Ellis County Health Department

03/07/2026

🚨 The BEACON Program launches March 24th! 🚨
Are you a working parent in Ellis County trying to finish a degree, certification, or job training online?

The BEACON Program provides evening childcare while you study on-site.
✔ Supervised childcare ages infant–13
✔ $5 per night
✔ 6:30–8:30 PM
✔ Tuesday & Thursday evenings
✔ Childcare provided by Bright Minds Academy

📍 Bob & Pat Schmidt Community Center
2510 Canterbury Dr, Hays

⚠ Limited pilot spots available
📞 Call James at 785-628-3102 to sign up

👉 First night: March 24th
Please share this post if you know a parent who could benefit!

SIGN UP HERE https://forms.gle/GJ754aqzWVxKXJ4J6

03/06/2026

The National Weather Service (NWS) is hosting free Storm Spotter
Training sessions at the Emergency Services Building on Thursday,
March 12. There will be two sessions: one at 3PM and another at 6PM, with each expected to last about an hour. Both sessions are open to the public, and no registration is necessary. Come and
learn how to identify and report severe weather.

03/04/2026

Our health department staff participated last year and it was so fun!

Registration for Walk Kansas is open now! Get your teams together and register here: http://WalkKansas.org 🚶‍♀️‍➡️🚶‍➡️✨

03/04/2026

Applications for the 2026 season of the Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP) are due at the end of this month.

If eligible, LIEAP provides a one-time per year benefit to help you pay for a portion of your home heating costs including:
🔌Electricity
🔥Propane
⛽Gas
⚡Other home heating fuels

Learn more, find an application event near you or apply online at LIEAP.dcf.ks.gov.

Applications for LIEAP must be received by DCF by 5 p.m. on March 31, 2026.

03/03/2026

🌪️ Kansas Statewide Tornado Drill – Wednesday, March 4th, 2026

A reminder that the Kansas Statewide Tornado Drill will take place on Wednesday, March 4th. During the drill, many communities across Kansas will sound their outdoor warning sirens around 10:00 AM, central standard time, as part of Severe Weather Awareness Week.
This is only a test, but it’s a great time to:
• Review your severe weather safety plan
• Identify your safe place at home, work, or school
• Make sure your weather alerts and notifications are working

02/18/2026

Becoming a Mom classes begin tomorrow, don't miss them!

02/11/2026

Please plan on attending or share with other moms-to-be who may want to join as well!

01/23/2026

Make sure that you add this to your calendar, we look forward to seeing you there!

01/21/2026

Don't miss these great opportunities for better health!

01/21/2026

"KDHE is recommending that Kansas clinicians continue to rely on their clinical training and professional judgment, as well as following the childhood and adolescent immunization schedules published by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Family Physicians as they navigate shared decision-making with parents, caregivers and patients."

ECHD is here to support both families and providers with guidance, resources and continued care.

https://www.kdhe.ks.gov/214/Immunizations
https://www.aafp.org/family-physician/patient-care/prevention-wellness/immunizations-vaccines/immunization-schedules/birth-through-age-18-immunization-schedule.html

01/07/2026

01/07/2026

ECHD is pleased to be an Early Detection Works provider.
Your health is important and catching cancer early can make a lifesaving difference. Make sure to schedule your screening today!

Women ages 21–64 who live in Kansas and have limited income or no health insurance may be eligible for free breast and cervical cancer screenings through the Early Detection Works (EDW) program.
Visit https://www.kdhe.ks.gov/826/Early-Detection-Works or call 877-277-1368, enrollment takes five to ten minutes.
Call us at 785-628-9440 to learn more.