View posts from KHF’s new blog series Thoughts on Equity. Kansas Health Foundation MENU HEALTH EQUITY HEALTH EQUITY ACCESS TO CARE HEALTHY BEHAVIORS CIVIC AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT CORE SUPPORT OVERVIEW As the Kansas Health Foundation works to improve the health of all Kansans, one concept is interwoven throughout it’s work: health equity. From grantmaking to policy work to news and information, KHF is working to always put a focus on how its efforts can reach vulnerable populations and overcome systemic barriers. Simply put, regardless of race, income, geography or education, the Kansas Health Foundation believes every Kansan has the right to be healthy where they live, work and play. On this page, find out more about the concept of health equity and how it plays a role in everything our organization does within its four impact areas. WHAT IS HEALTH EQUITY? According to a recent report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), health equity is often referred to as the highest level of health for all people. Achieving this type of equity often requires addressing health disparities related to social and economic factors, including conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work and age. A key factor in the efforts to reach health equity comes from addressing what are known as the social determinants of health. This includes things like quality schools and housing, access to good jobs and healthy food, and safety of our neighborhoods. BY THE NUMBERS These types of health disparities exist everywhere, including in Kansas. The use of data spotlights inequities for specific population groups or by geographic location, which helps the Kansas Health Foundation (KHF) determine priorities and allocate resources most effectively. Below are a few examples of statistical disparities in our state. The median household income for most minority Kansans is below that of white households. (American Community Survey, 2020) Kansans of racial/ethnic minorities are more likely to be uninsured than white Kansans. (Kansas Health Institute) Disparities exist (by race, income and geography) in relation to access to broadband internet access, directly impacting Kansans access to remote learning and telehealth appointments during the pandemic. (Kansas Health Institute) Mapping the Data The maps below express a variety of indicators related to the health equity of Kansas. In each case, the maps show county-level data. POPULATION DENSITY BY COUNTY MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME KANSANS IN POVERTY BROADBAND ACCESS Kansans of all walks of life live in frontier, rural, densely-settled rural, semi-urban and urban settings. While an average of 35.6 people live per square mile in Kansas, as few as 1.6 live in Greeley County and as many as 1,272.6 live in Johnson County. Below, learn just how many people live per square mile in each Kansas County. This data comes from the 2019 Kansas Statistical Abstract. + − Map Key Less than 6 persons per square mile (Frontier) 6 to 19.9 persons per square mile (Rural) 20 to 39.9 persons per square mile (Densely-settled Rural) 40 to 149.9 persons per square miles (Semi-Urban) 150 or more persons per square mile (Urban) KHF HEALTH EQUITY WORK AND STORIES Understanding and addressing health equity challenges in Kansas LEARN MORE New campaign encourages early literacy LEARN MORE KHF supports expanding Medicaid in the 2020 legislative session LEARN MORE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND RESOURCES For those wanting to learn more about health equity and disparities, below are some resources for further study. Paving the Road to Health Equity Social Determinants of Health What is Health Equity? Build Healthy Places Network CONNECT WITH US Sign Up for KHF's Electronic Newsletters Learn more about the latest Foundation news, grant opportunities, stories and health articles by signing up for KHF’s e-newsletters. Join today! Email By submitting this form, you are consenting to receive marketing emails from: Kansas Health Foundation, 309 E. Douglas, Wichita, KS, 67202, US, http://www.kansashealth.org/. You can revoke your consent to receive emails at any time by using the SafeUnsubscribe® link, found at the bottom of every email. Emails are serviced by Constant Contact. Sign Up! On Social Media /KansasHealthFoundation @kansashealthorg WatchKansasHealth @kansashealthorg We envision a culture in which every Kansan can make healthy choices where they live, work and play. CONTACT US WORK WITH US FAQS POLICIES AND STATEMENTS CAREERS INFO@KHF.ORG © 2021 KANSAS HEALTH FOUNDATION