Advocacy and Policy

Supporting public policies aimed at improving the health of Kansans, and supporting or developing efforts of nonprofit organizations to advocate for such policies on behalf of the populations they serve.

Children's Alliance of Kansas
$10,000
Shawnee County
To support advocacy efforts and strengthen the organization’s nonpartisan voice for the health of Kansas children and families, particularly through social media outreach, engaging partners to create community conversations, and educating advocates and policymakers on the child welfare system.

Kansas Association for the Medically Underserved
$67,028
Shawnee County
To help support the Health Reform Resource Project, an initiative to assist organizations statewide that are affected by the Affordable Care Act (ACA), including addressing potential changes or replacements to the law. The project was established by the Kansas Grantmakers in Health to help nonprofit organizations apply for federal grants available under the ACA, as well as to ensure that the health care needs of consumers were appropriately represented under the ACA. The project also provides monitoring and analysis of KanCare. The Kansas Association for the Medically Underserved is the fiscal agent for this two-year grant.

National Institute for Civil Discourse
$10,000
Out of state
To expand and strengthen the work of the National Institute of Civil Discourse in Kansas, including: Next Generation, “Text, Talk, Act,” and “Text, Talk, Vote.” These programs promote a culture of civil discourse and engage voters of all ages statewide in the democratic process. Arizona University Foundation will serve as fiscal agent.
 

Built Environment

Promoting and supporting efforts to improve the physical environment of where we live, work, and play—to make the healthy choice the easy choice.

Liberal Area Coalition for Families
$39,075
Seward County
To build a .6-mile-long, six-foot-wide concrete trail connecting parts of the Seward County Community College (SCCC) campus to existing sidewalks in Liberal. The trail is the first phase of the SCCC Connection Trail, a shared vision of SCCC, Liberal Area Coalition for Families, and the City of Liberal. Southwest Guidance Center will serve as fiscal agent.

USD #203 — Piper School District
$49,200
Wyandotte County
To build a .6-mile-long, six-foot-wide concrete trail around the perimeter of the Piper School District grounds, which includes three schools.

USD #457 — Garden City School District
$25,000
Finney County
To build a .25-mile-long, eight-foot-wide asphalt trail on Jennie Barker Elementary School grounds, which will include access for nearby community members.

 

Capacity Building

Developing core organizational skills and capabilities in order to increase effectiveness, impact, and sustainability.

All Faith Counseling Center of Atchison
$5,102
Atchison County
To upgrade the office computer technology and network security system at this counseling and educational services organization.

Atchison Community Health Clinic
$8,576
Atchison County
To develop and redesign the clinic’s website, develop a publishing strategy, and develop a social media plan to reach its target audience.

Attica Hospital District #1
$12,102
Harper County
To upgrade this Critical Access Hospital’s phone system, including new equipment for use in staff training.

Caritas Clinics, Inc.
$16,200
Wyandotte County
To provide electronic medical record training to this safety net clinic’s providers, assistants, certified medical translators, and administrative staff.

Catholic Charities of Northern Kansas
$10,627
Saline County
To upgrade this social service organization’s office computer technology.

Central Kansas Mental Health Center
$28,125
Saline County
To purchase new accounting software and a server—replacing the current, 22-year-old system—at this community mental health center.

Cheyenne County Hospital
$6,416
Cheyenne County
To assist this Critical Access Hospital in transitioning to a new electronic medical record system.

CLASS LTD
$12,692
Cherokee County
To upgrade the office computer technology at this disability-focused organization.

Coffeyville Regional Medical Center Foundation
$30,000
Montgomery County
To purchase technology to improve internal communication among staff, with a focus on training and education, community outreach, and patient engagement.

COMCARE of Sedgwick County
$16,470
Sedgwick County
To train this community mental health center’s staff in improving patient engagement.

Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas
$20,305
Crawford County
To upgrade this Federally Qualified Health Center’s pharmacy software system and interface with the clinic’s electronic medical record.

Episcopal Social Services, Inc.
$27,942
Sedgwick County
To upgrade this social service organization’s phone system and server to improve efficiency and privacy protection.

Families Together, Inc.
$14,490
Sedgwick County
To update this disability-focused organization’s website in order to provide resources for parents and to raise community awareness of its services.

Family Service and Guidance Center of Topeka, Inc.
$19,359
Shawnee County
To secure management training and succession planning services for this Community Mental Health Center.

Finney County Community Health Coalition, Inc.
$21,200
Finney County
To develop a new website, including secure access for partners of this community health coalition.

First Care Clinic, Inc.
$15,577
Ellis County
To purchase communications technology for expanding onsite patient education opportunities and supporting recording of group support classes and other education offerings for patients with limited transportation options or challenging work schedules.

Flint Hills Community Health Center
$30,000
Lyon County
To upgrade this Federally Qualifed Health Center’s offce computer technology and add a patient portal to its electronic medical record system, as well as train staff and engage patients on using the portal.

Flinthills Services
$2,795
Butler County
To purchase technology needed by this disability-focused organization for production of professional-quality videos and ancillary media.

Florence Crittenton Services
$3,000
Shawnee County
To develop a video for raising community awareness of this clinic’s mission and services.

Fredonia Regional Hospital
$6,590
Wilson County
To develop a new website and mobile website for providing accessible information about this Critical Access Hospital, its services, and its programs.

Friends of Johnson County Developmental Supports, Inc.
$21,890
Johnson County
To develop a new website that is easier to navigate for this disability-focused organization’s clients and potential donors.

Gove County Medical Center
$29,427
Gove County
To upgrade this Critical Access Hospital’s electronic medical record system.

Harper Hospital District #5
$18,404
Harper County
To upgrade office computer technology used by medical staff at this Critical Access Hospital.

Hays Area Children's Center
$5,455
Ellis County
To upgrade office computer technology at this early child care organization.

Health Partnership Clinic
$30,000
Johnson County
To upgrade this Federally Qualified Health Clinic’s website and social media presence, and to develop a more user-friendly mobile website.

Historic Northeast Midtown Association, Inc.
$12,682
Wyandotte County
To support this neighborhood revitalization group—whose work is based in part upon addressing the social determinants of health—particularly by developing a website and integrating social media.

Hoxie Medical Clinic
$5,284
Sheridan County
To purchase office technology at this Federally Qualified Health Center. Sheridan County Health Complex will serve as fiscal agent.

Hunter Health Clinic
$12,825
Sedgwick County
To develop a new website to more effectively communicate the mission and services of this Federally Qualified Health Center and Urban Indian Health Program.

Infant Toddler Services of Johnson County
$6,040
Johnson County County
To purchase office computer technology needed by this early child care organization’s staff working in the field.

Integrated Behavioral Technologies, Inc.
$25,000
Leavenworth County
To purchase office computer and network technology for this disability-focused organization’s field staff.

Inter-Faith Ministries
$26,240
Sedgwick County
To purchase office computer and network technology at this social service organization.

Kansas Action for Children, Inc.
$9,000
Shawnee County
To train this advocacy organization’s staff in public speaking and other professional development.

Kansas Association for the Medically Underserved
$21,600
Shawnee County
To develop a Member Information Management System to better serve the organization’s members and evaluate its services.

Kansas CASA Association
$26,956
Lyon County
To upgrade the management software for this child advocacy organization’s 23 member-programs statewide.

Kansas Food Bank
$27,000
Sedgwick County
To upgrade the software that organizes all aspects of this hunger-relief organization’s operations, including inventory and ordering, finance and accounting, and customer relationship management.

Kansas Learning Center for Health, Inc.
$11,388
Harvey County
To purchase office computer technology, video equipment, and conference technology at this health education organization.

Labette County Emergency Assistance
$2,797
Labette County
To upgrade office computer technology at this social service organization.

Lawrence Community Food Alliance
$23,420
Douglas County
To purchase office computer and network technology at this healthy food access organization (also known as Sunrise Project). Funds will also support a redesign of the organization's website.

Live Well Live Atchison
$8,105
Atchison County
To develop this community coalition’s website and social media strategy.

Logan County Health Service
$26,029
Logan County
To support the purchase of a contingency backup system for this Critical Access Hospital.

Medical Loan Closet of Wichita, Inc.
$3,939
Sedgwick County
To purchase office computer technology at this organization, which loans durable medical equipment to underserved individuals.

Medical Service Bureau, Inc.
$5,292
Sedgwick County
To upgrade the client database at this organization, which provides underserved individuals vouchers for vision care and prescription medications.

Mental Health Association of South Central Kansas
$23,250
Sedgwick County
To assess and upgrade the service delivery system and donor support network at this advocacy and service organization.

Morris County Hospital
$15,790
Morris County
To purchase computer network technology at this Critical Access Hospital.

Mt. Hope Sanctuary, Inc.
$6,000
McPherson County
To train board members and staff on fund development and enhancing communications at this organization, which provides transitional housing and support services for single women and their children.

NAMI Kansas, Inc.
$25,000
Shawnee County
To train board members and staff on fund development and enhancing communications at this advocacy organization.

Network of Communities Focused on Poverty Alleviation
$13,805
Riley County
To support the training needs of a statewide network to deliver more coordinated and tailored support for families living in poverty. K-State Research and Extension will serve as the fiscal agent.

Norton County Hospital
$23,224
Norton County
To implement an intranet to support staff at this Critical Access Hospital and its clinics.

Oral Health Kansas, Inc.
$13,455
Shawnee County
To update this advocacy organization’s website to be mobile friendly.

Prairie Independent Living Resource Center
$2,918
Reno County
To update the phone system linking the three locations of this center for independent living.

Rainbows United, Inc.
$22,586
Sedgwick County
To purchase network technology at this child and family support organization.

Reno County Health Department
$25,191
Reno County
To purchase office computer technology to support staff at this public health department.

Russell Child Development Center
$9,182
Finney County
To purchase office technology at this early childhood support organization.

Senior Services, Inc. of Wichita
$30,000
Sedgwick County
To implement an integrated database for tracking membership and participation at this senior services organization.

Sheltered Living, Inc.
$18,099
Shawnee County
To upgrade office computer technology, video equipment, and staff training software at this disability-focused organization.

Southwest Boulevard Family Health Care
$16,207
Wyandotte County
To upgrade office computer technology at this safety net clinic.

Spring River Mental Health & Wellness
$19,766
Cherokee County
To upgrade office computer and network technology at this community mental health center.

Sumner Mental Health Center
$23,970
Sumner County
To upgrade office computer technology at this community mental health center.

The Arc of Sedgwick County, Inc.
$4,409
Sedgwick
To purchase office computer technology for the outreach efforts of this disability-focused organization.

The Capper Foundation
$6,290
Shawnee County
To upgrade the donor database at this developmental and intellectual disabilities social service organization.

The Cedar House Foundation
$8,909
Dickinson County
To purchase office technology at this organization, which provides transitional housing and services for women.

Thrive Allen County, Inc.
$18,393
Allen County
To upgrade the phone system, network, and videoconference equipment at this community organization.

Topeka Community Cycle Project
$1,900
Shawnee County
To purchase office computer technology for coordinating volunteer support at this community bicycle education and repair organization.

Washington County Health Department & Home Health Agency
$7,200
Washington County
To upgrade office computer technology at this public health department.

Wichita Children's Home
$28,340
Sedgwick County
To upgrade office computer technology at this organization, which provides emergency, temporary residential shelter for children.

Wichita Family Crisis Center
$5,075
Sedgwick County
To secure leadership development training for board members and staff at this organization, which provides shelter and program support to survivors of domestic violence.

Wilson Medical Center
$30,000
Wilson County
To implement a new network interface between the electronic medical record systems of this Critical Access Hospital and its rural health clinics.

 

Healthy Eating and Rural Food Access

Supporting access to healthy food—including nutrition education—in underserved communities. In 2017, efforts centered around the HERO Initiative: “Healthy Eating, Rural Opportunities.” The pilot project is focused on supporting community-based strategies to address food access needs in rural areas, such as strengthening local grocery stores.

Allen County GROW
$15,000
Allen County
To be one of the HERO Initiative’s pilot communities. Allen County GROW will lead the planning project, including assembling a leadership team representing a wide array of stakeholders and gathering broad-based community input. Thrive Allen County will be the project's fiscal agent partner.

Community Enhancement Foundation of Plains
$15,000
Meade County
To be one of the HERO Initiative’s pilot communities. Community Enhancement Foundation of Plains will lead the planning project, including assembling a leadership team representing a wide array of stakeholders and gathering broad-based community input.

Eat Well Crawford County
$15,000
Crawford County
To be one of the HERO Initiative’s pilot communities. Eat Well Crawford County will lead the planning project, including assembling a leadership team representing a wide array of stakeholders and gathering broad-based community input. Crawford Co. Health Department will be the project's fiscal agent partner.

Greater Northwest Kansas Community Foundation
$30,000
Cheyenne County
To be one of the HERO Initiative’s pilot projects, serving northwest Kansas. The Northwest Kansas Economic Innovation Center, Inc.—working with the High Plains Food Co-op, Western Prairie Food, Farm & Community Alliance, and others—will conduct a feasibility study for a potential food hub that would serve 12 counties in northwest Kansas. 

GROW Hodgeman County
$15,000
Hodgeman County
To be one of the HERO Initiative’s pilot communities. GROW Hodgeman will lead the planning project, including assembling a leadership team representing a wide array of stakeholders and gathering broad-based community input. Hodgeman Co. Economic Resource Development Council will be the project's fiscal agent partner.

Harvey County Farm and Food Council
$15,000
Harvey County
To be one of the HERO Initiative’s pilot communities. Harvey County Food & Farm Council will lead the planning project, including assembling a leadership team representing a wide array of stakeholders and gathering broad-based community input. Harvey Co. Health Department will be the project's fiscal agent partner.

Kansas State University
$81,708
Riley County
To provide technical assistance for the HERO Initiative: “Healthy Eating, Rural Opportunities.” Kansas State University is home to the grantee, the Rural Grocery Initiative.

Southern Marion County Healthy Partnerships
$15,000
Marion County
To be one of the HERO Initiative’s pilot communities. Southern Marion County Healthy Partnerships will lead the planning project, including assembling a leadership team representing a wide array of stakeholders and gathering broad-based community input. Peabody Main St. USA will be the project's fiscal agent partner.

Stafford County Grocery Store Task Force
$15,000
Stafford County
To be one of the HERO Initiative’s pilot communities. The county’s Task Force for Grocery Store Access will lead the planning project, including assembling a leadership team representing a wide array of stakeholders and gathering broad-based community input. Stafford Co. Economic Development will be the project's fiscal agent partner.

Western Prairie Food, Farm, and Community Alliance
$15,000
Sherman County
To be one of the HERO Initiative’s pilot communities. The Western Prairie Food, Farm, and Community Alliance will lead the planning project, including assembling a leadership team representing a wide array of stakeholders and gathering broad-based community input. Western Prairie Resource Conservation & Development Council will be the project's fiscal agent partner.

 

Integrated Care Initiative

Supporting primary care and behavioral health safety net systems that endeavor to move toward integrated service delivery models, including education, peer collaboration, technical assistance, planning efforts, implementation, sustaining transitions, and efforts aimed at payment reform.

Health Ministries Clinic
$150,000
Harvey County
To sustain primary and mental health care integration at Health Ministries Clinic. This is a two-year grant.

 

Responsive Grants and Special Initiatives

Supporting research, education, public engagement, communications, and other efforts aimed at advancing Sunflower Foundation’s mission.

Kansas Tribal Health Summit
$103,500
Shawnee County
To support the Kansas Tribal Health Summit as well as its planning committee, whose work throughout the year is a collaborative effort by the four Native tribes in the state to improve their communities’ health. Among other things, the grant supports year-round health planning work, data sharing and evaluation, workshops, and work toward food sovereignty. The American Heart Association will serve as fiscal agent for this three-year grant.

Fredonia Unified School District #484
$5,000
Wilson County
To support the Summer Medical Academy, a course that is designed to provide students with an introduction to the various professional fields within health care. The two-week program includes hands-on activities, coursework, independent study, and fieldwork experiences. Leaders in health care will provide students with first-hand knowledge of the opportunities available for a future in health care.

Get Outdoors Kansas
$55,000
Shawnee County
To develop a mobile application for finding information about trails and other outdoor opportunities for physical activity across the state. Kansas Wildscape Foundation will serve as the fiscal agent.

Kansas Association for the Medically Underserved
$5,000
Shawnee County
To support the 2017 KAMU Annual Conference in their ongoing commitment to integrated care.

Kansas Association of Counties
$10,000
Shawnee County
To secure professional facilitation and technical assistance for strategic planning for this quasi-public agency, which seeks to advance the public interest by promoting effective, responsive county government in Kansas.

Kansas Family Partnership
$10,000
Shawnee County
To support technical assistance and strategic planning for this social services organization.

Topeka Community Foundation
$10,000
Shawnee County
To support development of a pocket park to honor the founders of Menninger Foundation—part of an effort to make downtown Topeka more walkable.

Valeo Behavioral Health Care
$10,000
Shawnee County
To regularly convene stakeholders to review opioid misuse in Shawnee County, study the contextual factors within the current health care delivery system that influence the problem, and explore opportunities to respond.

Wichita State University
$1,500
Sedgwick County
To support the 2017 Kansas Community Health Worker Symposium. The event brings together stakeholders from across the state to better understand community health worker systems across Kansas.

 

Sunflower-Directed Initiatives

Resources supporting major, self-initiated and directed projects aimed at improving access to health care, effective leadership and advocacy on behalf of Kansans, and other efforts to advance the foundation’s mission that are supplemental to its grantmaking.

Advocacy Fellowship Network
To support the Sunflower Foundation Advocacy Fellowship, a non-partisan initiative designed to provide education and training opportunities for Kansas leaders whose work can help shape public policy and ultimately improve the health of Kansans. A total of 89 community leaders from around the state have graduated from the Fellowship’s first six classes. The Advocacy Fellowship Network is an ongoing effort to connect all of the Fellowship classes’ members, provide opportunities to stimulate collaboration, and organize convenings giving attendees the chance to learn from experts in a variety of subjects related to health and civil discourse.

Alliance for a Healthy Kansas
To support the Alliance for a Healthy Kansas, a statewide coalition dedicated to engaging communities to become involved in promoting policies aimed at health equity, assuring everyone has the opportunity to attain their highest level of health. Members of the Alliance include grassroots citizens, community leaders, and organizations across the state — among them are business leaders, doctors and hospitals, social service and safety net organizations, faith communities, chambers of commerce, advocates for health care consumers, and many more. Alliance members believe that unifying Kansans' voices makes everyone stronger advocates for common goals. The Alliance’s first policy goal is the expansion of KanCare health coverage for low-income Kansans.

Integrated Care Initiative Learning Collaboratives
To provide an opportunity to learn from national and state experts, as well as from grantees’ peers across the state who are also working to integrate care at their clinics. The collaboratives bring together more than 70 health care professionals who are working to integrate physical health care with behavioral health care at their clinics. Integration of traditional primary care with behavioral health and substance abuse treatment has become more widely recognized as a progressive model of providing high-quality and cost-effective treatment, resulting in improved health outcomes and better patient experience. Changing decades-old models of care delivery is challenging at best, no matter how committed those involved are toward the goal. The collaboratives provide hands-on opportunities for participants to share what’s working and what has not.

"Healthy Eating: Rural Opportunities" Learning Collaboratives
To bring together dozens of community leaders from around the state who are each working in their own way to ensure local access to healthy foods. The Healthy Eating: Rural Opportunities initiative is aimed at facilitating community-based strategies to address food access needs in rural areas, such as strengthening local grocery stores. In this, the pilot project’s first year, nine sites around the state were identified and funded. The Rural Grocery Initiative at Kansas State University is providing technical assistance to grantees.

 

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