Community Supported Agriculture is a partnership between you and a farmer. It's a subscription program that allows you to become a member and shareholder of a local, organic, free-range farm for a season. By joining a CSA, you receive a weekly share of amazing local food directly from a farm in exchange for the guaranteed income that you provide to the farmers. You will also get to share in the risks and rewards of small-scale farming including amazing vegetables, healthy meats, and weather, insect damage, and bumper crops.

CSAs provide a 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. We have several member farmers who offer CSA programs. Most run May through October and there are some that run year round or into the winter. 
​
Please note: The KC Food Circle™​ does not grow or deliver the food you are looking for. Contact the farms listed below to find the CSA that is right for you.

Kids who attended our 2020 Champions for Health Youth Summit put their plans to make a better world onto cotton squares that were later stitched into two quilts by artist NedRa Bonds. 

Two-hundred students designed quilt squares based on the stories NedRa told them about other youth activists and the question for the day, "What is your leadership superpower?"

NedRa is an American quilter, activist and retired teacher, born in Kansas City, Kansas and raised in the historic Quindaro neighborhood. Read more about NedRa

On December 27, 2020 the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021 was signed into law. The $900 billion pandemic relief bill extends and enhances aid programs that were set to expire at the end of the year.
A full summary of the bill is available here. Our policy team has highlighted emergency relief for food and farm programs, workers and businesses.

Food Access

• Funding for schools and daycares to continue feeding programs
• Kids under 6 years of age are now eligible for Pandemic-EBT benefits
• 15% increase in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits until June 30, 2021
• $5 million to expand online SNAP retailers, including farmers markets and direct sales
• $75 million for the Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program to incentivize the purchase of fruits and vegetables by SNAP participants
• Establish task force on WIC food delivery models, including online ordering, curbside pickup and grocery delivery
• $13 million for low-income adults 60 years and over through the Commodity Supplemental Food Program
• $175 million towards Older Americans Act nutrition programs, like Meals on Wheels
• $400 million for food banks through the Emergency Food Assistance Program
• $1.5 billion fund including the purchase of food and agricultural products to distribute through the Farmers to Families Food Box Program

Food and Farm Workers

• Direct one-time stimulus payment of $600 per adult, plus $600 for each dependent under 17 (income restrictions apply)
• $300 a week to all workers receiving unemployment benefits through Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation until March 14, 2021
• Extends benefits from pandemic unemployment assistance programs until April 5, 2021 (no new applications after March 14, 2021) and increases the number of weeks of benefits a person can claim
• $25 billion to state and local governments for Emergency Rental Assistance programs
• Extends moratorium on evictions through January 31, 2021
• $1.5 billion fund including support for small- and mid-sized food processors and distributors to adapt to COVID-19, including worker protection measures

Food and Farm Businesses

• Continues the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and allows second PPP loans for businesses with less than 300 employees and a 25% decrease in gross receipts
• Extends deadline for payroll tax repayment to the end of 2021, if employer had deferred worker payroll taxes
• $8 billion towards supplemental payments for farmers and ranchers who suffered losses due to COVID-19
• $1.5 billion fund including the purchase of food and agricultural products to distribute through the Farmers to Families Food Box Program
• $400 million for a Dairy Product Donation Program to facilitate the donation of dairy products
• $60 million to help small meat and poultry processors meet federal food safety inspection standards and expand their markets across state lines
• $100 million for the Local Agriculture Market Program to help local farmers, value-added production and farmers markets respond to COVID-19 market disruptions
• $75 million for the Farming Opportunities Training Outreach program to support minority, tribal, veteran and beginning farmers access to USDA disaster programs and help adapt their farm businesses
• $28 million in block grants to state agriculture departments to support existing farm stress programs
• $100 million to states through the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program to support specialty crop farmers and address supply chain issues at the state level

For more information and resources, check out our COVID-19 Policy Resource Guide.

By Nancy Osborn, Ph.D., Psychologist/Trainer
​
The pandemic has brought  greater focus on the inequities that exist in our communities. 
It appears that the inequities are only getting worse. Many have lost their jobs and are facing mounting bills and crucial concerns about housing, food, and basic necessities.  

The more fortunate and privileged are now working from home but may still be stressed about maintaining their jobs and navigating a new structure and responsibilities in their home with remote learning.

With all these stressors, it is no wonder that news sources are reporting increasing mental health issues. 

The good news is that we can all stay centered and calmer if we first recognize that we are profoundly impacted by these life changes and then regularly participate in activities to care for ourselves.

One of the recommendations is for people to focus on their own self-care to help ease the daily stressors almost all of us are experiencing. Another recommendation could be made that we need to also focus on community self-care.

Most of us have likely heard that “we are all in this together,” which is moving in the direction of community self-care, but it is important for all of us to think about how we might intentionally take care of our communities.

Many people may not quite understand why self-care is so important, especially because it may seem selfish. There also may be some misunderstanding of what is meant by self-care since some people think of self-care as small luxuries we “treat” ourselves to like a manicure/pedicure.  

The true meaning of self-care
Someone said “true self-care is making a life that you don’t need to regulate or escape from.”

Self-care in this context includes remembering to eat as healthy as possible, getting enough sleep, getting moderate exercise, going to the doctor when necessary, and making time for some downtime if at all possible.  
We also obviously need to make time for breathing and spiritual practices and time to connect with others safely. It is the same principle espoused by flight attendants who tell passengers that they need to first put the oxygen mask on themselves and then   attend to  others. We have to focus on ourselves first to be able to take care of our responsibilities.  

Community self-care
Currently, and actually always, it is also important for us to think about community self-care. Let’s face it, we need each other.  

Our lives are fuller because we have each other so it is important that we take care of each other. So what are some ways we can do this?  

Right now one of the relatively small ways we can do this is to wear a mask, to keep physically distanced from others, wash our hands frequently, etc. as recommended by the CDC. This is a great example of individual and community self-care because it keeps us and others safe.  

Another way community self-care can be practiced is to challenge the inequities that have and are occurring. The easiest place to start is to listen to personal stories and learn from them. We can do what we can to ensure people have fresh food, or donate money or goods to nonprofits and agencies that serve our communities. We can also take an active interest in the governance of our communities by reading relevant news articles, watching live streams of city council meetings and education board meetings, and contacting our representatives. 
​
It is crucial for us to think of how we can assist others in this challenging time. It is truly good self-care for us as individuals as well as for our communities to think about what each of us can do to help others.

This post was originally published on Health Forward Foundation's blog as part of a series.

By Nancy Osbrn, Ph.D., Psychologist/Trainer

The COVID-19 crisis has brought concerns for mental health issues to the forefront for almost everyone. However, one group that is often overlooked is the very young.
Often it is difficult for parents, child care providers, and other caregivers to realize that even preschoolers can meet the diagnostic criteria for certain mental health disorders. For many adults, it is hard to believe that children under the age of five can develop cases of clinical depression and clinical anxiety that require professional help.

So, how do you know if a young child needs help? 

It may be confusing to spot the difference between a normal response to the sudden changes we are all experiencing, and the more dramatic symptoms connected to a clinical illness. As a result of COVID-19, almost everyone is feeling more vulnerable, worried, and afraid. 

In the context of COVID-19, it is normal for preschoolers to exhibit anxiety or even depressed behavior because of the multitude of sudden changes to their routine and their environment. Right now, their parents may also exhibit a variety of emotions and they may express more frustration than normal from changes at work and home. Parental changes naturally impact a young child’s emotional status.

How can parents determine the difference between normal emotional reactions and a possible mental health disorder when nothing seems normal and everything seems changed?  

As with all clinical disorders, a professional diagnosis involves identifying a certain number of symptoms that are exhibited, understanding a certain length of time that the symptoms have persisted, and evaluating the degree in which an individual’s day-to-day functioning is impacted.  

During the pandemic, emotions run high and some people describe feeling like they are caught on a roller coaster of up-and-down emotions. The ability to function as usual is being impacted across age groups, but a definite external stressor is causing the situation. For most of us, feeling anxious, afraid, angry, frustrated, and many other emotions is a normal response that is easily explained. As long as individuals are generally able to function most of the time under these stressors, they would not meet the criteria for a mental health diagnosis. 

The same is true for preschoolers. Tantrums, withdrawal, and behavioral regression are an expected response to changes in environment, schedules, and routines. However, if your little one shows consistent tendencies to be anxious or depressed, you need to pay close attention.

Some symptoms associated with childhood anxiety and depression include (but are not limited to) the following:

• Headaches with no known cause
• Stomachaches with no known cause
• Crying a lot
• Worrying a lot
• Avoiding certain situations or places
• Avoiding social situations
• Having meltdowns, restlessness, and sleep issues

​If your child showed these tendencies prior to the pandemic and now you are observing even more significant concerning behaviors, it would be wise to get an evaluation. Early interventions can assist in improving developmental outcomes which leads to a better future for your child. 

In addition to the child’s health, pay attention to the health of your child’s caretaker — especially if that primary caretaker is you. Infants and young children are especially vulnerable because they have to rely on others to take care of them. Caretakers help influence how children respond to situations that occur in their lives. Children will show more resilience if their caretakers help them feel safe and pay attention to fulfilling the needs of their emotional and social development. 

What can caretakers do to help kids?

1. Focus on helping children feel nurtured and safe in their environment.   
2. Notice changes in the child’s behavior and ask how they feel.
3. When a child’s behavior is challenging, stay calm. It can be tempting to raise your voice and correct the child or provide immediate behavioral consequences. Instead, take a moment to explore why the child is doing what he or she is doing; figure out what may be behind the behavior. 
4. Use direct developmentally appropriate language to answer questions that children ask. Children may ask why parents are home or why people in stores are wearing masks. Just be honest with them, using simple language. Keep explanations short: “Mom is home because the office is closed today. Masks are important right now because people want to be healthy.” You do not need to talk about the virus because they may be oblivious to COVID-19. 
5. Manage your own stress. It can be difficult right now to stay calm because of all the worries people have related to COVID-19 and the changes that have abruptly upset regular life. Seek the help you need to process your worries so you are able to function for yourself and your children.
6. Validate feelings. Some children may be too young to identify their own feelings by name. Discovering names for their feelings can help them figure out what to do when they are angry or afraid. Feelings need to be validated and simple strategies need to be learned over time to help manage certain feelings — like taking a step back when angry or taking a deep breath before responding when mad.
7. Develop a routine of activities during the day and during the evening hours. Schedules and routines help people know what to expect and that can be comforting.
8. Include play time in the schedule. Play is a way young children express themselves and just as some adults need to process what is going on with other adults, children need to play for a variety of reasons.
9. Help children understand that they can count on you and tell you anything that might be concerning them.

​If any adult or child is so overwhelmed that their functioning has significantly decreased, an evaluation by a medical or mental health professional is recommended.  More resources are available through telehealth than ever before.

This article was originally published on Health Forward Foundation's blog.

Here are 10 ways you can speak out for good food policy in Kansas City today and everyday.

​Why should I teach my child mindfulness? If you’re a parent who currently practices mindfulness, you already know the answer to this question. If you’re new to the practice, it might surprise you to learn there are many positive aspects of mindfulness.