Center for Health Equity


Aiko Allen, Director
Phone: (785) 296-0781

               1000 SW Jackson, Suite 300
                Topeka, Kansas 66612-365



Mission: Promote and improve the health status of all Kansans through shared leadership and collaboration across the public health system in order to reduce identified and emerging health disparities among racial, ethnic, tribal, and underserved populations.


Center for Health Equity

Improving the Health of All Kansans:

Building Stronger Communities for Better Health



News and Reports

Voices for Health Equity

Voices for Health Equity Contest

Voices of Health Equity Contest sponsored by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) Center for Health Equity (CHE) is the first of a series of "storytelling" events that will help CHE to showcase how local communities define and identify health dispari-ties and describe what is being done to promote equity in health. In early February, a call for entries went out for the Voices for Health Equity contest with a deadline of March 31. There are five winners for this first cycle of projects.

Winners are:
FreeWheels for Kids (Kansas City)
Heartland Community Health (Lawrence)
Research and Training Center for Independent Living (Lawrence)
Rosedale Development Association (Kansas City)
SIDS Network (Wichita)

Free Wheels for Kids - November 8, 2012
In the urban core of Kansas City, recreational opportunities for children are limited at best. Parents are concerned about gangs, traffic, violence and a lack of infrastructure to support safe travel. Combined with low-income levels, these conditions severely limit the ability of families to seek out healthy opportunities for children. FreeWheels for Kids is an exciting new program which is fighting childhood obesity by getting more kids on bikes more often and more safely. For more information, contact, Benjamin.e.alexander@gmail.com.

KDHE Program Resources: 
www.Safekidskansas.org

Discount bicycle helmets are available for community programs. Contact us at:  Safekidskansas@kdheks.gov or 785-296-0351.



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Video Transcript


Institute of Medicine: Progress reducing health disparities?

the Institute of Medicine has just released a seminal report, "how Farr Have We Come In Reducing Health Disparities:progress Since 2000. This report highlights where we stand with disparities today, Healthy People 2010, Health and Human Services efforts to reduce disparities, promising practices in addressing social determinants, what we still need to learn and much more.
Institute of Medicine Report


National Stakeholder Strategy for Achieving Health Equity

CD Information

Center for Health Equity has a CD with information on the National Stakeholder Strategy for Achieving Health Equity and the Health and Human Services first national plan to reduce health disparities. If you would like a CD mailed to you please send an email to minorityhealth@kdheks.gov.


Health Equity Strategic Plan

The Health Equity Strategic Plan is information about what our state residents look like, the health disparities we experience in terms of data that's been collected at the state and national level, as well as action steps being taken over the three year period by the Center for Health Equity to fulfill the mission of KDHE. Click here for the Health Equity Strategic Plan 2012.


Voices for Health Equity Catalyst

The Catalyst is a periodic publication of the Center for Health Equity that will highlight hot topics in public health with a focus on disparities experienced in Kansas.

New Item May issue: Disparities in Infant Mortality


News Releases

12-21-2-11 Voices for Health Equity Project–Call for Entries



General Information

Center for Health Equity History

The Center for Health Equity acknowledges the vision and commitment of individuals, agencies and communities that historically laid the groundwork for its creation in Kansas. Sharing this timeline is an invitation for more stakeholders to identify their places and contributions over time to address disparities and improve the health of all Kansans—principles, practices, and strategies that work to promote equity in public health services. Read more... Timeline PDF Document and Advisory Comittee PDF Document


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A to Z Topic Listing





Tools and Resources

CDC
CDC Health Disparities and Inequalities Report - United States, 2011: Review the latest national data available on disparities!

Office of Minority Health: OMH works in partnership with communities and organizations in the public and private sectors to support a systems level approach to eliminating health disparities. Learn more about state and regional offices of minority health.
(state offices)   |   (regional offices) |
National Stakeholder Strategy for Achieving Health Equity |
Health and Human Services (HHS) Plan to Reduce Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities

National Association of County & City Health Officals
Health Equity and Social Justice Toolkit |
Guidelines for Achieving Health Equity in Public Health Practice |
Roots of Inequity:  A Web-based learning community
Funded by a grant from the National Institutes of Health, this site offers a conceptual framework and starting place for those who want to address systemic differences in health and wellness

ASTHO
ASTHO and the Office of Minority Health (OMH) at the Department of Health and Human Services partner to create a nationwide initiative aimed at reducing health disparities and achieving health equity. How are states addressing health equity?  A 2008 state-by-state Health Equity Snapshot Map developed by ASTHO.

NPA
The mission of the National Partnership for Action is to mobilize and connect individuals and organizations across the country to create a Nation free of health disparities, with quality health outcomes for all people.