Health Forward Foundation

04/24/2026

In continuation of National Healthy Homes Month, we’re proud to share our “Housing is Health” policy brief.

Everyone deserves the opportunity to live healthy, fulfilling lives, but housing insecurity — driven by rising costs, lack of affordable options, and evolving yet limited, tenant protections — undermines health outcomes and places significant strain on people and the health care system that serves them.

Through innovative partnerships, bold policy initiatives, and a commitment to health equity, we have an opportunity to rethink how we approach health and build communities where housing supports, rather than undermines, well-being. This report explores housing insecurity, the four primary pathways through which housing impacts health, the hidden costs to the health care system, and the unique challenges facing the Kansas City region.

Thank you to our funded partners for lending your voice to this important work. Learn more: https://healthforward.canto.com/pdfviewer/viewer/viewer.html?column=document&id=9umnag04pt2lv01ppm74fks24r&suffix=pdf&print=1

04/23/2026

Health Forward Foundation was proud to be a Gold Sponsor of the 2026 Nonprofit Connect Awards Celebration. The 42nd Annual event, “We Got You,” recognized the leadership, innovation, and impact of nonprofits across our region.

Congratulations to the organizations and individuals honored and thank you for the meaningful difference you make in our community every day.

04/16/2026

Broad reporting categories have long limited how clearly we can understand maternal and infant outcomes.

During Black Maternal Health Week, we are highlighting an effort led by Cradle KC that uses a rigorous approach to race, ethnicity, and language data is beginning to change that.

Cradle KC’s work to disaggregate maternal and infant outcomes illuminated a critical opportunity that one hospital system could not answer using its own data. That insight became a catalyst for strengthening how data is collected, shared and used to support more responsive care.

This effort underscores an important truth: accountability is strengthened when systems can clearly see and understand the communities they serve and design data to reflect that complexity from the start.

Read more here: https://accesshealthnews.net/cradle-kansas-city-the-systems-cant-fix-what-it-cant-see/

04/15/2026

Recent redistricting in Missouri placed Kansas City into three districts that extend into rural areas, raising concerns about representation for urban and rural communities alike, including many communities of color. In this Democracy Docket editorial, Health Forward CEO & Kansas City native Qiana Thomason explores the impact of gerrymandering on our region and shares how across Missouri, leaders from business, faith, and labor sectors, are working together to address these concerns and strengthen fair representation.

Whether the new map is left to stand will determine the voices, power, and well-being of my community.

04/15/2026

As we recognize Black Maternal Health Week, Health Forward is highlighting local efforts that are advancing birth equity across our region.

The Kansas Birth Equity Network is reshaping how Black families access care and support in Kansas.

Too often, Black families are asked to navigate pregnancy and postpartum care across disconnected providers, programs, and systems. The solution isn’t simply adding more services - it’s making existing support visible, coordinated, and accessible.

That’s what the Kansas Birth Equity Network is doing. Through a comprehensive, community-informed approach, their work includes virtual doula-led prenatal care focused on hypertensive disorders, father-centered mental health support, supply distribution, clinical training, and Medicaid policy advocacy.

Together, these efforts are helping close the gap between what exists and what families can reach.

Read more here: https://accesshealthnews.net/how-the-kansas-birth-equity-network-is-reshaping-black-maternal-health/

04/14/2026

The 2026 Black Maternal Health Week theme, "Rooted in Justice & Joy," honors the resilience of Black-led organizations while also calling attention to the systemic injustices that continue to shape maternal health outcomes.

Through our work with the Kansas City Health Equity Learning and Action Network (LAN), Health Forward is focusing on the region’s maternal health crisis with a focus on improving outcomes for Black women. In 2023, maternal deaths declined for white, Hispanic and Asian women, but increased for Black women, rising to 50.3 deaths per 100,000 live births.

Our efforts aim to help bridge community and clinical systems. Learn more about the LAN and our birth equity approach. Throughout the week, Health Forward will highlight LAN partners and local efforts advancing birth equity in our region.

https://kchealthequity.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/ImpactReport2022-20245.22.2025.pdf

04/09/2026

As we celebrate Local News Day, Health Forward is proud to introduce Press Forward Kansas City.

We’ve partnered with Press Forward, a growing national movement to sustain and invest in local news. As the first philanthropic effort of its kind in our region, we are focused on strengthening the local media ecosystem to help build a more resilient future for local news.

At Health Forward, we believe strong communities are built on access to trusted information. Local news plays a vital role in advancing civic engagement, amplifying community voices, and shifting power so communities can shape the decisions that impact their lives.

Together, we’re meeting a critical need in our community: raising awareness and appreciation for the vital role local news plays in our civic life.

Learn more and get involved.
https://healthforward.org/story/celebrating-local-news-day-announcing-press-forward-kansas-city/

04/07/2026

En Health Forward Foundation, sabemos que nuestros hogares desempeñan un papel importante en nuestra salud y bienestar general. Al conmemorar el Mes Nacional de los Hogares Saludables, queremos compartir esta lista de verificación como una herramienta útil para tener a la mano. Para ver la lista completa y obtener más información sobre el mantenimiento mensual y anual, visita https://healthforward.canto.com/pdfviewer/viewer/viewer.html?column=document&id=bg4hbpj8kd6nf9dh2hklrr7q2a&suffix=pdf&print=1

04/07/2026

At Health Forward Foundation, we know that our homes play a significant role in our overall health and well-being. As we commemorate National Healthy Homes Month, we wanted to share this checklist as a helpful tool to keep on hand. To view the entire checklist for more information on monthly and yearly maintenance, visit https://healthforward.canto.com/pdfviewer/viewer/viewer.html?column=document&id=6mgapethgd2jhcfp7tvndtj23p&suffix=pdf&print=1

04/06/2026

"Storytelling is the Beginning of the Repair" brought community members together for an evening of truth, reflection, and connection. The event was led by REPAIR Project Kansas City, an initiative of the Center for African American Health at the University of Kansas Medical Center.

Under the leadership of Nicole Garner, MBA, HCA, Executive Director of the Center for African American Health at the University of Kansas and Jason E. Glenn, PhD, Associate Professor, University of Kansas Medical Center; Associate Director, Center for African American Health; and Executive Director of the REPAIR Project Kansas City, this event centered the lived experiences, voices, and leadership of community members working to shift the trajectory of health and healing in Kansas City.

Health Forward President/CEO Qiana Thomason served as the keynote speaker, addressing the historic and ongoing harm of people of color, particularly Black Americans, within the U.S. health care system.

Through storytelling, participants examined how acknowledging harm is essential to both personal and collective healing. The event created space to honor lived experiences, confront difficult truths, and imagine a path toward healing and transformation.

04/03/2026

Are you passionate about shaping healthier, more equitable communities? Health Forward Foundation is inviting leaders to apply for our Board of Directors.

This is an opportunity to help guide strategic impact, strengthen community partnerships, and play a meaningful role in advancing health equity across the region. We are currently accepting applications for this recruitment cycle through May 31, 2026. We encourage you to learn more and apply by visiting our website. https://healthforward.org/board-member-application/