November 19, 2024
Community Health Corner
The National Extension Framework for Health Equity and Well-being recommends using community development strategies and health literacy programs to ensure that everyone has a fair and just opportunity to be as healthy as possible. The following resources help us improve well-being for all, and achieve Healthy Kansas 2030 and Healthy People 2030 objectives.
November 21 is National Rural Health Day 2024 . This year’s theme of the annual National Rural Health Day is “Advancing Maternal Health in Rural Communities” which highlights how federal, state and community-based organizations work together to enhance maternal health services. Kansas is among the top states with obstetric (maternity-care) deserts which contribute to poor health outcomes for birthing parents and their babies. 45.7% of Kansas counties are defined as maternity-care deserts as compared to 32.6% in the US. Visit HRSA’s National Rural Health Day Agenda to learn more about Rural Health Day.
States’ Growing Efforts to Eliminate PFAS: According to a recent new release from the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) and Beth Giambrone, ASTHO Senior Analyst for State Health Policy, the widespread exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) has been a major concern nationwide for some time. A 2023 United States Geological Survey study estimates that at least one PFAS chemical can be found in 45% of the tap water in the United States. Learn more about what states are doing about the prevalence of PFAs issues, drinking water regulations and PFAs in consumer products here. An inventory report from KDHE of PFA prevalence in Kansas water and sorts of chemicals that leak into water sources is posted here.
Post-Election Anxiety: No matter your political leanings, the recent national, state and local elections may have resulted in feelings of anxiety and unexpected change. According to an October 2024 an American Psychological Association (APA) Harris Poll of 3,300 of adults in the US more than 69% of respondents felt stress about the election. The same poll revealed that approximately 3 in 5 adults reported feeling hopeful about the change the election was going to bring (61%). After the election, stress is likely to impact marginalized communities such as: people over age 65, people in poverty, those who are unhoused, people of minority sexual and gender orientations, people of color, people with disabilities, and immigrants (both those with or without legal status). Those who work with marginalized communities are also apt to feel post-election stress and anxiety. Crisis Text Line has free information for How to Cope with Post-Election Anxiety, and How to Talk to Your Kids about the Election. Crisis Text Line is a national non-profit located in New York state, and is supported by US businesses (e.g, Nike, Microsoft), universities (e.g, Vanderbilt, University of Michigan, Rutgers) and local and state government agencies (e.g., Missouri Department of Mental Health, US Army Reserve).
For more information, contact Elaine Johannes, ejohanne@ksu.edu; and Stephanie Gutierrez, smgutier@k-state.edu