A dental care provider in northwest Kansas, a child care provider in southwest Kansas, and a community health clinic administrator from southeast Kansas may not think they have much in common.

 

As members of the Sunflower Foundation’s advocacy fellows program, they quickly find out that they have a powerful connection that can make a difference in the lives of others.

 

 

“They all have one unifying tie,” said Doug Farmer, the foundation’s Vice President for Policy. “They all care about the health and well-being of Kansans in one way or another.”

 

Since 2009, the foundation has trained 60 nonprofit professionals across Kansas in the art and science of health advocacy. These community-based leaders give a voice to the people and communities they serve and advocate for better health policies. A new group of Advocacy Fellows has been selected for 2014.

 

The foundation is creating more opportunities to bring the members of all Advocacy Fellowship classes together to build a statewide network focused on policy change. Despite the diversity of their causes and their communities, the leaders are using their shared goals as the starting point for new collaborations.