There are several health-related rankings released each year by the national organizations. Understanding available measures, methodology and limitations/strengths of these rankings will equip legislators, agencies, communities and their partners with information they need to make effective decisions.
To build this understanding, the Kansas Health Institute hosted a pop-up convening on April 22, 2021, to discuss three key sets of Rankings: America’s Health Rankings (AHR), Mental Health in America Rankings (MHA) and County Health Rankings (CHR). This "lunch & learn" convening included a brief overview followed by a panel discussion on how to interpret rankings and use them in practical settings.
Panelists included:
- Brian McKiernan, Commissioner for the Unified Government of Wyandotte County / Kansas City, Kansas, District 2
- Mary C. Jones, LCMFT, LCAC, President and CEO of the Mental Health Association of South Central Kansas
The slides and video recording for this convening are below.
- Demystifying the Rankings: Practical Applications for Effective Policymaking (handout)
- Demystifying the Rankings: Practical Applications for Effective Policymaking (slides from presentation)
The Kansas Health Institute supports effective policymaking through nonpartisan research, education and engagement. KHI believes evidence-based information, objective analysis and civil dialogue enable policy leaders to be champions for a healthier Kansas. Established in 1995 with a multiyear grant from the Kansas Health Foundation, KHI is a nonprofit, nonpartisan educational organization based in Topeka.