health and poverty: The new Rainbow to offer 'port of calm,' 'port of access'

Post date: February 18, 2014 11:35 AM
Submitted by natasha on February 18, 2014 11:35 AM

By Mark Wiebe, Wyandot Inc. public affairs director

In Sunday's New York Times, a headline on the op/ed page underscored one of the central challenges in mental health and criminal justice circles: How do we reduce the number of people with mental illness in our jails and prisons? The column, "Inside a Mental Health Hospital Called Jail," profiles Cook County Jail in Chicago, where some 60 percent of the inmates on a given day are diagnosed with a mental illness.

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Navigating the ACA

Post date: February 6, 2014 3:10 PM
Submitted by natasha on February 6, 2014 3:10 PM

Elizabeth DarrBy Elizabeth Darr, Navigator at Shepherd's Center

Navigators are individuals — mostly volunteers — dedicated to assisting people in signing up for health insurance plans available under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), aka Obamacare. I am one of these navigators.

Our training consisted of 20 hours of online learning. We were required to obtain a Missouri license. There are Navigators and Certified Application Counselors working at many area clinics, but our group works at the Shepherd’s Center, supported by a grant from Primaris.

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Canvassing team Covers KC

Post date: February 3, 2014 12:26 PM
Submitted by natasha on February 3, 2014 12:26 PM

By Tyler Menges, Canvasser for Enrollment Outreach Campaign

With the deadline for open enrollment through the Health Insurance Marketplace quickly approaching, I jumped at the opportunity to join the CoverKC team canvassing the neighborhoods in the Greater Kansas City area.

In my opinion, access to medical care is a human right, and I feel privileged to be a member of this dedicated team going door to door, offering information about the Affordable Care Act for those who need it most.

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Smoking, prevention and New Year's Resolutions

Post date: January 15, 2014 10:37 PM
Submitted by bmccandless on January 15, 2014 10:37 PM

By Bridget McCandless, President/CEO of the Health Care Foundation of Greater Kansas City

It’s that time of year again when many of my patients are trying to quit smoking.

My job is only to be the cheerleader because I know that they have to choose to quit for their own reasons. I’m as amazed by those who set down the pack and never look back as I am by those who are willing to keep trying to quit, despite their relapses.

Patients tell me that when they give up their smokes it’s like saying goodbye to a friend, confidant and comforter. Some grieve the loss of their cigarettes, but no one ever grieves their ability to breathe better.

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