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Region 7 Public Health Innovation Hub

Region 7 Public Health Innovation Hub

The Kansas Health Institute (KHI), functioning as your Region 7 Public Health Innovation Hub, is one of 10 regional technical assistance (TA) centers offering dedicated support to Public Health Infrastructure Grant (PHIG) recipients. Working under the leadership of the National Network of Public Health Institutes (NNPHI), our goal is to work with you to strengthen public health infrastructure. KHI serves HHS Region 7, which includes Kansas, Iowa, Missouri and Nebraska.

Jump to the following sections on this page:

Services |  Featured Staff |  Partners |  Resources  | Related Content

Services

We are committed to serving as your go-to TA Provider in response to requests made through the PHIVE system, with services that include:

  • One-on-one coaching and guidance
  • Model materials and templates
  • Sharing or developing tools and toolkits
  • Co-development of trainings and webinars
  • Assessment and analysis of existing resources and processes
  • Connections to peer networks
Please submit official technical assistance requests through the Public Health Infrastructure Virtual Engagement (PHIVE) platform, using the button below. KHI can help you frame your technical assistance request before submitting it to the PHIVE system. If you want to work with KHI on formulating your PHIVE technical assistance request, please contact us.Select this button to request technical assistance.

 

We Can Help With

  • Workforce development and training

  • Strategic planning and change management

  • Policy analysis and development

  • Community health assessment and improvement

  • Community and stakeholder engagement

  • Strategic communication

Contact us if you have questions about other services.

10 June, 2025

Tuesday

Register Today — Exploring KanCare and Behavioral Health: Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics

Virtual

1:00 pm

View Details
A promotional graphic for the Kansas Health Institute's (KHI) Policy Series. The graphic features a dark gray panel on the left with a white U.S. Capitol icon above the text "KHI POLICY SERIES." Below, the Kansas Health Institute's logo and tagline, "Informing Policy. Improving Health." are displayed. On the right, large bold blue text reads "Exploring Medicaid in Kansas" against a light beige background. The website "khi.org" appears in the bottom right corner.

09 September, 2025

Tuesday

Register Today — Exploring Maternal Health in KanCare: Doulas and Community Health Workers

Virtual

1:00 pm

View Details
A promotional graphic for the Kansas Health Institute's (KHI) Policy Series. The graphic features a dark gray panel on the left with a white U.S. Capitol icon above the text "KHI POLICY SERIES." Below, the Kansas Health Institute's logo and tagline, "Informing Policy. Improving Health." are displayed. On the right, large bold blue text reads "Exploring Medicaid in Kansas" against a light beige background. The website "khi.org" appears in the bottom right corner.

09 December, 2025

Tuesday

Register Today — Exploring Medicaid Populations: Reaching Individuals Who Are Unhoused

Virtual

1:00 pm

View Details
A promotional graphic for the Kansas Health Institute's (KHI) Policy Series. The graphic features a dark gray panel on the left with a white U.S. Capitol icon above the text "KHI POLICY SERIES." Below, the Kansas Health Institute's logo and tagline, "Informing Policy. Improving Health." are displayed. On the right, large bold blue text reads "Exploring Medicaid in Kansas" against a light beige background. The website "khi.org" appears in the bottom right corner.

Featured Staff

Photo of Ithar Hassaballa, Ph.D., M.P.H.

Ithar Hassaballa, Ph.D., M.P.H.

Co-director of the Region 7 Innovation Hub and primary contact for the Kansas City, Missouri, Health Department, Douglas County, Nebraska, County Health Department, and the Missouri Department of Health and Human Services.

Learn more about Ithar.

Photo of Kevin Kovach, Dr.P.H., M.Sc.

Kevin Kovach, Dr.P.H., M.Sc.

Co-director of the Region 7 Innovation Hub and primary contact for the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services and Kansas Department of Health and Environment.

Learn more about Kevin.

Photo of Shelby Rowell

Shelby C. Rowell

Provides research and technical support for the Region 7 Public Health Innovation Hub.

Learn more about Shelby.

 

 

 

Photo of Wyatt J. Beckman, M.P.H., C.H.E.S.

Wyatt J. Beckman, M.P.H., C.H.E.S.

Provides research and technical support for the Region 7 Public Health Innovation Hub.

Learn more about Wyatt.

Photo of Tatiana Y. Lin, M.A.

Tatiana Y. Lin, M.A.

Provides research and technical support for the Region 7 Public Health Innovation Hub.

Learn more about Tatiana.

Photo of Samiyah Para-Cremer Moore, M.Sc.

Samiyah Para-Cremer Moore, M.Sc.

Provides research and technical support for the Region 7 Public Health Innovation Hub.

Learn more about Samiyah.

 

 

 

Sheena L. Schmidt, M.P.P. 

Provides research and technical support for the Region 7 Public Health Innovation Hub.

Learn more about Sheena.

Photo of Theresa Freed, M.A.

Theresa Freed, M.A.

Provides communication expertise and support for the Region 7 Public Health Innovation Hub.

Learn more about Theresa.

Kari M. Bruffett

Kari M. Bruffett

President and CEO of KHI. Provides strategic support for the Region 7 Public Health Innovation Hub.  

Learn more about Kari.

 

 

 

Partners

KHI is pleased to work with the PHIG National Partners:

Other key partners include:

Other key partners (continued)

Innovation Hubs Covering HHS Regions

Resources from the Region 7 Public Health Innovation Hub

KHI-Created Resources

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