April 4, 2023
The Community Health Corner
The National Extension Framework for Health Equity and Well-being recommends using community development strategies with education and health literacy programs to ensure that every person has the opportunity to attain their full health potential. The following tools and resources can be used to improve health access, equity and well-being to achieve Healthy Kansas 2030 objectives and contribute to the nation’s Healthy People 2030 outcomes.
LEARN NOW: KHI (Kansas Health Institute) is holding a webinar on April 17, 12 -1 p.m. to discuss Medicaid Unwinding in Kansas. Federal legislation tied to the nationwide COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) incentivized states to maintain eligibility for Medicaid enrollees during the COVID-19 pandemic by increasing federal funding for Medicaid programs. In response, Kansas, and all other states, delayed action on annual reviews, ensuring continuous coverage during the pandemic. Starting April 1, 2023, Kansas will have up to 12 months to process all eligibility casework for KanCare that was not acted upon during the PHE. This process is called Unwinding. Register for the Medicaid Unwinding in Kansas webinar here.
AVAILABLE NOW: 2023 County Health Rankings are available for each Kansas county and for most communities. The National Findings Report highlights the connection between civic health and thriving people and places. New this year are measures of civic participation (e.g, voting, census participation) which reflect cornerstones of our democracy, opportunity, belonging and shared responsibility. Search the updated County Health Rankings website for Kansas counties to find your 2023 County Health Rankings data.
READ NOW: According to the World Happiness Report 2023, people around the world are experiencing more kindness, help and support from others in their daily lives. The crises of the last few years, have not made us reclusive and hard-hearted—but instead more willing to help each other. The Greater Good Science Center, Univ. of California, reports that though Happiness inequality—the gap between the top half of the population and the bottom half in terms of their life satisfaction—continues to increase. When it comes to kindness, previously there was more of a gap in how kind the happier and unhappier people in each country were—but over time, that gap has narrowed. Read the executive summary of the 2023 World Happiness Report here.
For more information, contact Elaine Johannes, ejohanne@ksu.edu; and Stephanie Gutierrez, smgutier@k-state.edu.