Kansas Health Foundation

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Kansas Health Foundation

Our mission is to improve the health of all Kansans. But, it’s only possible with a broad network of effective partnerships across the state.

We are an organization full of dedicated individuals who work every day to improve health in the state of Kansas. We dream big, promote bold visions and truly believe that it’s possible for Kansas to someday lead the nation in health. We work closely with other health foundations, nonprofit groups, community foundations, state agencies, universities, hospitals, communities and advisory groups to develop programs and initiatives and to find answers to complex health issues. And we will continue to form and strengthen partnerships with more Kansas organizations and communities. Our work has continued for nearly 40 years, and we’re currently in the midst of an exciting new challenge. We invite you to view the information below to learn about our strategic framework, our history and our dynamic team.

04/11/2026

We can’t guarantee equal results, but we should guarantee a fair shot.

Tune into the Leading Health podcast to learn more about the 30,000 and Health: https://bit.ly/4lMSoPQ

04/09/2026

Congratulations, Dr. Ablah!

We're pleased to partner with Dr. Ablah in many different ways and honored to count her as someone who supports our work to lead the nation in health.

Please join us in giving a HUGE congratulations and thank you to Dr. Elizabeth Ablah, this year's recipient of the Doren Frederickson's Commitment to Public Health Award!💙

Dr. Ablah is a public health hero, dedicating her time and energy to protecting and improving Sedgwick County's health for over 25 years! Her research on water contamination led to reforms and pushed many municipalities to make changes, giving thousands of residents access to clean, safe drinking water. Dr. Ablah also used her research and advocacy to help create public health policies during the COVID-19 pandemic. She is data-driven, humble, kind, brilliant, passionate and beyond deserving of this recognition.

04/08/2026

On World Health Day, we're thinking about what it would look like if Kansas ranked #1 in Health.

Tune in to the latest episode of the Leading Health podcast: https://bit.ly/4trcaDa

04/06/2026

National Public Health Week is a time to celebrate the work of public health workers across the state making Kansas healthier and stronger. Thank you for your commitment to the health of all Kansans!

04/04/2026

What do the next best practices look like in philanthropy?

04/02/2026

Every Kansan deserves the opportunity to succeed, regardless of where they start in life.

Safe housing, reliable transportation, good jobs, quality education, financial stability—these are the foundation of Capital "H" Health.

We are energized for our upcoming FuseKS convening of advocates, experts and organizations committed to tackling major health challenges in Kansas.

This year, we're focused on Upward Mobility.

03/31/2026

Happy Anniversary, Erika! Thank you for your dedication and passion for helping Kansas fight hunger and food insecurity.

Happy Hunger Free Kansas Anniversary, Erika Debrick Kelly!

It's been one year since Erika took the helm at Hunger Free Kansas to help us tackle the major health challenge of hunger and food insecurity in our state.

Help us celebrate by sharing well wishes in the comments below!

03/30/2026

Dr. Jennifer Bacani McKenney, Board Vice Chair, shared a leadership lesson with us for Women's History Month.

"Be confident in the fact that you belong at the table."

Imposter syndrome affects even the most accomplished people, but Dr. McKenney believes showing up anyway matters, not just for the work being done today, but for the next generation of women.

That conviction shapes the way she shows up for her patients, her family and her role at the Kansas Health Foundation where she's surrounded by a team of partners, staff and fellow board members who remind her every day of what's possible when people come together with a shared mission.

"We're like Captain Planet. 'With our powers combined,' we can do great things."

03/27/2026

What role do you play in Leading Health?

Tune into the Leading Health podcast to learn more about the 30,000: https://bit.ly/4ckHcqU

03/27/2026

Ashley has been working in nonprofits for 20 years, and over that time, she knows the world might not see all the people and pieces moving your mission forward, but those systems are what make the world see your impact.

Read more: https://bit.ly/4dM5XNr

03/25/2026

Way to SHINE! Congratulations, Valerie!

03/24/2026

An easy interpretation: "The data must be wrong."

A tougher interpretation: "But what if it's not?"

Leadership starts with dissatisfaction. With somone willing to look at hard data, resist the urge to explain it away and ask the tougher questions.

Expore easy vs. tougher interpretations in the latest episode of the Leading Health podcast: https://bit.ly/3PoOZuB

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309 E Douglas Avenue
Wichita, KS
67202

Website

https://kansashealth.org/

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PE TEACHERS USE TECHNOLOGY TO PUMP UP PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

Technology has made physical activity in schools even easier and with more options with “PE Kansas.” This free, Kansas State Department of Education web-based K-12 physical education curriculum tool has seen overwhelming support from teachers all across the world.

Since launching in mid-January, nearly 5,400 users have accessed the online curriculum – including 1,161 from Kansas, along with individuals from each state and 38 countries across the world. Thirty Kansas communities have had 10 or more users, and about half of these communities are in rural parts of the state.

“The Kansas Health Foundation (KHF) saw the importance of quality physical education years ago and invested in the development of the Physical Essentials, Physical Focus, and Physical Dimensions curriculum. This resulted in a huge curriculum in both content and physical volume,” said Mark Thompson, KSDE project facilitator. “The most logical means of assuring universal access to the curriculum was to develop a website to house the content. Thus, PE Kansas was created.”

A team of educators and professionals reviewed the old curriculum, transforming physical education in Kansas in the late 1990’s and early 2000’s, according to the website. From there, new activities and focuses were added, and the old content was either kept, removed, or modernized, and updated in a digital, drop-in lesson plan format that helps educators understand how to put together developmentally appropriate, standards-based lessons.

Through a variety of initiatives and nearly $2.2 million in funding, KHF has supported quality K-12 physical education curriculum, and inservice and university trainings for current and future educators. The existing grant, approved in 2013 , has made the web-based curriculum available to all K-12 school teachers.

“For years, we’ve viewed the school environment as a prime place to impact lifelong health and wellness for Kansas children,” said Steve Coen, KHF president and CEO. “Having the physical education curriculum available to anyone online is the culmination of years of work and effort on the part of many dedicated individuals, but it’s also the beginning of a new era of healthy teaching and activity in Kansas schools.”

Karl Ely, physical education teacher at Valley Center’s Abilene Elementary School and middle school, has been using the curriculum for 15 years – even when it was housed in cumbersome three-ring binders during his time in college.

“It was like our bible. They said this is all that you should do. But the binders were huge,” Ely said. “So this is nice. It’s all in one place – one site.”

Ely logs onto his PE Kansas account about every other week – sometimes once a week when he’s looking for new ideas in the beginning of a unit.

“The cool thing about it is these are all standards-based,” Ely said. “I know that the activities are age appropriate and are going to meet our grade-level outcomes, which are set by the national association (SHAPE).”

Ely said he likes how the website allows teachers to customize lesson plans, and select lessons based on grade level, type of activities or classroom settings.

The website also saves teachers time when researching a unit, is free to use – unlike many other education resources – and has creative activities that can help teachers get out of the rut of repeatedly teaching the same thing over and over again.

“It also gives me more free time to spend with my children,” said Ely, who has two children ages 3 and 4 and also coaches boys basketball at the middle school. “I think that’s also why I’m more apt to use it than I was before.”

This resource can be ever changing and growing, where outdated activities can be deleted, and new ones can be added at any time, said Meggin DeMoss, who was part of the team that updated the K-2 curriculum. Physical educators are also encouraged to submit activities that work well for their students.

“This allows us to work together as physical educators to share ideas and to help ensure our students have every opportunity available to learn how to lead healthy lives,” said Michelle DiLisio, one of three high school curriculum content editors.

Next, the team plans on adding activities to keep the valuable tool relevant. They will also conduct trainings and hold presentations on PE Kansas to increase knowledge and use of the site.

“The other thing I hope we have done is keep Kansas on the map for being a leader in physical education, health education and physical activity. I am confident that with this resource and the Active Schools: Let’s Move Kansas project, we are doing just that,” said Rhonda Holt, project facilitator.

04/11/2026

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03/24/2026

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PE TEACHERS USE TECHNOLOGY TO PUMP UP PHYSICAL ACTIVITY