In this episode of Empower Wyandotte, host Jessica Schmidtberger engages with Kitana Lemus, the community engagement manager at Cross-Lines Community Outreach. They discuss the Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) in Wyandotte County, focusing on social determinants of health, community engagement, and the challenges faced in improving health outcomes. The conversation emphasizes the importance of understanding the diverse needs of the community and the role of individuals in driving change.

resources:

About - Kansas City Kansas Unified Schl Dist 500

Wyandotte County Census Data

Wyandotte County, KS | Data USA.

Community Health Improvement Plan – Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, KS

Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) | Full Report

Community Health Assessment – Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, KS

CHIP contacts:

behavioral health

Andrea Generaux - [email protected]

health care access

Andrea Adams - [email protected]

jobs & education

Monica Brede - [email protected]

safe & affordable housing

Kitana Lemus - [email protected]

violence prevention

Minah Chapell - [email protected]

Emily Voss - [email protected]

Maddie Dumbell - [email protected]

Dr. Jomella Walson-Thompson - [email protected]

Dola Williams - [email protected]

Shelby Woodward - [email protected]

takeaways:

• Wyandotte County is home to a diverse population.
• The Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) focuses on safe & affordable housing, healthcare access, jobs & education, violence prevention, and behavioral health.
• Social determinants of health significantly impact community well-being.
• Racism, poverty, and trauma are critical lenses for understanding health disparities.
• Community engagement is essential for effective health initiatives.

• Understanding existing efforts can help avoid duplicating work.

• Everyone can contribute to community health improvement efforts.

contact:

[email protected]

keywords:

Wyandotte County, community health, CHIP, social determinants of health, community engagement, affordable housing, health disparities, racism, poverty, trauma