Tracy Russell Executive Director Mother and Child Health Coalition
As the Kansas legislature reconvenes for the veto session, Nurture KC is celebrating a huge win for Kansas families – extension of Medicaid coverage for postpartum mothers from 60 days to one year. Adopted and signed into law as part of the budget, postpartum extended coverage garnered rare, bipartisan support as legislators and the Governor prioritized maternal and infant health through action that will impact maternal health outcomes in a way that just talking about the issue doesn’t. 

How many Kansas mothers will benefit from this policy? Estimates indicate 9,000 women are eligible to keep their health coverage with this change. Medicaid covers more than 30 percent of pregnancies in Kansas each year, serving as a vital safety net for our most vulnerable families. While many of our Healthy Start families in Wyandotte County will benefit directly from this policy change, this is not the only reason why it’s Nurture KC’s top legislative priority this year. Our goal is to drive down maternal and infant mortality in Kansas and Missouri and close the disparity that puts Black mothers and children at much higher risk for poor outcomes. While programming and direct service are essential, laws that prioritize these efforts shift the culture in a way that individual activities cannot.

This was a collaborative effort involving 29 organizations, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE), the Kansas House and Senate and the Governor. Please join me in thanking our policymakers and KDHE for believing and acting on the importance of putting Kansas families first!

On the Missouri side, advocates continue to push for postpartum extended coverage as the session winds down. There is broad, bipartisan support for the policy. We will continue to keep you posted.

Tracy Russell
Executive Director, Nurture KC
Check out Nurture KC's Annual Report

See how we are improving the lives of local moms and babies, and the KC community, in our 2021 Annual Report -- located online at www.nurturekc.org/annual-report.

This report includes:
  • 2021 Highlights from Tracy Russell
  • Key Programs and Services
  • Overview of our Maternal Morbidity Report
  • Yearly Financials
  • Healthy Start Program Highlights
  • Mid America Immunization Coalition (MAIC) Highlights
  • Fetal Infant Mortality Review (FIMR) Highlights
  • Nurture KC in the Community
  • Partner Organizations
  • Board of Directors
  • Social Media Handles

Please share our Annual Report link with others in your network to let them know about the important work we are doing at Nurture KC. We appreciate your support, as we are poised for great impact in 2022 as well!
Introducing our Parent Action Network

How can you help protect immunization in KC?

Nurture KC and the Mid America Immunization Coalition (MAIC) are launching a new Parent Action Network (PAN) to help keep our Kansas City community healthy. How? PAN educates and advocates for vaccine safety and effectiveness. If you are a parent who believes in routine childhood vaccines for such diseases as polio, measles and mumps; and understands immunizations are safe, preventative tools that save lives, we want to hear from you!

PAN is an easy way to become involved in vaccine advocacy at a local level and make a difference in your own community. Your time commitment is minimal, but your impact is far-reaching in protecting local health.

Plus, it's World Immunization Week. What better time to get involved? Learn more or join PAN.
Did you see Nurture KC in national and local media?

The media continues to turn to Nurture KC when it comes to maternal and infant health, and immunization. Here are some recent highlights ...

Local News
This month local TV station KSHB 41 showed how Nurture KC helps all moms receive quality prenatal and postpartum care. Watch this in-depth segment called Two Americas: Kansas City organization works to bridge gap of prenatal care resources.

National News
Nurture KC talks immunization with USA TODAY and Kaiser Health News. Why? Some Kansas lawmakers tried to dilute state immunization requirements when routine vaccinations have overwhelming bipartisan support. Thankfully, Kansas' immunization standards were upheld in the regular legislative session. Now, with the Kansas legislature reconvening for the veto session, there is a renewed push to enact anti-vaccine legislation by anti-vaxxers. See why this is dangerous in this Kaiser Health News article and this USA Today article (must be a subscriber).
Celebrating Black Maternal Health Week

Nurture KC was a sponsor of the webinar "Building for Liberation: Centering Black Mamas, Black Families & Black Systems of Care." The event on April 15 was hosted by Ryana Parks-Shaw, Councilwoman 5th District. Watch the event recording here. (Passcode = pqV69.oB)
MEMBERSHIP NEWS
THANK YOU to Beth Diebold, Ashley Stumpenhaus and
Erica Wilson for renewing your membership to Nurture KC.
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1111 W. 39th Street, Ste 100
Kansas City, MO 64111