June 2025 Update

I trekked to Washington, D.C. last week in what was truly a full circle moment, to advocate and educate on the impact of Healthy Start in Kansas City and nationally as we face a perilous funding future. Accompanied by our Healthy Start Director, Shannon Williams, and five other Healthy Starts from across the country, the awe and inspiration that I felt decades ago as a college intern hasn’t faded over time, despite changing administrations and successive congresses that bear little resemblance to 1990 Washington.

While I have made this trip for various worthwhile causes over the decades, this one feels more essential and urgent as we face a reckoning on how we treat our most vulnerable Americans. Moving through the legislative process is a bill that would cut Medicaid and SNAP funding. Nearly 40 percent of births in the United States are paid for by Medicaid and reductions to the program would recalibrate access to this critical service. These proposed cuts come against a backdrop of state laws greatly restricting and practically prohibiting reproductive choice.

Running parallel to these policies is an appropriations process that must identify further discretionary spending cuts to close some of the debt gap. Healthy Start, a program designed to reduce infant and maternal mortality has been recommended for elimination although Congress has yet to weigh in. Established by former President George W. Bush, the program has enjoyed strong bipartisan support over the last 30 years as a model that combines direct service, case management relationship-building and data collection to drive real outcomes. In Kansas City, Healthy Start families have experienced fewer pre-term births and more early and consistent entry to prenatal care than our cachement area overall.

Nurture KC has not been a passive participant in this effort to shine a light on Healthy Start. We coordinated the trip to Washington and were thrilled to be joined by other Healthy Start Directors who recognize the moment. The access to congressional staff and the support for this program reassures me as we move through an uncertain time. When we departed, I still felt as I did at 22, that democracy is not a spectator sport. The mission to improve maternal and infant health demands our engagement.

Tracy Russell

Chief Executive Officer, Nurture KC

Free Parent Education Series

Nurture KC’s virtual group parent education series is now available to watch on-demand. Participants who register, watch at least 4 sessions, and complete a short evaluation will receive a $50 Walmart or Target gift card (Note: Current KCHSI participants are not eligible). Please share with parents in your community.

For questions, contact swilliams@nurturekc.org.

Thank You to Our Funders

Nurture KC has been awarded a policy grant from Health Forward Foundation to facilitate our work in Kansas to build support and enact a policy establishing paid family and medical leave (PFML). The funding is specifically for our coalition-based effort through the Paid Leave for All Kansans Coalition.

Health Forward Foundation is a leader in nonprofit advocacy, recognizing the importance of public policy in improving our lives. Nurture KC initially joined the Paid Leave for All Kansans Coalition as a way to promote paid parental leave after the birth or adoption of a child. Paid parental leave has many benefits including improved maternal mental health and important bonding opportunities for parents and children during the critical early days of life.

Nurture KC is honored to receive grant funding from Healthy Blue Missouri for the second consecutive year. We deeply value this continued partnership and the shared commitment to improving maternal and infant health in Kansas City.

This generous support helps us advance our mission and make a meaningful impact in the lives of the families we serve. We sincerely thank our funding partners for believing in our work and investing in healthier communities.

Consortium Corner

The Community Consortium has been hard at work, with a particular focus on the Missouri legislative session, which concluded on May 16th. In partnership with Empower Missouri and the National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC), the Consortium tracked key pieces of housing legislation and issued several Calls to Action encouraging members to contact their legislators. These included:

HB 595, this bill would strip local governments of the authority to enact renter protections, particularly impacting residents who use Housing Choice Vouchers. It would significantly limit the ability of Missouri cities and towns to address housing challenges and promote stable, affordable housing.
SB 4, which would permit utility companies to raise rates based on future projects — potentially increasing utility costs by an average of $1,100 per year for Missouri households, placing an additional financial burden on families already struggling to make ends meet.
HB 1316, This bill would remove the requirement for landlords to be licensed and registered, raising concerns about unsafe living conditions and undermining important local programs such as Healthy Homes.

The Consortium also advocated at the federal level, raising awareness about proposed cuts to essential safety net programs. We issued Calls to Action to oppose reductions in funding and staffing for: the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Low Income Heating and Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP), and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Cuts to these programs would have devastating consequences for the families we serve, particularly those already facing housing instability and energy insecurity.

In addition to advocacy, the Consortium heard from Cross-Lines Community Outreach and the Wyandotte County Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) about their housing initiatives at our last meeting and began planning our housing education work, with a focus on homeownership and tenant rights.

If you're interested in joining the Consortium and making an impact in your community, please reach out to our Community Engagement Director, Ahkeya Howard. Email: ahoward@nurturekc.org T: (816) 381-2528

Membership News

Individual Membership Renewals:

Leandra Lyon

Jim Erickson

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NURTURE KC

300 East 39th Street, Suite 4K

Kansas City, MO 64111

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info@nurturekc.org