Health Forward Foundation

08/25/2026

This week is Community Health Worker Awareness Week, and we're taking a moment to recognize the professionals who make whole-person care possible.

Community health workers (CHWs) walk alongside patients through every step of connecting to care — navigating complex systems, addressing barriers like housing, transportation, and food access, and making sure no one gets left behind. In rural communities, they are often the bridge between patients and the resources available at the city, county, and state level.

At Health Forward, we know health isn't just what happens in a doctor's office. CHWs live that truth every day. Their trusted relationships and deep community knowledge help bridge the gap between clinical care and everyday life for patients across Kansas and Missouri.

To all the community health workers out there: thank you for the work you do.

08/18/2026

Today, as we recognize National Nonprofit Day, Health Forward continues its work to build healthier communities across the region, rooted in racial and economic justice.

Our Chief Policy and Impact Officer McClain KC wrote an opinion piece for the Kansas City Star earlier this year, highlighting the importance of nonprofits in our region, and nationwide right now:

"When we can’t rely on consistency from our federal government and its priorities shift, nonprofits have remained a stabilizing force, connecting neighbors to resources, convening partners and translating policy into real outcomes for families.

We leaders in the nonprofit sector understand the urgency of meeting the moment and the challenges to our continuing ability to do so when federal dollars are no longer reliable."

Read the full piece at the KC Star:

Lawmakers in Topeka and Jefferson City must act decisively to protect the health and economic security of our communities. | Opinion

08/13/2026

As Missourians turned out in numbers last week to exercise their constitutional rights and protect their power as citizens, MO Secretary of State Denny Hoskins made another attempt to silence the will of the people.

Citizen-led group People Not Politicians MO collected over 305,000 signatures from MO citizens to pause the implementation of the 'Missouri First' maps, bring the legislation to a citizen referendum, and allow voters to decide whether the gerrymandered maps would become law or not this November.

On August 4, Hoskins issued a certificate of insufficiency on HB 1 referendum signatures. People Not Politicians Missouri immediately filed a lawsuit to challenge the decision.

Read our full breakdown of what happened last week, and what's next for Missouri's election maps:

August 4th marked the last day the Missouri Secretary of State could decide on the sufficiency of Missouri House Bill 1 (HB 1) referendum signatures. Secretary Denny Hoskins chose to wait until the very last day to issue a certificate of insufficiency, running down the clock between the decision dat...

08/06/2026

This National Health Center Week, Health Forward Foundation proudly celebrates the community health centers advancing health equity across the Kansas City region.

Community health centers do far more than provide care - they build trust, expand access, and help ensure that every person has the opportunity to achieve their best health. We're proud to partner with them on expanding access to whole-person care, supporting community health workers, improving maternal health outcomes, and diversifying the healthcare workforce.

We are grateful to the dedicated health center teams whose compassion, leadership, and advocacy make this work possible every day. Thank you for advancing equitable care and creating healthier futures across our region.

08/05/2026

Health Forward has been supporting ballot measures in Kansas, Missouri, and KCMO that would impact the health and wellbeing of the communities we serve. Now that the August elections are over, here's our recap of what voters decided and what our choices will mean for the future of our communities.

Read the blog here:

In the lead up to this week's primary election on August 4th, Health Forward Foundation weighed in on a number of ballot measures in Kansas, Missouri and Kansas City. Here's a breakdown of Tuesday's election results and how these measures will impact communities.

08/04/2026

Today is Election Day in our community

Local elections shape the conditions that determine our health — housing, schools, public services, and access to care. The decisions made locally often have more impact on someone's health than what happens in a doctor's office.

If you're eligible to vote, make your voice heard and head to the polls by 7 p.m.

Every vote is a chance to invest in healthier, stronger neighborhoods. Encourage your friends, family, and neighbors to participate.

08/03/2026

Before you vote on August 4th, read this op-ed in Truthout from Health Forward's Chief Policy and Impact Officer McClain Bryant Macklin and Constance Harper, Vice President of Strategic Impact and Innovation at the Deaconess Foundation.

Missouri's Amendment 4 is part of a nationwide pattern: state legislatures and special interest groups rewriting the rules of public participation to consolidate power, weaken accountability, and limit the public's voice in decisions that affect them.

Amendment 4 would change how Missourians amend their state constitution through citizen-led initiative petitions — replacing today's simple statewide majority with a new requirement to win in every one of Missouri's eight congressional districts.

The initiative petition process is one of the few tools people have to shape policy when the legislature won't act. It's part of the constitutional balance that keeps government accountable to the people.

Amendment 4 doesn't eliminate that tool. It just makes it nearly impossible to use.

Vote NO on Amendment 4.

If passed, Amendment 4 could make it substantially more difficult for citizen-led constitutional amendments to succeed.

08/03/2026

Two states. One region. One big Election Day.

On August 4, both Kansas and Missouri head to the polls for important elections. Health Forward Foundation wants every voter in our community to walk in informed.
Scan your state's QR code for a free, nonpartisan ballot guide, see what's on your ballot, learn the issues, and find your polling place.

Know before you go and help a neighbor do the same. Share this post with your network.

Kansas: https://thevoternetwork.org/ksballot/
Missouri: https://moballot.civicengine.com/

07/31/2026

At Health Forward Foundation, we’re committed to providing timely updates on key local and federal policy developments that impact the health and well-being of our communities. Policy Impact Strategist, Emma Shankland, MS, has the latest updates in our Kansas and Missouri service areas as well as Federal updates.

To view the June/July 2026 update, visit:

At Health Forward Foundation, we’re committed to providing timely updates on key local and federal policy developments that impact the health and well-being of our communities. This resource is designed to help our advocacy partners stay connected to the issues, opportunities, and decisions shapin...

07/30/2026

Voters in Missouri are already heading to the polls to make their voices heard ahead of the August 4th election. Health Forward President and CEO Qiana Thomason has an important message for Missouri voters.

Bottom line: Vote NO on Amendment 4 and 5 on August 4th.