Maternal and Child Health

Children's health is impacted by where children live, work, play and go to school. It is also affected by virtual influences of television, video games and the Internet. Safety measures and health education are important for children's well-being, as well as access to health care and preventive services. KHI researchers and KHI News Service journalists study and document health conditions, risk behaviors, programs and policies important to the health of Kansas children and mothers.

Photo by Thad Allton

Understanding the Health of Kansas Children

0 | Child Health

There are many serious risks to a child’s health. Health risks are influenced by individual, family, neighborhood, school and community factors, as well as the physical environment. Effective economic, educational and health policies are also important to reduce children’s risk for illness and injury.

Policy and Research

Children’s Health in All Policies: A Workbook

0 | Dec. 14, 2010 | Child Health

Using the nationally recognized Health in All Policies approach, this workbook examines six key children’s health issues in Kansas and identifies promising policy solutions for addressing these issues.

Children's Health in All Policies

0 | Mar. 09, 2010 | Child Health, Presentations

In November 2009, the Kansas Health Institute (KHI) launched Children’s Health in All Policies (CHAP), a new initiative designed to address policies that impact children’s health in the context of policy-making at all levels.

No Change in Kansas Uninsured Rate

0 | Sep. 18, 2009 | Child Health, Health Insurance

New data from the U.S. Census Bureau show that the percentage of Kansans without health insurance didn’t change significantly in the most recent reporting period. However, the percentage of Kansas children without coverage increased.

Early Learning in Kansas: The Impact of Kindergarten on Academic and Social Learning

0 | Aug. 28, 2009 | Child Health

A new assessment shows that children who attend full-day kindergarten make more progress during the school year than those in half-day kindergarten.

Evaluation of the MOBI-KS Program

0 | May. 01, 2009 | Child Health, Health Care Delivery, Immunizations

KHI evaluated the Maximizing Office Based Immunizations in Kansas program, or MOBI-KS, to assess its effectiveness and to identify processes that can be improved.

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News

Governor proposes cuts in children's programs

1 | Feb. 06, 2012 | Budget, Children, Legislature

Citing uncertainty in the amount of money Kansas will receive from major tobacco companies as part of a long-standing legal settlement, Gov. Sam Brownback has proposed cutting $16 million from programs that promote parenting skills and early childhood development.

Bills aimed at youth ‘pharm parties’ and use of e-cigs before committee

0 | Feb. 02, 2012 | Children, Tobacco

Two bills before a House corrections committee are aimed at growing problems among youths in Leavenworth County, according to county officials.

SRS defends change in food stamp policy

1 | Jan. 30, 2012 | Children, SRS, Legislature, Nutrition

A top official at the Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services defended a change in policy that has resulted in at least 1,000 children being dropped from the state’s food stamp program.

Group working to reduce infant mortality seeks funding for efforts

0 | Jan. 27, 2012 | Child Health, Children, Early Childhood, KDHE, Health Disparities

The members of the Blue Ribbon Panel on Infant Mortality today had the ear of the state's top health official, and they used the occasion to probe for ways they could secure state or federal funding for their efforts.

Report reflects recession's toll on Kansas children

0 | Dec. 15, 2011 | Advocacy, Children

According to the newly released Kansas KIDS COUNT report, nearly one in five Kansas children lives below the federal poverty level and almost half the state’s school-age children received free or reduced-price lunches.

Governor proposes cuts in children's programs

1 | Feb. 06, 2012 | Budget, Children, Legislature

Citing uncertainty in the amount of money Kansas will receive from major tobacco companies as part of a long-standing legal settlement, Gov. Sam Brownback has proposed cutting $16 million from programs that promote parenting skills and early childhood development.

Issue Brief: The Growing Health and Financial Costs of Inadequate Health Insurance

0 | Jan. 01, 2009 | Health Insurance, Underinsurance

This introduction to the issue of underinsurance discusses the difficulty in determining what constitutes underinsurance and alerts policymakers to issues they should consider when addressing this issue.

Brownback appoints Gilmore new SRS secretary, unveils ERO

0 | Feb. 03, 2012 | KDHE, KDoA, SRS, Medicaid-CHIP

Gov. Sam Brownback today appointed former legislator Phyllis Gilmore to be secretary of the Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services, following the troubled tenure of Rob Siedlecki, who resigned in December after just a year at the post.

Bills aimed at youth ‘pharm parties’ and use of e-cigs before committee

0 | Feb. 02, 2012 | Children, Tobacco

Two bills before a House corrections committee are aimed at growing problems among youths in Leavenworth County, according to county officials.

Attorney says bilking Medicaid is easy

0 | Jan. 25, 2012 | Legislature, Health Care Delivery, Medicaid-CHIP

The head of the Medicaid fraud unit at the Kansas Attorney General’s Office told lawmakers it was easy to cheat programs that provide in-home services for the disabled and the frail elderly.

RWJF posts Dole forum videos

0 | Sep. 11, 2008 | Imported

TOPEKA, Sept. 11 - Videos of the recent health-care forum at the Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics have been posted on the Web site of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

Governor proposes cuts in children's programs

1 | Feb. 06, 2012 | Budget, Children, Legislature

Citing uncertainty in the amount of money Kansas will receive from major tobacco companies as part of a long-standing legal settlement, Gov. Sam Brownback has proposed cutting $16 million from programs that promote parenting skills and early childhood development.

Video: Community Water Fluoridation

3 | Jun. 22, 2011 | About KHI

In this video, KHI senior analyst Tatiana Lin discusses community water fluoridation from a public health perspective.

SRS defends change in food stamp policy

1 | Jan. 30, 2012 | Children, SRS, Legislature, Nutrition

A top official at the Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services defended a change in policy that has resulted in at least 1,000 children being dropped from the state’s food stamp program.

Governor hints at money targeted for waiting-list problem

1 | Jan. 20, 2012 | Government, Medicaid-CHIP

Gov. Sam Brownback on Friday hinted that his administration might use a portion of the revenues gained from his proposed elimination of the state’s earned income tax credit to help reduce long-standing waiting lists for services for the disabled.

Bill would take developmentally disabled services out of Medicaid makeover plan

1 | Jan. 20, 2012 | Legislature

A Wichita lawmaker has introduced a bill that would remove long-term care services for the developmentally disabled from the governor's plan to expand Medicaid managed care.

Cuts in mental health funding affect veterans

1 | Jan. 17, 2012 | Legislature, Mental Health

Recent cuts in community mental health center budgets are harming veterans and their families, according to a center director.

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