There's a chill in the air, and with it come thoughts of gratitude for everything and everyone who has been a part of all our projects and activities during the past year. We'd like to take this opportunity to say THANKS to all of you for your participation, your support and your commitment to the families of Kansas City. You are what makes the dream of every child being safe, nurtured and healthy a reality. Thanks for everything you do!

Nurture:

“To care for and encourage the growth or development of.” 

 This definition encapsulates the broad mission of Nurture KC, recognizing that the support we offer to families falls on a continuum of care that begins pre-pregnancy and carries through life.  Nurture KC is a name that recognizes families come in all shapes and sizes, and our role is to welcome all. Not only has our name changed, but our location as well! Nurture KC is located at 1111 W. 39 ^th Street in the former Loretto Academy. Accompanying these changes will be a re-launch of our website in November that reflects our focus on need and impact as it relates to the most vulnerable Kansas Citians, manifesting in improved birth outcomes.

As we move into a new era, both figuratively and literally, there will be an emphasis on policy change as a key strategy in bringing about widespread improvements in the lives of the families we serve. Policy is the tool that provides the greatest opportunity to change cultural norms through the accountability of compliance measures. Nowhere is this crystallized more than in the health of our mothers and babies. 

“We have the capacity to make sure that every mother has prenatal care. Yet, we don’t do it. What is it about America? It says we don’t value children and families. We are hypocrites.” – Marian Wright Edelman

Please join us as we dive deeper into policy as a vital piece of our programming work so that we can improve health outcomes for our families. Nurture KC’s legislative quarterly meeting is Friday, November 15, at the Johnson County Admin Building, beginning at 8:30 a.m. and ending by 12:30 p.m. You can register here If you are unable to attend, please submit legislative priorities that you wish to have considered by November 10 to [email protected] . (After Nov. 1: [email protected] .)

Thank you for your continued support on this journey to improve birth outcomes and family health in Kansas City. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for our partnership!

Tracy Russell,

Executive Director, Mother & Child Health Coalition

As of November 1, 2019 Mother & Child Health Coalition is now

Nurture KC.

 ANNUAL REPORT NOW AVAILABLE:

You can access the full report on all the programs of MCHC for fiscal year 2018-2019 HERE.

Kansas City Healthy Start Initiative - Utilizing the CAN Model

One of the benefits of utilizing a community health worker model in KC Healthy Start is that it provides an up-close picture of the barriers our participants face as they navigate a healthy pregnancy. This allows us to work on solutions with our families to reduce and/or eliminate those challenges in a way that has real impact on their lives.

As a complement to that one-on-one experience, KC Healthy Start requires a Community Action Network (CAN) that includes organizations involved in this work as well as our community health workers and Healthy Start participants, who come together to work on solutions that will benefit Healthy Start families and other families across the Kansas City metropolitan area.

The CAN in Kansas City is the Pregnancy, Infant and Child Health (PICH) Committee through Nurture KC. PICH focuses on a few priority areas that include: access to care, tobacco prevention and cessation, safe sleep practices, and encouraging breastfeeding. Within the access to care area, there is an emphasis on adequate and affordable transportation. This is truly a local effort that considers what will work best in Kansas City and the unique challenges we face. We are building participation in PICH and welcome additional partners at the table! Our next meeting is December 11. Please contact Tracy Russell – [email protected] if you are interested in becoming a PICH member or know of someone active in the community who would be interested.

To learn more about the KC Healthy Start Initiative and how you can become involved with the program, please visit our website www.mchc.net . (After Nov. 1, www.NurtureKC.org )

Safe Kids Metro KC

Safe Kids has been busy this summer doing car seat checks at various locations, including onsite at our office, by appointment. At last count, 378 children are now traveling safer because thanks to Safe Kids, they now have a brand-new, properly installed car seat! 324 car seats were provided during the quarter. It's hard to believe now how beastly hot it was on those days, but DuJuan and all the stalwart volunteers helped get it done.

Above: Look for these signs on the backs of KCATA buses throughout the metro. Sponsored the KDHE.

Mid America Immunization Coalition

REPORT: Fall Flu Clinics The MAIC annual series of flu vaccine clinics has been a success so far! Seven clinics have been held across the metro, on both sides of the state line, and approximately 700 flu vaccines were administered to folks who might not otherwise have access to this protection. It looks like we'll be getting a few more vouchers and holding maybe two more clinics before we're all finished. Have you had your flu shot yet?? Don't delay!

Both Channel 9 and Channel 41 came out to cover the clinic at Don Bosco on October 16:

Charlie Keegan   Channel 41 report

Kelly Eckerman  Channel 9 report

Thanks to all the staff, partners and volunteers who made it all possible.

The flu clinic project is a collaboration with Walgreens, and is funded by the US Department of Health and Human Services, Region VII.

To learn more, contact DuJuan Hord, MAIC and Safe Kids program coordinator at [email protected] or [email protected]

MCHC Bids Goodbye to Anne Biswell

A note from Anne: It's been a pleasure, an honor and a privilege to work alongside all of you in this great organization for the past 20 years. I want to thank the staff for the lovely reception held in my honor on October 29 at Diastole Center, and especially Susan McLoughlin for her kind words. I wish you all the best in the years to come. - Anne

Susan McLoughlin’s Comments on Anne Biswell’s Retirement

Presented at Diastole Scholar’s Center, Oct. 29, 2019

To Our Members, Volunteers and Partners: Thank you so much!

The following wonderful people recently joined or renewed their membership:

RENEWING Individuals: Stephanie Jones.

RENEWING ORGANIZATIONS:

University of Kansas Hospital ($1,000 Benefactor) Leigh Collins, Randi Collins, Morgan Cross, Laurie Hay, Amanda Meats, Jaime Milnes, Debbie Pennington, Gail Schuetz.

St. Luke’s Health Systems ($1,000 Benefactor) Robin Evans, Audrey Hill.

Platte County Health Department ($1,000 Benefactor) Stacy Benninghoff, Chelsie Carter, Tia Bigus, Lisa Dandridge, Dustin Guest, Carrie Jacobs, Sherrie Kisker, Heidi Loecke, Angela Smith

Swope Health Services ($1,000 Benefactor) LaKeisha Davis, Kristina Duran, Ashley Gonzales, Ahkeya Howard, Jennifer Jones-Higgs, Katelyn Kolich, Ebony Peterson, Janice Vertreese

Unified Government Wyandotte County Health Department ($1,000 Benefactor) Jennifer Allen, Terrie Garrison, Veronica Kariuki, Lori Lanter, Ashley Lause, Charlotte Square, Angela Vinson

The Family Conservancy ($250 Donor) Katrina Minter, Paula Neth

Do you know someone else in your organization who would benefit from membership in MCHC? Invite them to join today at www.mchc.net. 

COMING SOON!

Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2019 is

#GIVINGTUESDAY

when kind and generous folks the world over join in

and support their favorite causes.

Plan now to make your end-of-year donation to MCHC .

Your donation makes a difference!