January 13, 2026
Community Health Corner
In America’s Health Ranking Kansas Summary 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, timely relevant programs and initiatives for health and well-being. The following resources help us improve well-being and achieve national Healthy People 2030 objectives.
2026 LIEAP Season: Applications for the 2026 Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP) program will be available between Jan 20 and March 31. LIEAP helps eligible Kansas households pay a portion of their primary home heating costs during the winter season with a one-time per year benefit. In 2024, over 40,000 Kansas households received an average one-time benefit of $645 paid directly to their energy provider to help keep their homes warm in the winter. Learn more here, and download and share the 2026 LIEAP marketing flyer available here.
Revised federal vaccine recommendations can be confusing: According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) the recent changes in child vaccination recommendations by the federal government are confusing for parents and health providers. The changes reduce the number of universally recommended childhood vaccines from 17 to 11. Under the new federal policy, the vaccines remain available but are now offered as part of “shared clinical decision-making” between parents and clinicians. Most families will still have free access to all 17 vaccines through federal health insurance programs including the Vaccines for Children program and private insurance. However, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) state that the vaccine schedule changes are “dangerous and unnecessary.” Pediatricians continue to recommend that all children continue to receive the full slate of vaccines. Facts about the child vaccination schedule are available here. The Kansas AAP provides free vaccine education materials and the schedule for Kansas kids here.
Protect yourself from the subclade K flu variant: Subclade K is a newer version of the H3N2 flu virus and is sometimes called a “super flu” because it spreads quickly. Management and treatment of influenza are important to prevent spreading the flu to others, and to reduce the risk of worsening, serious complications. There’s no solid evidence that it causes more severe illness on a per‑case basis, but it is more common right now. Flu viruses naturally change over time, and this one has picked up mutations that may help it spread more easily or slip past some existing immunity. H3N2 strains in general tend to hit older adults and people with chronic conditions harder. The CDC weekly flu surveillance report and map reveal that Kansas is at the “very high” level of flu activity for the week ending on Dec. 27, 2025. Kansas flu data are available on the KDHE Influenza Surveillance Dashboard.
Opportunities:
- Rural Maternity Care Access research survey: if you live or work in rural Kansas, please complete an anonymous opinion survey on rural maternity care access. Email Dominic Sankuba <sankuba@ksu.edu>, K-State Geography and Geospatial Sciences graduate student to obtain the survey.
- Kansas Breastfeeding Coalition Executive Director position: The Executive Director of the Kansas Breastfeeding Coalition, Brenda Bandy is retiring on July, and the KBC Board of Directors is accepting applications for the position until January 23. Read the position description and apply here.
- KCSL Child Abuse Prevention and Family Connections Training Schedule: The first quarter (Jan-March) training schedule for free, professional training to prevent and address child abuse has been announced by Kansas Children Service League (KCSL). The schedule is available here.
For more information, check out 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