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. Update December 18, 2018:
Thank you to everyone for getting the word out and submitting comments opposing the proposed public charge rule. It appears to have worked! It is reported that more than 210,000 comments were submitted nationwide. While the comment period has ended, this regulation has not gone into effect. The Department of Homeland Security must review every single unique comment submitted before publishing a final rule. Dustin Hare, an advocate working with Community Health Council of Wyandotte County and Historic Northeast-Midtown Association, shares his comment on the proposed changes to the “public charge” rule. The Department of Homeland Security is accepting comments to the proposed changes through December 10. We’re encouraging all our friends to speak out and make their own unique comment.
The Department of Homeland Security has proposed changing how they will decide whether a visa or green card applicant is likely to rely on government assistance. Under the proposed rule, only immigrants with substantial incomes or resources would qualify for a new visa or green card.
The Farm Bill re-authorization process has officially kicked off in Congress. Now is a good time to get caught up! This is one of a 4-part blog series in which we will highlight some of the programs that are important to our regional food system and how they should be treated in the 2018 Farm Bill.
The Farm Bill re-authorization process has officially kicked off in Congress. Now is a good time to get caught up! This is one of a 4-part blog series in which we will highlight some of the programs that are important to our regional food system and how they should be treated in the 2018 Farm Bill.
The Farm Bill re-authorization process has officially kicked off in Congress. Now is a good time to get caught up! This is one of a 4-part blog series in which we will highlight some of the programs that are important to our regional food system and how they should be treated in the 2018 Farm Bill.
The Farm Bill re-authorization process has officially kicked off in Congress. Now is a good time to get caught up! This is the first in a 4-part blog series in which we will highlight some of the programs that are important to our regional food system and how they should be treated in the 2018 Farm Bill.
US Senator Pat Roberts (Kansas) plans to lead the Senate Agriculture Committee in marking up the 2018 Farm Bill in April.
This is the kind of news we love to hear. Legislation our policy team worked to pass last year in Kansas, Substitute for Senate Bill 95, has gone into effect. Now, people who apply for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Plan can submit telephonic voice signatures. This significantly improves the application process, especially those who live in rural areas or don’t have access to transportation, and for the Department of Children and Families.
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