Maternal and Child Health

Children's health is impacted by where children live, work, play and go to school. It is also affected by virtual influences of television, video games and the Internet. Safety measures and health education are important for children's well-being, as well as access to health care and preventive services. KHI researchers and KHI News Service journalists study and document health conditions, risk behaviors, programs and policies important to the health of Kansas children and mothers.

Photo by Thad Allton

Understanding the Health of Kansas Children

0 | Child Health

There are many serious risks to a child’s health. Health risks are influenced by individual, family, neighborhood, school and community factors, as well as the physical environment. Effective economic, educational and health policies are also important to reduce children’s risk for illness and injury.

Policy and Research

No Change in Kansas Uninsured Rate

0 | Sep. 18, 2009 | Child Health, Health Insurance

New data from the U.S. Census Bureau show that the percentage of Kansans without health insurance didn’t change significantly in the most recent reporting period. However, the percentage of Kansas children without coverage increased.

Early Learning in Kansas: The Impact of Kindergarten on Academic and Social Learning

0 | Aug. 28, 2009 | Child Health

A new assessment shows that children who attend full-day kindergarten make more progress during the school year than those in half-day kindergarten.

Evaluation of the MOBI-KS Program

0 | May. 01, 2009 | Child Health, Health Care Delivery, Immunizations

KHI evaluated the Maximizing Office Based Immunizations in Kansas program, or MOBI-KS, to assess its effectiveness and to identify processes that can be improved.

Health Insurance and the Uninsured in Kansas

0 | Apr. 30, 2009 | Child Health, Health Insurance, Medicaid-CHIP, Safety Net

This annual publication of the Kansas Health Institute provides a snapshot of the insurance status of Kansans in various categories, including age, gender and work status. It also describes how the insurance status of Kansans is changing over time.

Understanding the Health of Kansas Children

0 | Feb. 27, 2009 | Child Health

There are many serious risks to a child’s health. Health risks are influenced by individual, family, neighborhood, school and community factors, as well as the physical environment. Effective economic, educational and health policies are also important to reduce children’s risk for illness and injury.

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News

Insurance bill would 'test track' autism coverage

0 | Mar. 11, 2010 | Child Health, Legislature, Insurance

A bill that sets the stage for requiring state-regulated insurance plans to cover autism was heard Wednesday in the Senate insurance committee.

Teens describe the foster care experience

0 | Mar. 09, 2010 | Children, SRS, Legislature

“My mother had a habit of leaving me – when I was 10 years old -- with my four brothers and sisters while my dad was in rehab for a week or two at a time,” Rachel Perkins, 19, said Monday during testimony before the House Federal and State Affairs Committee.

Foster care system criticized, defended

0 | Mar. 05, 2010 | Children, SRS, Legislature

“I’m concerned when I hear we’re in this for money," said The Very Reverend Edward Fellhauer, who runs St. Francis Community Services. "That is just not accurate."

Senate panel OKs far reaching child-care bill

0 | Mar. 04, 2010 | Children, Legislature

SB 447 would require all child-care facilities to be inspected at least once every 15 months and create standards of care.

Judges tie prevention to foster care reform

0 | Mar. 04, 2010 | Children, SRS, Legislature

The surest way to improve the state’s foster care system is to solve the problems that force children into it, a pair of juvenile court judges said Wednesday.

Ways and Means subcommittee finishes KHPA and SRS budgets

0 | Mar. 11, 2010 | KHPA, SRS, Legislature

Some of the Legislature's strongest supporters of early childhood development programs signed off on sharp cuts in children's programs, re-emphasizing the signal from Senate GOP leaders that tax increases will be necessary.

Teens describe the foster care experience

0 | Mar. 09, 2010 | Children, SRS, Legislature

“My mother had a habit of leaving me – when I was 10 years old -- with my four brothers and sisters while my dad was in rehab for a week or two at a time,” Rachel Perkins, 19, said Monday during testimony before the House Federal and State Affairs Committee.

Law enforcement officials urged to train for dealing with the mentally ill

0 | Feb. 01, 2010 | SRS, Mental Health

With police often called upon to deal with the mentally ill, special training is called for to help defuse tense situations before they become violent.

Disabled want faster movement off waiting list

0 | Mar. 10, 2010 | Advocacy, Legislature, Medicaid-CHIP

Advocates for the disabled stuck 58 crosses in the ground outside the Statehouse in an effort to call attention to the 58 who have died while on the state's waiting list for Medicaid-funded in-home services.

Ways and Means Committee agrees to cuts in social services

0 | Mar. 11, 2010 | KHPA, SRS, Legislature

The Senate Ways and Means Committee on Thursday upheld proposed cuts in the budgets of the Kansas Health Policy Authority and the Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services.

Soda pop tax up Wednesday in Senate panel

0 | Mar. 10, 2010 | Legislature, Nutrition

A bill that would tax makers or first vendors of soda pop and other sugary drinks at 1 cent per teaspoon of sugar is scheduled to be heard Wednesday by the Senate Assessment & Taxation Committee

Kansas Supreme Court to rule on malpractice case

1 | Mar. 02, 2010 | Health Care Delivery, Hospitals

Medical providers and others are anxiously waiting to see what the Kansas Supreme Court will do about the state's $250,000 cap on awards for pain and suffering in medical malpractice cases.

Seniors' mental health needs often unmet

1 | Feb. 16, 2010 | Community Health, Legislature, Workforce

“We’re not reaching the people we need to be reaching with our existing programs,” said Steve Denny, who runs an outreach program for seniors at the Independence-based Four County Mental Health Center.

State mental hospitals packed

1 | Feb. 04, 2010 | Legislature, Hospitals, Mental Health

Jails getting the overflow.

Push for tighter day care licensing questioned

1 | Feb. 02, 2010 | Child Health, Legislature

Legislators this week are holdings hearings on a proposal that would mean stricter standards for some home day care centers.

Mental health system close to collapse, center directors say

1 | Jan. 25, 2010 | SRS, Legislature, Mental Health

Last year, nine of the state’s 27 community mental health centers spent more money than they took in.

Governor calls for sales and tobacco tax increases

1 | Jan. 11, 2010 | Legislature

Gov. Mark Parkinson, a Democrat, unveiled key details of a budget plan that calls for raising the state sales tax one cent and boosting tobacco taxes to forestall deeper cuts to schools and to roll back cuts in Medicaid provider rates. But Republican leaders said it would be a bad idea to raise taxes during a recession.

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