Preventive
Health and Health Services Block Grant
United States
Disease Prevention Program
Flexible Funding for Kansas' Public Health
Programs
The Preventive Health and Health Services (PHHS) Block Grant provides funding for health problems in Kansas that range from unintentional injury deaths to coronary heart disease. PHHS Block Grant dollars fund a total of 6 different Kansas health programs.
PHHS Block Grant funds allow Kansas to use dollars where we need them, when we need them to protect the public's health. The Kansas Preventive Health Block Advisory Committee invests PHHS Block Grant funds in cancer, cardiovascular disease, immunizations and diseases, infant mortality, and injury prevention activities provided by the Chronic Disease Prevention, Maternal and Child Health Home Visitor, Immunization, Injury Prevention, Local Health, and Rape Prevention Education Programs.
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Roderick L. Bremby, Secretary, "We are pleased to showcase our progress in Kansas. We are using these funds to address pressing health issues when they arise, giving Kansas communities needed resources not available through other programs, but crucial to the public health of the state. Funding from the CDC and the support of our legislators enables us to make this incredible progress, but there is still much to be done." Below is a sampling of programs that serve the unique health needs of Kansans through the PHHS Block Grant: |
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Coronary Heart Disease - The Chronic Disease Prevention Program facilitates a collaborative approach to planning that provides leadership, leverages support for the development of coordinated statewide prevention strategies to reduce the burden of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and cancer in those populations at highest risk, and maximizes resources through the avoidance of duplication of services and replication of successful population-based culturally appropriate interventions. The staff empowers local communities to make changes within their communities to promote physical activity, good nutrition, and tobacco prevention and control. Communities are charged to encourage healthy lifestyle choices, which are known to prevent or prolong development of chronic disease via community coalition efforts. More than 17,000 3rd grade students participate in the Annual Kansas Kid's Fitness Day Event. The Center for Health and Wellness Community Outreach Blood Pressure Measurement Specialists took 7,376 blood pressure readings and completed 565 cholesterol screenings. In 2003, 673 "Teens as Teacher" participants presented a "stay tobacco free" message to an estimated 27,000 younger students. Read
success story #1 - Read
success story #2
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Infants Put To Sleep On Their Backs - PHHS Block Grant funds are used to provide information and education targeting infant mortality through a partnership between MCH staff and the SIDS Network of Kansas. In 2003, Healthy Start Home Visitor staff disseminated "SIDS Safety Packets" to 3,600 families. Each packet contained a number of safety items including a Halo SleepSack (a sleeveless "wearable blanket" used to take the place of loose blankets), a SIDS Risk Reduction Magnet and Brochure, "Back to Sleep" door hanger, and literature on fire safety, lead poisoning, water safety and nutritional information. This was a infant/child focused program aimed at encouraging healthy lifestyle behaviors, SIDS prevention activities and risk reduction methods to improve the health and survival of infants and children.
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Rape or Attempted Rape - PHHS Block Grant funds are used to provide rape prevention and education programs. As of January 15, 2004, the program maintains eight programs on rape prevention and education whose primary prevention focus targets potential perpetrators. 11,674 students have participated in rape and sexual assault prevention programs.
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Vaccine Preventable Diseases - The Kansas Immunization Program seeks to maximize the protection of Kansas children and adults from vaccine preventable diseases. Using state and federal funds, the program distributes vaccines to local health departments and private providers for administration to poor and underinsured children. The program provides technical assistance and training for public and private vaccine providers and conducts periodic surveys of immunization coverage. The PHB proportion of the overall dollars received for the Immunization Program represents approximately one per cent; however, while the Preventive Health Block supports only approximately one percent, it gives the program flexibility to provide epidemiological consultation that otherwise would not exist.
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Kansas SAFE KIDS - The Kansas Department of Health and Environment provides leadership in the prevention of unintentional and intentional injuries in Kansas through coalition building and facilitation of strategic planning for unintentional and intentional injury issues, including childhood unintentional injuries and suicide. KDHE serves as the lead agency for the Kansas SAFE KIDS Coalition. SAFE KIDS interventions target prevention of unintentional injuries for children ages 1-14. The Coalition implements state level activities including SAFE KIDS Week and participation in Kansas Kids Fitness and Safety Day. In 2003, Kansas SAFE KIDS Coalition was named National Coalition of the Year! Kansas SAFE KIDS, in partnership with local coalitions and chapters, distributed 3,771 bike helmets in 50 communities, 752 smoke detectors and 34 Carbon Monoxide detectors. A total of 1,578 car seats checked at 117 events. Read a success story #1 - Read a success story #2
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Enhancing Local Health Department
Capacity - The Local Health Program promotes provision of essential public health services in Kansas communities and enhances performance of core functions by local health departments. Section staff members (Public Health Nurse Specialists) are stationed in district offices across the state and serve as direct field staff, coordinating activities between the state health agency and local health departments. Current priority activities in Local Health include public health workforce development, distance learning, public health performance standards, local public health emergency preparedness, limited English proficiency activities, cultural competence activities.
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Kansas Department Contact Information: |
- Advisory Committee