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$3.4 Million In Grants To Address Health Care Disparities In Kansas City

By Steve Kraske,

Published July 13, 2021 at 6:12 PM CDT

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A nurse prepares a shot of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine at Guy's Hospital in London, Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2020, as the U.K. health authorities rolled out a national mass vaccination program. U.K. regulators said Wednesday Dec. 9, 2020, that people who have a “significant history’’ of allergic reactions shouldn’t receive the new Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine while they investigate two adverse reactions that occurred on the first day of the country’s mass vaccination program. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein, Pool) — Healthcare disparities exist in Kansas City whether that means vaccine accessibility, food security, or mental health resources.

The health care disparity in Kansas City is largely shaped by where you live and how much money you make.

There are regions of the metro with quality access to health care and those without it. The Health Forward Foundation is fighting this by awarding $3.4 million in grants to 36 nonprofit organizations. The idea is to make people, especially in low-income neighborhoods, healthier. Two grant recipients share their goals for improving health care in the city.

Adriana Pecina, senior program officer, Health Forward
Maxfield Kaniger, chief executive officer, Kanbe's Markets
Justin Matthews, executive director, Reconciliation Services

The Health Forward Foundation is an underwriter of KCUR.

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Up To Date Health Forward Foundation Kansas City Missouri (KCMO)community public health non-profits Podcast

Steve Kraske

When I host Up To Date each morning at 9, my aim is to engage the community in conversations about the Kansas City area’s challenges, hopes and opportunities. I try to ask the questions that listeners want answered about the day’s most pressing issues and provide a place for residents to engage directly with newsmakers. Reach me at steve@kcur.org or on Twitter @stevekraske.

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Reginald David

As an assistant producer on Up To Date, my goal is to amplify voices of people who serve as pioneers in their respective fields while shedding light on issues that affect underserved communities. I produce daily conversations to uplift and inspire the people of the Kansas City area to make the world a better place. You can reach me at reginalddavid@kcur.org.

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Chris Young

Chris Young is an Assistant Producer for KCUR’s Up To Date. Contact him at chrisy@kcur.org.

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