health & wellness

Health and wellness should be a top priority in every community–and in Wyandotte County, that priority is a reality thanks to Healthy Communities Wyandotte, an ongoing initiative led by the Wyandotte County Public Health Department.

“Healthy Communities Wyandotte’s mission is to mobilize the community to improve health and well-being in Wyandotte County through increased communication, coordination and culture change,” according to the WyCo Public Health Department. “Operating within the Health Department, the countywide coalition aims to help Wyandotte become the most improved county for health in the state of Kansas through innovative leadership and community participation.”

Visit Healthy Communities Wyandotte to stay up-to-date on the coalition’s latest programming. And check back with this page regularly–we’ll keep you in the loop about upcoming health and wellness resources and other pertinent info. You can also check out health and wellness-related events on our calendar.

Healthy Communities Wyandotte

Healthy Communities Wyandotte was formed in 2010 as a result of the 2009 County Health Rankings, which ranked Wyandotte County as having the worst health in the state. Then Mayor Joe Reardon challenged leaders to act collectively to improve our dire health status. The initial planning group became an official Steering Committee, which guides initiative and its seven active teams to this day. Mayor Mark Holland and the Unified Government continue to provide significant support.  Current initiatives: Healthy Parks, 12345 Fit-Tastic, WorkWell Wyandotte, H20 to Grow, Safe Routes to Schools, and Drive Wisely Wyandotte.

Mental Health America of the Heartland

Mental Health America of the Heartland resulted from the consolidation in 1996 of three affiliates of the National Mental Health Association that served Johnson and Wyandotte (KS) and Jackson (MO) counties. Motivations for consolidating these small agencies, some with over 75 years of service to our community, were many: to enhance program opportunities, to provide continuity for individuals and families with mental health needs, to respond to the funding community, and to realize economies of scale. With consolidation, the agency engaged in a thoughtful process of re-organizing its programs that included closure, merger, and attention to new community needs, all with an eye toward ensuring programs remained mission-driven and available to citizens throughout the Greater Kansas City Metropolitan Area.

Wyandotte Health Foundation

The Wyandotte Health Foundation is the only foundation of its type that is totally dedicated to improving the health of Wyandotte County residents. Since our founding in 1997, we have awarded grants totaling over $33.7 million to accomplish this goal. Our grants have benefited 84 organizations. Our main emphasis is enhancing access to primary care services for persons who are uninsured and underinsured. Our grants also support health prevention, intervention, and education.