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Media Contact: Susan Jagerson Director, Live Well Geary County and Pathways to a Healthy Kansas Coordinator sdjagerson@gmail.com | 785-223-1654 LIVE WELL GEARY COUNTY, BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD OF KANSAS PROPEL HEALTH INITIATIVES WITH NEARLY $100,000 IN GRANT FUNDING (Geary County, Kansas) – Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas’ Pathways to a Healthy Kansas has awarded $90,000 in grant funding to Live Well Geary County and partners. The funding will address key community health priorities, such as mental health, healthy food access, food security and community infrastructure. “Pathways is built on the idea that healthier communities are better for everyone – residents, employers and the long-term vitality of the state,” said Virginia Barnes, Director, Blue Health Initiatives for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas. “These initiatives illustrate the benefits of Kansans serving Kansans.” The awards and projects include: • $25,000 to support the completion of community roundtable discussions with key stakeholders to finalize the Geary County Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP). The plan identified priority areas for improving community health, including mental health services, transportation solutions, and other critical health-related social needs. Overseeing the effort: The Geary County Mental Health Task Force represented by Konza Prairie Community Health Center, Stormont Vail Hospital, Geary County Sheriff's Department, Geary County Commission, EMS/Fire Department, Veterans Affairs, Pawnee Mental Health, the 8th Judicial District, USD 475, Dorothy Bramlage Public Library, Live Well Geary County, the Cohen Clinic at Centerstone, a local not-for-profit, and the private practice, Evergreen Behavioral Health. “While the task force’s overall mission is to collaborate with our community partners to make a difference in the mental health of all residents of Geary County, this initiative is our first funded effort to start where healthy coping skills can develop in our youth,” said Nicole Gonzalez, LCMFT, LCAC Behavioral Health Director, KPCHC who participates with the task force. “We all care about our community, and we're hoping this grant will bring aid to youth and their families, allowing them to engage in healthy recreational activities as part of their mental health journey and treatment. This is a big first step towards our mission of improving the quality of life by bridging gaps to ensure individuals have access to the resources, support, and care they need." • $25,000 to benefit the Geary County Community Farmers Market and Junction City Main Street Market to undergo business planning. The plan will focus on operations, branding, location and fundraising to continue to provide residents with fresh local options for produce and other goods. Funding will also be used for operations in the two current markets. • $20,000 to benefit infrastructure and accessibility improvements at the 12th Street Community Garden. The improvements will focus on accessible walkways, a water bottle filling station and a storage shed replacement to increase the garden’s ability to produce fresh fruits and vegetables while also expanding opportunities to host educational gardening and nutrition skills programs. • $20,000 to benefit healthy food access for students at Cloud County Community College Geary County Campus. Improved access will reduce food insecurity and ensure students have convenient access to healthy foods that support their academic success and overall well-being. "We are thrilled to receive this five-year grant from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas through the Pathways to a Healthy Kansas initiative, said Jennifer Zabokrtsky, Director of the Geary County Campus. “These funds allow us to significantly expand our campus food pantry by purchasing a freezer to increase choices that integrate Healthy Eating Research guidelines into our student outreach. We are especially grateful to Susan Jagerson, Live Well Geary County Director, local BCBSKS Pathways to Healthy Kansas initiative Coordinator for her partnership and for including Cloud County Community College in this phase of Geary County’s Pathways to a Healthy Kansas initiative." Live Well Geary County is one of 19 health coalitions approved for funding through Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas’ Pathways to a Healthy Kansas; the largest community grant initiative funded by the insurer. Pathways combines community-wide, evidence-based solutions and practices to help Kansas communities improve active living, healthy eating, behavioral health and commercial tobacco prevention. "Through our ongoing involvement as a Pathways community, Live Well Geary County has strengthened partnerships with local agencies, leveraged resources to support community-driven initiatives, and created opportunities that enhance quality of life while helping residents lead healthier, more active lives,” said Susan Jagerson, Director, Live Well Geary County and Pathways Coordinator. For more information about Pathways grant awards in Geary County, please contact Susan Jagerson, Director, Live Well Geary County and Pathways Coordinator at sdjagerson@gmail.com or 785-223-1654. About Pathways to a Healthy Kansas Pathways to a Healthy Kansas is the largest community grant initiative ever funded by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas. It combines community-wide, evidence-based solutions and practices to help Kansas communities improve active living, healthy eating, behavioral health and commercial tobacco prevention. Learn more: https://www.bcbsks.com/blue-health-initiatives/pathways. About the Live Well Geary County At Live Well Geary County, we are developing dynamic, community-based strategies to improve the health of our community residents. Live Well was founded in response to a call for county-wide coordinated action among health and wellness stakeholders. Together we work to close the gaps in services and resources so that there are healthy choices where residents live, learn, work, and play. Learn more: https://www.livewellgearycounty.org.
Media Contact: Susan Jagerson Director, Live Well Geary County and Pathways to a Healthy Kansas Coordinator sdjagerson@gmail.com | 785-223-1654
LIVE WELL GEARY COUNTY, BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD OF KANSAS PROPEL HEALTH INITIATIVES WITH NEARLY $100,000 IN GRANT FUNDING
(Geary County, Kansas) – Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas’ Pathways to a Healthy Kansas has awarded $90,000 in grant funding to Live Well Geary County and partners. The funding will address key community health priorities, such as mental health, healthy food access, food security and community infrastructure. “Pathways is built on the idea that healthier communities are better for everyone – residents, employers and the long-term vitality of the state,” said Virginia Barnes, Director, Blue Health Initiatives for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas. “These initiatives illustrate the benefits of Kansans serving Kansans.”
The awards and projects include:
• $25,000 to support the completion of community roundtable discussions with key stakeholders to finalize the Geary County Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP). The plan identified priority areas for improving community health, including mental health services, transportation solutions, and other critical health-related social needs. Overseeing the effort: The Geary County Mental Health Task Force represented by Konza Prairie Community Health Center, Stormont Vail Hospital, Geary County Sheriff's Department, Geary County Commission, EMS/Fire Department, Veterans Affairs, Pawnee Mental Health, the 8th Judicial District, USD 475, Dorothy Bramlage Public Library, Live Well Geary County, the Cohen Clinic at Centerstone, a local not-for-profit, and the private practice, Evergreen Behavioral Health. “While the task force’s overall mission is to collaborate with our community partners to make a difference in the mental health of all residents of Geary County, this initiative is our first funded effort to start where healthy coping skills can develop in our youth,” said Nicole Gonzalez, LCMFT, LCAC Behavioral Health Director, KPCHC who participates with the task force. “We all care about our community, and we're hoping this grant will bring aid to youth and their families, allowing them to engage in healthy recreational activities as part of their mental health journey and treatment. This is a big first step towards our mission of improving the quality of life by bridging gaps to ensure individuals have access to the resources, support, and care they need."
• $25,000 to benefit the Geary County Community Farmers Market and Junction City Main Street Market to undergo business planning. The plan will focus on operations, branding, location and fundraising to continue to provide residents with fresh local options for produce and other goods. Funding will also be used for operations in the two current markets.
• $20,000 to benefit infrastructure and accessibility improvements at the 12th Street Community Garden. The improvements will focus on accessible walkways, a water bottle filling station and a storage shed replacement to increase the garden’s ability to produce fresh fruits and vegetables while also expanding opportunities to host educational gardening and nutrition skills programs.
• $20,000 to benefit healthy food access for students at Cloud County Community College Geary County Campus. Improved access will reduce food insecurity and ensure students have convenient access to healthy foods that support their academic success and overall well-being. "We are thrilled to receive this five-year grant from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas through the Pathways to a Healthy Kansas initiative, said Jennifer Zabokrtsky, Director of the Geary County Campus. “These funds allow us to significantly expand our campus food pantry by purchasing a freezer to increase choices that integrate Healthy Eating Research guidelines into our student outreach. We are especially grateful to Susan Jagerson, Live Well Geary County Director, local BCBSKS Pathways to Healthy Kansas initiative Coordinator for her partnership and for including Cloud County Community College in this phase of Geary County’s Pathways to a Healthy Kansas initiative."
Live Well Geary County is one of 19 health coalitions approved for funding through Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas’ Pathways to a Healthy Kansas; the largest community grant initiative funded by the insurer. Pathways combines community-wide, evidence-based solutions and practices to help Kansas communities improve active living, healthy eating, behavioral health and commercial tobacco prevention. "Through our ongoing involvement as a Pathways community, Live Well Geary County has strengthened partnerships with local agencies, leveraged resources to support community-driven initiatives, and created opportunities that enhance quality of life while helping residents lead healthier, more active lives,” said Susan Jagerson, Director, Live Well Geary County and Pathways Coordinator.
For more information about Pathways grant awards in Geary County, please contact Susan Jagerson, Director, Live Well Geary County and Pathways Coordinator at sdjagerson@gmail.com or 785-223-1654.
About Pathways to a Healthy Kansas Pathways to a Healthy Kansas is the largest community grant initiative ever funded by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas. It combines community-wide, evidence-based solutions and practices to help Kansas communities improve active living, healthy eating, behavioral health and commercial tobacco prevention. Learn more: https://www.bcbsks.com/blue-health-initiatives/pathways.
About the Live Well Geary County At Live Well Geary County, we are developing dynamic, community-based strategies to improve the health of our community residents. Live Well was founded in response to a call for county-wide coordinated action among health and wellness stakeholders. Together we work to close the gaps in services and resources so that there are healthy choices where residents live, learn, work, and play. Learn more: https://www.livewellgearycounty.org.