Policy Contributions

Kansas Indoor Clean Air Act of 2010

The statewide smoking ban passed in 2010 was the culmination of years of advocacy for policies at the local and state levels for tobacco use prevention and cessation. The Sunflower Foundation supported advocacy via the Clean Air Kansas campaign.

→ Read the story behind the Clean Air Kansas campaign.

Vote ‘yes’ on 2

Until 2010, the Kansas Constitution — originally written in 1859 — contained the following language in Article V, Section 2: “Disqualification to vote. The Legislature may, by law, exclude persons from voting because of mental illness or commitment to a jail or penal institution.”

The Kansas Mental Health Coalition was committed to eliminating that stigmatizing language and wanted to launch a campaign for passing a constitutional amendment to do just that. Coalition members approached the Sunflower Foundation for support. The resulting campaign, Vote Yes on 2, was a good fit with the Sunflower Foundation’s interests in mental health awareness.

→ Read the story behind the Vote ‘yes’ on 2 campaign.

Statewide Obesity Initiative

In 2002, the Sunflower Foundation funded the state’s first convening aimed at charting a plan for addressing the growing obesity epidemic. The convening began work on a state plan to address underlying factors related to obesity and overweight.

Since then the state of Kansas has begun semi-annual summits on obesity, to address this growing health issue in the state.


	Sunflower Foundation > What We Do > Advocacy > Policy Contributions Kansas Indoor Clean Air Act of 2010 The statewide smoking ban passed in 2010 was the culmination of years of advocacy for policies at the local and state levels for tobacco use prevention and cessation. The Sunflower Foundation supported advocacy via the Clean Air Kansas campaign. → Read the story behind the Clean Air Kansas campaign. Vote ‘yes’ on 2 Until 2010, the Kansas Constitution — originally written in 1859 — contained the following language in Article V, Section 2: “Disqualification to vote. The Legislature may, by law, exclude persons from voting because of mental illness or commitment to a jail or penal institution.” The Kansas Mental Health Coalition was committed to eliminating that stigmatizing language and wanted to launch a campaign for passing a constitutional amendment to do just that. Coalition members approached the Sunflower Foundation for support. The resulting campaign, Vote Yes on 2, was a good fit with the Sunflower Foundation’s interests in mental health awareness. → Read the story behind the Vote ‘yes’ on 2 campaign. Statewide Obesity Initiative In 2002, the Sunflower Foundation funded the state’s first convening aimed at charting a plan for addressing the growing obesity epidemic. The convening began work on a state plan to address underlying factors related to obesity and overweight. Since then the state of Kansas has begun semi-annual summits on obesity, to address this growing health issue in the state. → Read more about efforts to address growing obesity rates in Kansas.