Support KC Healthy Kids and beat the heat at Craft Putt, Overland Park's first indoor mini golf tap house!
To help fund our efforts to comprehensively tackle barriers to kids' health and well-being, Craft Putt will donate a portion of their mini golf sales on Sundays in August. Craft Putt is at 11440 W 135th St, Overland Park, KS. A round of mini golf and $10 per person. Repeat rounds played on the same day are $5 per person. Children ages 4 & under play for free. The maximum group size for a mini golf round is 5 players. If you can't make on a Sunday, it's easy to help kids thrive in body and mind by donating online. Here at KC Healthy Kids, we believe all kids deserve access to fresh, nutritious food. And since farmers markets improve food security by making affordable food more available, we couldn't be happier to sponsor the KC Farmers Market Passport! This is a great little guide to markets across the metro, where you and the kids can have a fun shopping experience and enjoy a strong sense of community connection. Get yours and have fun collecting stamps while getting to know the people who grow your food. Collect five or more stamps and redeem them for prizes and discounts from local businesses like Ruby Jean's Juicery and Yogurtini. Along with the freshest local produce, farmers markets often have some pretty cool kid-friendly amenities like...
Amenities vary depending on location, so be sure and check the legend before you head out. Many of the markets accept SNAP/EBT, Double Up Food Bucks, Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Vouchers and Senior Market Match. Most vendors accept credit/debit cards, while some accept cash only, but you might be able to purchase cash-equivalent tokens at the market info booth. The KC Farmers Market Passport was developed by Ivanhoe Neighborhood Council and Cultivate KC, two longtime partners of KC Healthy Kids. Kansas Food Action Network engages local communities to address root causes of food insecurity6/4/2024
Eight coalitions awarded $55,000 per year over three years to assess and address the root causes of food insecurity in their community
MANHATTAN, Kansas, June 4, 2024 – Kansas Food Action Network, a program of KC Healthy Kids, today announced the launch of the Food Secure Communities Initiative, which aims to end hunger in Kansas by addressing the policy, systems and environmental barriers to food security, also known as “root causes.” “Root cause work is often considered antihunger’s last frontier because the solutions are tied to fixing systems that, when broken, result in food insecurity,” said Miranda Miller-Klugesherz, senior director of Kansas Food Action Network. “The Food Secure Communities Initiative will put systems-change in the hands of the coalitions and community members with lived experience who are uniquely positioned to understand and address the root causes of food insecurity in their region.” Kansas Food Action Network unveiled eight Kansas health and wellness coalitions selected as inaugural members of the Food Secure Communities Initiative. Each member will receive funding of $55,000 per year over three years, plus peer networking and strategic assistance. Food Secure Communities Initiative Members
The initiative will create a community of practice where coalitions will share best practices, resources and strategies to advance food security at the local level. It is brought about with generous support from the Kansas Health Foundation and United Methodist Health Ministries Fund. “We know when kids don’t have consistent access to healthy food, it’s harder for them to learn, grow and thrive,” said Rachael McGinnis Millsap, vice president of policy and programs at KC Healthy Kids. “Therefore, Kansas Food Action Network is an important part of our mission to address food insecurity in Kansas and create sustainable and lasting change in ways that will ultimately have a positive impact on the children within those communities.” About KC Healthy Kids Founded in 2005, KC Healthy Kids is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit dedicated to addressing the physical and mental health challenges impacting children in the Greater Kansas City area, including western Missouri and all of Kansas. Through food policy and local food initiatives, mental health support, and active community initiatives or advocacy, KC Healthy Kids and their partners promote health for thousands of local kids and their families. Find out more at www.kchealthykids.org. About Kansas Food Action Network Kansas Food Action Network, a program of KC Healthy Kids, is committed to creating a Kansas where all residents have dependable access to food for an active, healthy and productive life. The network supports communities as they identify and address local food system priorities by offering support, resources and partnerships. As a result of their efforts, an estimated 73% of Kansans are represented by a local food council, the highest per capita rate in the United States. Shelby Nace, social worker at KC Healthy Kids, hosts a monthly story time at PH Coffee to help young children explore and understand their feelings. Each month, she shares a book from the series “A Little Spot of Emotion," by Diane Alber. The books help teach kids how to navigate emotions in a fun and relatable way.
"It's never too early for to start talking to kids about mental health," Shelby says. "These social-emotional focused book titles help children (and adults) build their emotional vocabularies and learn important skills such as empathy, self-awareness, and problem-solving, laying a strong foundation for their later development." Join Shelby at PH Coffee (2200 Lexington Ave, KCMO) at 10 a.m. on the following Mondays: June 10, July 15, August 12, September 16 and October 21. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Families receive a free book while supplies last. For questions, please email Shelby Nace, LMSW. Want to help more kids and families learn about their emotions? Shop Shelby's Amazon wish list so she won't run out of books to send home with them. First graders from ME Pearson Elementary helped plant edible varieties of native plant species at Splitlog Farm this week. They enthusiastically gathered their gloves and tools, then dug holes and placed their plants. When they were done, they looked for bugs and enjoyed a scavenger hunt.
The project was funded by Missouri Prairie Foundation, which strives to protect and restore prairie and other native grassland communities through land acquisition, management, education, and research. Earlier this month, students from Bishop Miege high school helped prepare the site by clearing invasive weeds and spreading compost. Farmer Kaitlyn Keller laid biodegradable weed mat over the area, and also used cardboard boxes to create "lasagna mulching" around native Adonis bushes. "Kids of all ages are important to urban farming movement,” said Tracy Flowers (AKA Farmer Flowers), local food program manager for KC Healthy Kids. "When they spend time at Splitlog Farm, they learn where their food comes from and they help us provide food for kids in the neighborhood and early care centers,” she said. We're always looking for volunteers to help tend crops or kids. Can you help? Please contact our partners at Community Housing of Wyandotte County for details: [email protected] Emma Shankland, KC Healthy Kids' director of the Greater KC Food Policy Coalition, has been elected to the Clay County Board of Health. She was sworn in for a four-year term on April 18 and acts as vice secretary. Emma grew up in Clay County, graduated from North Kansas City High School, and returned to live in Clay County when she moved back to the area in 2017. "I’m honored to be elected to serve on the Clay County Board of Health and I’m excited to get to work. Tonight's election results show that Clay County recognizes the importance of public health! Together we can (and will) make a tangible difference in the everyday lives of Clay County residents," Emma said when returns came in. "Emma has a proven record of being a fierce advocate for public health policy that challenges systemic issues that are the root of health inequities in our community," said Rachael McGinnis Millsap, vice president of programs and policy at KC Healthy Kids. "Our organization recognizes the need for talented and experienced individuals shaping public health on a local level and we're proud to support Emma in driving systems-change for residents of Clay County." Emma's priorities for her term are to expand the scope of the health department's harm-reduction initiatives and encourage community involvement in implementing harm reduction strategies that can save lives; to invest in justice-centered strategies that address the top three issues identified by the Community Health Improvement Plan (access to mental and behavioral health services, food access, and transportation), and to ensure the health department has the resources and authority necessary to respond to emergent health risks. The board of trustees is responsible for adopting policies for the operation of the Clay County Public Health Center and is also responsible for setting the annual public health tax levy rate. The board is instrumental in designing the strategic plan, implementing public health programs and adopting public health ordinances designed to improve health for all who live, work and visit Clay County. The 2024 Expo was a great day for farmers and local food seekers! Shoppers bought record amounts of local food and families enjoyed the Kid Zone. Farmers connected with old friends and new customers, and lots of folks said they came to the Expo because they saw local reporter Carey Wickersham's live interviews on the Fox 4 WDAF morning show.
If you couldn't make it to the Expo or didn't get enough local food, don't worry, we've got you covered! Here are more ways to connect to our local food community and enjoy local produce and handcrafted products all season. 1. Sign up for a CSA. Community Supported Agriculture, CSA for short, is a partnership between the consumer (you!) and the person growing or raising your food. Similar to a subscription service, you pay the farmer upfront and in return you’ll receive an assortment of local fresh food items throughout the season, generally on a weekly basis. CSAs also provide the perfect opportunity to build a relationship with the people who grow your food, to see where your food comes from, and to taste the freshest food our region has to offer. Learn more about CSAs and explore farms that offer CSAs on the KC Food Circle directory. 2. Find local food near you. Check the Eat Local KC map to find local food at farms, markets, restaurants and grocery stores near you. 3. Pick up a Farmers Market Passport and explore farmers markets all summer. The Farmers Market Passport is a fun way to connect with your community and support local farmers. Visit farmers markets and farm stands in the passport to find lots of helpful resources and be entered to win cash-value prizes from local small businesses. Stay in touch to find out about more ways to find local food and get to know the people who grow it. Subscribe to our Monthly e-news. Largest award in nonprofit’s nearly 20-year history is an endorsement of local efforts advancing health and well-being of area kids KANSAS CITY, Kansas, March 19, 2024 – KC Healthy Kids announces they have been awarded a $1 million gift from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott through her charitable organization, Yield Giving. KC Healthy Kids received this generous gift among more than 250 other U.S. nonprofits selected through Scott’s first open call for grants, which received more than 6,000 applications. “This award represents the largest gift in our nearly two-decade history, and recognizes and confirms our impact advancing the health and well-being of kids in our community,” said Danielle Robbins-Gregory, president and CEO of KC Healthy Kids. “This generous contribution sets the stage for expanding our efforts and deepening our partnerships to create environments that promote healthy living for kids and families in our region.” In March 2023, Yield Giving launched an Open Call for community-led, community-focused organizations whose explicit purpose is to enable individuals and families to achieve substantive improvement in their well-being through foundational resources. The Open Call was managed in partnership with Lever for Change, a nonprofit affiliate of the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation that connects donors with bold solutions to the world’s biggest problems. “The past four years have reshaped our world, underscoring the critical need for resources and support to address the ongoing physical and mental health challenges facing our youth,” said Kavitha Dileepan, MD, MPH, chairperson of KC Healthy Kids’ board of directors and pediatric endocrinologist at Children’s Mercy Kansas City. “This remarkable gift from Yield Giving represents a significant moment, and will make a lasting and positive impact on our organization’s ability to address systemic obstacles for local kids and their families.” Discover more about KC Healthy Kids’ community-driven initiatives at the annual Eat Local & Organic Expo for KC Food Circle on Saturday, April 6 at Johnson County Community College. The Expo connects community members to local food and the people who grow it. Attendees can shop more than 30 KC Food Circle farmers representing some of the best local, organic, free-range farmers, ranchers and small-batch artisans in the area. This family-friendly event features activities for kids and is free and open to the public. Learn more at KC Healthy Kids. About KC Healthy Kids Founded in 2005, KC Healthy Kids is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit dedicated to addressing the physical and mental health challenges impacting children in the Greater Kansas City area. Through youth advocacy, food policy and local food initiatives, mental health support, and building and connecting active communities, KC Healthy Kids and their partners promote health for thousands of local kids and their families. Find out more at www.kchealthykids.org. Yield Giving Established by MacKenzie Scott to share a financial fortune created through the effort of countless people, Yield Giving is named after a belief in adding value by giving up control. To date, Yield’s network of staff and advisors has yielded over $16,500,000,000 to 1,900+ non-profit teams to use as they see fit for the benefit of others. To learn more, visit www.yieldgiving.com. Lever for Change Lever for Change connects donors with bold solutions to the world’s biggest problems — including issues like racial inequity, gender inequality, lack of access to economic opportunity, and climate change. Using an inclusive, equitable model and due diligence process, Lever for Change creates customized challenges and other tailored funding opportunities. Top-ranked teams and challenge finalists become members of the Bold Solutions Network — a growing global network that helps secure additional funding, amplify members’ impact, and accelerate social change. Founded in 2019 as a nonprofit affiliate of the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, Lever for Change has influenced over $1.7 billion in grants to date and provided support to more than 145 organizations. To learn more, visit www.leverforchange.org. Eat Local & Organic Expo
Johnson County Community College Saturday April 6 , 2024 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Free Admission, Free Parking, Free Kid Zone Hosted by KC Healthy Kids for KC Food Circle Access the gymnasium from North Campus Drive off of College Boulevard. The Eat Local & Organic Expo brings together area farmers and midwest eaters KC Food Circle kicks off farmers market season with the return of the Eat Local & Organic Expo Saturday, April 6 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Johnson County Community College. This family-friendly event is free and open to the public. The Expo is a great place to get to know farmers and find out how you can be more connected to your food and the people who grow it. At the Expo, shoppers can buy from some of the best local, organic, free-range farmers, ranchers, and small-batch artisans in the area. On Saturday, April 6 at Johnson County Community College, shoppers can…
The Expo began in 1999 as part of a food system conference sponsored by KC Food Circle™ and Sierra Club. KC Food Circle is a program of KC Healthy Kids that connects local farmers with wholesale buyers, chefs and artisans who are vital to our region’s local food system. The Expo is hosted by KC Healthy Kids for KC Food Circle. Sponsors include Hartwig Family Fund, J.R. Albert Foundation, Bank of America, Helen S. Boylan Foundation, Children's Mercy, Rarified Creative for Kid Zone, Jim & Michele Stowers, AF Group/Ameritrust, Central Bank of Kansas City, Lamar Advertising Company. About KC Food Circle™ Since 1988, KC Food Circle™ has connected our region’s eaters and farmers to grow a thriving local food community. In 2019, KC Healthy Kids adopted the volunteer-led effort and continues to maintain the farmer directory, to uphold the integrity of KC Food Circle™ pledges, and to help farmers increase sales by leveraging our partnerships with area restaurants, schools and other institutions. About KC Healthy Kids KC Healthy Kids connects communities to close health gaps. The nonprofit invests in community education, local and regional advocacy and direct support. Their work addresses systemic obstacles through solutions-based focus areas of youth advocacy, food policy, mental health, local food and active communities for kids and their families. Kids and their communities need a strong local food system. That’s why KC Healthy Kids helps farmers grow thriving businesses and teaches kids & families the value of growing their own food and purchasing locally-grown food. Three metro early care centers are partnering with KC Healthy Kids to feature new “calming corners,” thanks to a grant from 15 and the Mahomies Foundation. Calming corners help children to pause, calm down and reassess difficult situations. These physical spaces can help children practice emotional regulation, which is critical for their long term growth and development.
“Providing children with these tools from an early age allows for countless teaching opportunities and helps to form more positive relationships with teachers,” said Shelby Nace, KC Healthy Kids’ licensed social worker. The calm corners will be installed at New City Early Learning Academy Shawnee, New City Early Learning Academy Raytown, and Bare Essentials Child Care early this summer, and will serve more than 100 children altogether. New City director DeKesha Picket and her son joined Shelby and Alissa Kooyenga, KC Healthy Kids’ program assistant, at the awards gala. They were thrilled to meet Patrick and Brittney Mahomes and celebrate with the other grantees. “Standing on the stage with all the grant recipients, it was heartening to know that the foundation recognizes the importance of fostering children's emotional well-being.” said Alissa Kooyenga, Since 2019, our mental health team has worked with staff at 17 centers in Missouri and Kansas and with nearly 900 children and family members. KC Healthy Kids’ trauma informed care program empowers people to understand the pervasive impact of trauma, its profound effects and how to interact with others sensitively and safely. The training series prioritizes self-care and provides valuable insights into personal well-being management. This project is just one way KC Healthy Kids connects communities to close health gaps. You can support our work in mental health, local food and food policy when you make a donation. Photos: On stage, Alissa, DeKesha and Shelby stand next to Patrick Mahomes and Brittany. DeKesha's son holds the presentation check. DeKesha's son shakes hands with Patrick as he accepts the award, and meets Travis Kelce. |