Office of Minority Health

Grantee Information

State of Kansas Department of Health and Environment
1000 S.W. Jackson, Ste 300, Topeka, KS 66612
(785) 296-1086 (Phone)
http://www.kdheks.gov

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment Center for Health Disparities (CHD) has a leadership role in promoting minority health and eliminating health disparities. CHD is involved in a range of health initiatives and engages in the program planning, implementation and evaluation level of program activities.

Grant Project Information

Eliminating Health Disparities and Improving the Health Status of Minority Populations in Kansas
$140,000
Aiko Allen
(785) 296-0781
AIAllen@kdheks.gov

Abstract

This State Partnership project aims to address the high infant mortality rate in Kansas, particularly in the black community. Kansas ranks 29th in the nation for infant mortality, and in 2007 the state ranked 17 percent higher than the average rate in the U.S. In order to address this issue, the project will improve health research, increase public awareness and education and promote policies, which support increased, targeted access to early comprehensive prenatal care and education. Specifically, it will conduct a “Safe Sleep” campaign in the target communities, and provide cultural competency training and capacity building services to the health care providers. An evaluation will be conducted to assess if there is a reduction in the high rate of infant mortality. The project staff will collect data on performance measures. These measures will include the number of communities and participants who receive the “Safe Sleep” campaign, the number of individuals who use assessment reports and/or agreements to address Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), the number of partners who support the campaign, and the number of health care provider trainings on cultural competency issues related to SIDS and other behaviors that increase the risk of infant mortality. The project will use pre/post surveys, focus groups and case studies to record changes in knowledge, awareness, self-efficacy, skills and environmental constrains that affect infant mortality.

OMH objective(s) toward which the project's results most contribute:

• Increased awareness, education, and outreach to address racial/ethnic minority health and health disparities problems
• Improved access to, and appropriate utilization of, health and other community-based services and systems through user-centered design for racial/ethnic minorities (e.g., health IT, culturally/ linguistically appropriate services, service provider education/ training, workforce diversity)
• Strengthened leadership and coordination to leverage resources and enhance effectiveness and efficiency of individual and collective efforts (including, but not limited to, research and data)

Key Healthy People 2010 objectives or subobjectives toward which your project's results most contribute (see Appendix 3 of OMH's Evaluation Planning Guidelines):

Healthy People objectives were not specifically identified.