February 3, 2026
The Community Health Corner
Submitted by Stephanie Gutierrez
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.
New State of Tobacco Control Report Highlights Policy Shifts
On Wednesday, January 28th, the American Lung Association released its annual State of Tobacco Control report, which grades all 50 states and Washington, DC, as well as the federal government, on key public policies proven to prevent and reduce tobacco use. This year’s report notes that the federal tobacco control landscape changed significantly in 2025, including major reductions to CDC’s Office on Smoking and Health, such as the Tips from Former Smokers campaign, along with staffing changes at FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products. The report also emphasizes the importance of state-level action to continue tobacco prevention and cessation efforts in light of these federal shifts. The full report is available online at www.lung.org/sotc.
Webinar: Mastering Difficult Conversations
Join the American Hospital Association on February 11th for the webinar Mastering Difficult Conversations: Practical Strategies for Success. Attendees will learn mindfulness techniques to maintain composure under pressure and simple, in-the-moment tools to communicate thoughtfully.
States Aligning Investments to Strengthen Rural Health
The Health Policy Futures Lab is hosting the next installment of their Rural Health Transformation Program series on February 12th, entitled How States Are Aligning New Investments With Long-Standing Rural Health Efforts. Presenters will explore how states are complementing existing efforts rather than duplicating, fragmenting, or creating yet another silo that requires coordination.
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