October 14, 2025
Community Health Corner
In America’s Health Rankings report for 2024, Kansas is ranked number 28 of the 50 states in overall health of its residents. We need to raise that ranking which was once in the top 10! K-State Extension is working with others to improve everyone’s health, and we want all to join the effort. From urban, metro, suburban, rural and frontier locations, Extension works in partnership with communities to deliver meaningful and relevant programs and initiatives to keep health closer to home. The following resources help us improve well-being, achieve Healthy People 2030 objectives and follow recommendations included in the National Extension Framework for Health Equity and Well-being.
Science about Acetaminophen and Autism: On September 22, 2025, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) initiated the process for a label change for acetaminophen (Tylenol and similar products) to reflect evidence suggesting that the use of acetaminophen by pregnant women may be associated with an increased risk of neurological conditions such as autism and ADHD in children. The agency has also issued a related letter alerting physicians nationwide. Since the label change, there has been much discussion and some confusion. As a result, many professional organizations such as the American Academy of Pediatrics have responded. Here are three resources from leading institutions to better understand what studies reveal about the issues around women’s consumption of acetaminophen during pregnancy. Researchers at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health discuss a large study that found no increased risk of autism from acetaminophen use during pregnancy. Listen to the Johns Hopkins September 29 podcast episode of Public Health On Call, where two researchers discuss a study of Tylenol and autism and explain the results. Yale University responds with answers to four questions that consumers are asking about the issue. University of California MIND, (which studies autism, fragile X syndrome, chromosome 22q11.2 deletion syndrome, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and Down syndrome) has a 2min video and resources available here to explains science surrounding autism.
Kansas Communities That Care (KCTC) student survey: Since 1995, the KCTC Student Survey have surveyed 6th, 8th, 10th, and 12th graders in participating Kansas schools about their lived experiences. The anonymous survey provides insights into the behaviors and opinions of the young people living in Kansas. Families can find survey results for issues such as school support, risks of drug use (including vaping) and their prevention. Having information about what young people think and how they access help from caring and informed adults is important to prevent difficulties during adolescence. Learn about the results of the 2025 survey for your county here. KCTC has information about how to use data to make meaningful change. Also available are results of the 2024 Kansas Young Adult Survey (ages 18-25) available here.
Vaccine Dictionary available: The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Parents Pack maintains a national vaccine dictionary which is available here. The dictionary enables parents and allies to find brief definitions for more than two dozen words commonly associated with vaccines. Links are offered for more detailed information. The Immunization Kansas Coalition (IKC) also has recommended vaccination schedules for Kansas children and adults.
State and National Health Days and Events:. Here are some of the recognitions you can celebrate this month, and upcoming health trainings, conferences to attend:
- October 23-31 - Red Ribbon Week
- Domestic Violence Awareness Month
- Breast Cancer Awareness Month
- November 7 – Kansas Conference on Oral Health in Overland Park, KS or online
- May 11-14, 2026 – Extension’s National Health Outreach and Engagement Conference, St. George, UT
For more information, check at the Kansas health data dashboards and resources at Kansas Health Matters or contact Elaine Johannes, ejohanne@ksu.edu; and Stephanie Gutierrez, smgutier@k-state.edu