August 2022 Update

I am thrilled to announce that on September 1, Nurture KC is bringing under its umbrella of programs, Promise 1000, a home-visiting collective dedicated to improving family health and school readiness for the most vulnerable Kansas Citians! Promise 1000, named in recognition of the first 3 years or 1,000 days of a child’s life, began as an initiative of the United Way of Greater Kansas City. The program connects trusted community partners to eliminate barriers during pregnancy, postpartum and early childhood years that often determine future wellbeing, school readiness and achievement.


Promise 1000 is a complementary program to Nurture KC’s Healthy Start with both sharing similar benchmarks that include: practicing safe sleep, breastfeeding education, attending wellness visits for moms and babies, screening for depression, screening for domestic partner violence and providing resources to get help when needed. Just as important is a philosophy and foundation between both programs that recognizes the trajectory that is established before the baby is born and in the earliest days that plays an outsized role in future wellbeing.  


The players that comprise Promise 1000 are well-known to Nurture KC including funders, program administrators and partner agencies. There are many points of connection that make this transition a natural fit. As we take Promise 1000 into this second phase of growth, it is our hope that by consolidating maternal and infant health under one roof, our reach and impact will be greater, ultimately benefitting Kansas City families.  


Tracy Russell

Executive Director, Nurture KC

Our FIMR collaborates for answers


What are the leading causes of maternal deaths in Missouri?


The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services published the most recent data in this annual report. Nurture KC runs the Fetal Infant Mortality Review (FIMR) program in Kansas City and contributed to this report. It's crucial to understand the data, so systematic improvements can be made, and we can save moms' lives.

August is World Breastfeeding Month


Did you know a mother's milk composition changes to adjust to the needs of her growing baby?


Our Healthy Start Program created a new Breastfeeding Facts vs. Myths resource for the moms we serve. We also shared this resource with the public via our Facebook and Twitter channels.


We want to normalize breastfeeding for all mothers!

August is also Immunization Awareness Month


The Mid America Immunization Coalition (MAIC) was outreach central this month to promote immunization awareness and vaccine facts. Below is one such campaign that appeared on our social media feeds and to our MAIC members to encourage them to use their voice and share their stories.

MAIC presents 'Back to the Vax'


The Mid America Immunization Coalition (MAIC) hosted a webinar featuring a former anti-vax mom, who is now pro-immunization. Lydia Greene shared her moving journey. Here's a snippet ...


"I fell for the anti-vax rhetoric and into the rabbit hole of vaccine misinformation. SIDS, autism, allergies. I became consumed by awful stories without scientific backing. I believed these parents and supposed health professionals. I believed I was saving my child," Lydia says. "Then I started reading scientific rebuttals to many of the talking points I heard over and over. The facts and evidence don't lie. Although it took some time, I pulled myself out of fear, did the research and learned the facts. I talked with a nurse who worked with me to get my kids back on track with vaccines. Now, I no longer feel nervous. I'm just happy to protect the health of my kids through immunization."


MAIC is a program of Nurture KC. Learn more at:

nurturekc.org/solutions/immunization/#maic

MEMBERSHIP NEWS


THANK YOU to:

Mary Sweat and Charlene Burnett for renewing your memberships


WELCOME to new organizational member:

KC Care - Benefactor Level


THANK YOU to these organizations for renewing memberships:

The University of Kansas Health System - Benefactor Level

St. Luke's Health System - Benefactor Level

The Family Conservancy - Benefactor Level

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