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While I often address one of the verboten topics for “polite company”, politics, I rarely talk about another taboo topic, money. I’m making an exception today to share the unprecedented support that Nurture KC is receiving at a national, local and individual level. Elevance Health Foundation has awarded us a significant three-year award to continue our work on behalf of mothers and babies. At a time when government funding is uncertain, private sector investment is essential to improving maternal and infant mortality rates. This funding supports our current community health worker model and will enable some innovations to better serve Healthy Start families in the coming years.
In Missouri, two of the Medicaid managed care organizations (MCOs) are also investing in Nurture KC. Healthy Blue Missouri has continued its partnership with us for a second year and Aetna Better Health is supporting us for the next year. The recognition that community organizations are best-suited to provide services is a trend that will improve birth outcomes in Kansas City.
Our long-time partnership with Health Forward Foundation also continues with the awarding of a policy grant to continue our coalition work on paid family and medical leave (PFML) in Kansas. Health Forward has been a pioneer in recognizing and investing in policy as a key lever in improving lives and reducing health disparities.
At an individual level, The Kansas City Chamber of Commerce’s Centurions leadership group designated Nurture KC as their organization of choice for voluntary contributions in July. This action, along with other unsolicited contributions, reinforces the importance and priority of serving our most vulnerable in Kansas City. On behalf of the Nurture KC team, the investment further motivates us to deliver in the most impactful and innovative ways for our Healthy Start families.
I am so grateful to all our funding partners who enable us to remain part of the social safety net during a perilous time. Check out our partners on Nurture KC’s website: https://nurturekc.org/about-us/partners/.
Tracy Russell
Chief Executive Officer, Nurture KC
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