FEBRUARY 2012

SAFETY NET NEWS

Regional Children’s Behavioral Health Needs Assessment Workshop — On Jan. 19, the Metropolitan Mental Health Stakeholders (MMHS) released the findings of their Regional Children’s Behavioral Health Needs Assessment to more than 140 stakeholders at the Kauffman Conference Center. Members of the Kansas City behavioral health community spent the day engaged in dialogue about ways to advance the findings from the study.

The purpose of the study was to determine how the current Continuum of Care matches the service needs of children and their families and where barriers and gaps exist. The assessment began last August under the direction of the MMHS Children’s System Change Committee, with in-depth surveys of providers and parents and other guardians.

The study was funded by the Health Care Foundation of Greater Kansas City and the REACH Healthcare Foundation. Collaborative Research, LLC, a public health consulting firm, was engaged to conduct this study.

All providers and agencies that participated in the assessment were invited to the workshop to provide further input on the data findings. This input will be reflected in a Community Action Plan that will be implemented through the System Change Committee during 2012. The Children’s Behavioral Health Needs Assessment final report will be completed by mid-February and will be available online.

SAFETY NET CLINIC NEWS

Cabot Westside Health Center — In December, Cabot Westside Health and Dental Center, part of Saint Luke’s Health System, became the first Kansas City, Mo., safety net provider to be recognized by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) as a Level-III Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) — the highest recognition for a medical group. NCQA’s designation recognizes medical practices that value the strengthening of the physician-patient relationship by replacing episodic care with coordinated care and a long-term healing relationships.

Nicole Schmidt, Cabot’s operations manager, led the application process. Liz Cessor, executive director of the center, said the clinic’s care model is coordinated by a physician-led team and emphasizes proactive planning for both prevention and chronic disease care. The care model will result in a more coordinated, efficient system and help eliminate fragmented care and unnecessary visits to the emergency room.

Cabot Westside Health and Dental, located at 2121 Summit in Kansas City, Mo., provides quality, culturally sensitive, bilingual health and dental care services to the growing Hispanic community in Kansas City. Services include adult, family, and pediatric medicine; general dentistry; mental health screening; chronic disease management; and case management. For more information, visit saintlukeshealthsystem.org or www.ncqa.org.

New Samuel U. Rodgers Health Center opens — Samuel U. Rodgers Health Center (SURHC) recently opened a new facility on land adjacent to its former building at 825 Euclid Avenue in Kansas City, Mo., fulfilling a 40-year dream. Hilda Fuentes, CEO of SURHC says the new facility will be able to serve an additional 7,200 patients in the community. Last year, more than 19,000 patients received health care services at one of SURHC’s eight locations. 

The same primary medical, dental and behavioral health services previously provided at the Downtown Campus site are now available at the new Health Center. The existing facility, built in 1971, will be demolished and converted into Legacy Park, in the memory of the Health Center's founder, Dr. Samuel U. Rodgers. 

The new three-story health center has 68,000 square feet of space with 37 exam rooms, 13 dental settings, and a culturally sensitive way-finding system for patients. Its décor features natural light and soothing colors, to provide a healing environment for patients. 

The new building cost $25.1 million, and 48 percent of the construction value was awarded to small and minority contractors. The facility meets criteria for the Silver Level of the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED guidelines.

Faith-Based Sports League — The Aim4Peace: Violence Prevention Project, a division of the Kansas City, Mo., Health Department, is pleased to be one of nearly 20 community partner organizations to sponsor the new Faith-Based Sports League (FBSL). The league incorporates sports and recreational opportunities in conjunction with educational and training resources.

Phase I began in January with three pilot programs: basketball leagues to help the entire family get active; “Music Speaks,” which promotes a creative outlet for singing, rapping, poetry and comedy; and “Life Gives,” with life skills and mentorship training resources.

The Concerned Clergy Coalition is coordinating the FBSL initiative through Pastors Calvin and Cassandra Wainright at Heaven Sent Ministries in Grandview. The new league is focused on getting people involved in positive, legal, community-building activities that foster and promote healthy lifestyles. Call the Wainrights at 816-497-4886 or email concernedclergykc@gmail.com for more information. Aim4Peace may be reached by phone at 816-513-7902 or on Facebook.

LOCAL & REGIONAL NEWS

National Health Care for the Homeless conference comes to Kansas City — After 27 years, the National Health Care for the Homeless Annual Conference and Policy Symposium will be held in Kansas City at the Sheraton Kansas City at Crown Center on May 15-18, 2012. This conference is designed for professionals, including clinicians and support staff; administrators; board members; and consumers of HCH services. It will also be of value to others who provide health care and support services to homeless people, as well as government officials and advocates. The conference hopes to create an increased understanding of the health care needs of homeless people. More information»

STATE & NATIONAL NEWS

Report ranks dental health in cities — A recent report issued by MSN Health showed Kansas City with a low grade among major cities in detail health. The article ranked and graded the "10 Worst Cities for Teeth" as follows:
1. St. Louis, Mo., F
2. Philadelphia, Pa., F
3. Newark, N.J., F
4. Baltimore, Md., F
5. New Orleans, La., F
6. Jackson, Miss., F
7. Jersey City, N.J., F
8. Milwaukee, Wis., D-
9. Kansas City, Mo., D-
10. Dallas, Texas, D-

Kaiser Family Foundation offers information in Spanish — The Kaiser Family Foundation now offers health care reform information, updates and a video in Spanish.