Kansas Health Institute

☕ That’s a wrap on the Health on the Plains Coffee Hour for 2026! If you missed our final Health on the Plains Coffee Hour of the year featuring Chris Salyers, DHSc., tune in on demand for insights on key health issues affecting Kansans and catch up on this year's conversations with Coffee Hour recaps available on our website. Watch now and explore past recaps: khi.org/articles/on-demand-h… #HealthOnThePlains #KsHealth #PublicHealth #HealthPolicy #RuralHealth @NOSORH

Don't miss KHI's upcoming convening on children's health insurance coverage in Kansas. Hear from experts as they explore recent coverage trends, who is most affected and key considerations for policymakers and stakeholders. 🗓️Date: Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2026 🕘 Time: 10:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. CDT 📍 Location: Kansas Health Institute, 212 SW 8th Ave., Topeka (in-person seating is limited; lunch included) 💻 Virtual Option: A virtual option is available for the morning session (10:30 a.m. - noon) only. Register today! events.khi.org.pages.service… #publichealth #kshealth #childhealth #ksleg @KansasAAP @McCourtSchool @GeorgetownCCF

Thank you to KFMC Health Improvement Partners for a great 2026 Kansas Health Impact Conference! KHI team members enjoyed a day of collaboration, connection and innovative approaches to community health. KHI's Samiyah Para-Cremer Moore also led attendees in the @HungerFreeKS Data Walk and facilitated an engaging panel discussion on practical strategies to apply the Data Walk Model to co-create community storytelling and drive lasting impact. And thanks to those who stopped by our booth! #PublicHealth #KsHealth #BridgingGapsBuildingImpact @uwkawvalley

We're excited to share our team's work at #APHA2026 on Monday, Nov. 2 in San Antonio! Hear from us at the following sessions: 💡 Table 2 - Building Your AI Policy Step by Step: A Hands-On Workshop Featuring Insights from KHI’s Collaboration with the Guam Department of Public Health and Social Services 10:30 a.m. to noon | Room 214C Presenter: Tatiana Lin Authors: Tatiana Lin, Shelby Rowell, Bertha Taijeron and Emma Uridge 🌾 Table 8 - Funding Rural Health: Insights from Five Years of Federal Office of Rural Health Policy Funding 2:30 to 4 p.m. | Room 214A Presenter: Shelby Rowell Authors: Shelby Rowell, Wyatt J. Beckman and Viktoria Sterkhova #APHA #PublicHealth #HealthPolicy @PublicHealth @APHAAnnualMtg

New U.S. Census Bureau data show Kansas children are more likely to lack health insurance than children nationwide for the second consecutive year. In 2025, 8.5 percent of Kansas children were uninsured, compared with 6.1 percent nationally. Learn more: khi.org/articles/kansas-chil… #KsLeg @KansasAAP @McCourtSchool @GeorgetownCCF

🚗 KHI team members Cynthia Snyder and Viktoria Sterkhova traveled to @FortHaysState on Monday to facilitate the first ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) Data Walk in partnership with the @UWofEllisCounty. These students will soon host their own ALICE Data Walk. The ALICE Data Walk, developed by KHI with funding from KHF, BCBSKS and United Ways of Kansas include data posters and innovative tabletop activities that explore the tough choices that ALICE families face. We look forward to training others at the 2026 United Way State Association conference this December in Salina. #publichealth #kshealth #ALICE

We're hiring! 📢 The Kansas Health Institute is seeking an Analyst (Technical Assistance) to support initiatives that strengthen public health, health care and rural communities across Kansas. If you're passionate about capacity building, stakeholder engagement and creating meaningful change, we'd love to hear from you. Apply by Nov. 18. Learn more: khi.org/job-listings/analyst… #NowHiring #PublicHealthJobs #HealthPolicy #PublicHealth #TechnicalAssistance #Analyst

KHI's Theresa Freed and Cathy McNorton proudly represented Kansas at the annual @PRSA conference, in Orlando. Theresa presented to a packed room on the use of strategic blogging to build trust with audiences and improve AI discoverability. This year's conference had a strong emphasis on AI. Thanks to those who joined the KHI session! We look forward to connecting further!

📊 Behind every data point is a child, a family and a community. Join KHI on Nov. 5 as researchers and policy experts take a closer look at the recent increase in the number of uninsured children in Kansas. Learn what the data reveal, where impacts are being felt most and what it could mean for the future of health coverage in our state. ️ 🗓️Date: Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2026 🕘 Time: 10:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. CDT 📍 Location: Kansas Health Institute, 212 SW 8th Ave., Topeka (in-person seating is limited; lunch included) 💻 Virtual Option: A virtual option is available for the morning session (10:30 a.m. - noon) only. To register, visit events.khi.org.pages.service… #publichealth #kshealth #childhealth @KansasAAP @McCourtSchool @GeorgetownCCF

We’re closing out the series with an important final conversation — don’t miss it. 👇 Region 7 Maternal Health ECHO® Session 5 is coming up! 📅 Oct. 27 | Reflecting and Moving Forward Together Join partners from across Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska and Kansas as we continue building on the momentum of this series — sharing insights, strengthening connections and identifying strategies to better support mothers and families. 💬💛 ✨ Why join Session 5? ✔️ Reflect on key themes from across the series ✔️ Learn practical strategies you can carry forward ✔️ Stay connected with partners working toward shared goals Whether you’ve joined us for previous sessions or are jumping in now, your voice is an important part of this regional effort. 📣 Register once to access the full ECHO series on the Kansas Health Institute website Let’s finish strong — and keep the work moving forward. #MaternalHealth #PublicHealth #HealthEquity #Region7 #KansasHealthInstitute #CommunityHealth #ECHOModel @KDHE @ibeblackgirl

Three great days of presentations and discussion with 1,300 of our fellow health policy colleagues from all 50 states at #NASHPCONF26. Left #NYC with lots of ideas and opportunities to address the cost of health care, caring for an aging population, children and social media, investments in rural health, building a health care workforce, and so much more.

🌟 Staff Spotlight: Avanthi Chatrathi 🌟 As an analyst at KHI, Avanthi supports projects across the Educational and Technical Assistance strategy, including the Pathways to a Healthy Kansas initiative, the Region VII Maternal Health ECHO learning series and KHI Learning. She enjoys collaborating with internal and external teams that are committed to addressing health disparities and health equity through meaningful public health work. ⁠ Outside of work, Avanthi enjoys running, traveling and cheering on the Kansas City Chiefs! 🍝 If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life: Anything pasta-related! ✨ Fun fact: She studied classical Indian dance growing up and was a member of a Bollywood fusion dance team in college. Three emojis that describe Avanthi: 🏃🏾‍♀️🌞🏈 ⁠ We are so grateful for Avanthi’s dedication, enthusiasm and commitment to improving health outcomes in communities across the region. Learn more about Avanthi and her work: khi.org/team/avanthi-chatrat…