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 Phil Cauthon

Children's Cabinet prepares for loss of funds

Programs should be prioritized and alternative funding sources sought, says Children's Cabinet chair

0 | Child Health, Children, Early Childhood, Tobacco

The Children's Cabinet should start planning to receive as little as $12 million in tobacco dollars — or $44 million less than current funding — for programs in fiscal 2014, said chair Amanda Adkins at a meeting today.

Policy and Research

Issue Brief: Children's Initiatives Fund

0 | May. 09, 2013 | Child Health

This new issue brief explains the origins of the Children’s Initiatives Fund (CIF) in Kansas and how the fund is used to support children’s programs, especially those that focus on early childhood, health, mental health and child welfare.

Issue Brief: Results of Physician Survey on Early Childhood Mental Health Practices

0 | Aug. 17, 2012 | Child Health

The number of children identified with mental health conditions in primary care settings nationwide has increased in the past two decades. However, researchers estimate that many children age 0–5 are not identified or connected to early mental health services. This brief outlines key findings from a survey on Kansas physician practices related to screening, referral and treatment of young children with mental health conditions.

Special Report: Early Childhood Mental Health Services in Kansas

0 | Feb. 16, 2012 | Child Health, Medicaid-CHIP

Early childhood is a vital period for a child’s development. National studies show that up to a fourth of children younger than 5 have mental health issues. This special report outlines information on the types of early childhood mental health services in Kansas and the availability of services in regions of the state.

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.

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News

Economy, substance abuse contributing to rise in foster care numbers, official says

0 | May. 13, 2013 | Children, Agencies

A state official charged with overseeing the state’s foster care system blamed the economy and drug and alcohol abuse for a recent increase in the number of children in state custody.

KAC goes to court seeking release of tobacco settlement terms from AG's Office

0 | May. 10, 2013 | Children, Tobacco

A child advocacy group has filed a petition in Shawnee County District Court, asking the judge to order Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt to release an independent auditor’s report on how much money the nation’s tobacco companies are likely to pay the state over the next five years.

Advocacy group's Open Records request generates no new information

0 | May. 07, 2013 | Children, Legislature, Tobacco

The head of of a Topeka-based child advocacy group said today that she was disappointed she couldn't get more information sooner from the Attorney General's Office about details of the state's recent arbitration agreement with the nation's tobacco companies. Legislators return to the Statehouse on Wednesday to begin wrapping up the budget and that information could be useful for deciding how to fund children's programs, she and others said.

Advocacy group blasts Brownback, Schmidt

0 | Apr. 30, 2013 | Advocacy, Budget, Children, Legislature

The leader of a child advocacy group today criticized Gov. Sam Brownback and Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt for their handling of the money the state receives from its master settlement agreement with the nation’s tobacco companies.

Tobacco settlement payment tops projection

0 | Apr. 25, 2013 | Children, Legislature, Tobacco

Lawmakers had expected the state to receive $55.8 million this fiscal year in tobacco settlement payments. Instead, payments from the tobacco companies topped $60.2 million.

House member gathers signatures to extend DD KanCare "carve-out"

0 | May. 15, 2013 | Legislature, KanCare

Rep. John Rubin, a Shawnee Republican, has been collecting signatures from fellow House members who support extending for another year the "carve-out" of long-term supports for the developmentally disabled from KanCare.

When Government Worked for Kansas

0 | May. 16, 2013 | Commentary

For many generations, Kansans were governed by experienced, educated and thoughtful people who realized the great difference that government had made in their lives. The people elected to office had known lives before a time of new and noble purpose. They had come through a civil war, a panic, a great depression and two world wars. They saw the need for a government. It could not go away.

Governor's mental health initiative panned at Manhattan meeting

0 | May. 16, 2013 | Government, Mental Health

The Kansas Department for Aging and Disabilty Services has been conducting a listening tour to collect public input on Gov. Sam Brownback's mental health initiative. In Manhattan, critics said the mental health system is stretched too thin to do more without additional funding.

Kim Moore: President, United Methodist Health Ministry Fund

0 | Jun. 04, 2007 | Who's Who

Moore, trained as an attorney, heads one of the state's leading health foundations, which is based in Hutchinson.

Governor proposes deeper cuts in mental-health spending

0 | Mar. 18, 2011 | Legislature, Mental Health

Gov. Sam Brownback has proposed cutting the budget for community mental health centers by an additional $17 million.

Major medical provider groups ask for longer KanCare transition

0 | Feb. 13, 2013 | Health Care Delivery, KanCare, Medicaid-CHIP

Two of the state's leading medical provider groups, the Kansas Medical Society and the Kansas Medical Group Management Association, have asked state officials to extend the transition period for KanCare another 90 days, saying more time is needed to work out a lengthy list of problems.

A New Confederacy

1 | May. 18, 2013 | Commentary

Over the five decades leading to a new millennium, state government in Kansas had assumed a rhythm of reform and advancement. Today it thrums with the drone of demolition.

Kansas HIA Report: Potential Health Effects of Casino Development in Southeast Kansas

5 | Oct. 23, 2012 | Community Health, Public Health Systems and Services

The Kansas Health Institute recently completed its first health impact assessment, which examined the potential health effects associated with casino development in Southeast Kansas. This new report features findings of the health impact assessment and outlines recommendations to maximize the positive health benefits of a proposed casino and mitigate its potential negative effects on health.

E-cigarettes unregulated until legal status determined

5 | Nov. 01, 2010 | Agencies, Tobacco

Proponents say e-cigarettes deliver only nicotine with none of the hazardous chemicals of traditional cigarettes. The smoke-like vapor emitted is virtually odorless and harmless, they say. But opponents say little is known of e-cigarettes' health effects and until they've been rigorously studied, they should be banned - at least from public spaces.

Governor signs into law stem cell center bill

2 | Apr. 22, 2013 | KU Medical Center

Gov. Sam Brownback signed into law a bill requiring the University of Kansas Medical Center to create a center for conducting non-embryonic stem cell research.

Larned State Hospital nursing director fired

1 | May. 01, 2013 | Workforce, Hospitals, Mental Health

Larned State Hospital has fired its nursing director, but state officials would not comment on why, according to a report published by the Garden City Telegram. The hospital — one of two state-run inpatient facilities for mentally ill adults — has struggled with staffing issues in recent years.

Forms available for using federal health insurance exchanges

1 | Apr. 30, 2013 | Health Reform, Insurance

Federal health officials today released the forms to be used by applicants for health insurance coverage through the online exchanges or marketplaces that are scheduled to be in place in each of the states by Oct. 1.

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