Sparking Health Care Initiatives

Armed with a Leadership Summit grant from the National Center for Outreach, KMOS initiated a health-focused Leadership Summit with 32 statewide organizations. Some groups had never worked together before.

"People asked why a public television station was initiating this discussion on health. We explained outreach, offering examples of previous and ongoing outreach projects," said Rosemary Olas, KMOS education and outreach manager. Summit participants discussed needs, shared information and offered resources.

"When they saw what we could bring to the table, they were very impressed," Olas said.

The KMOS Leadership Summit stimulated partnerships and focused attention on statewide health needs. With community partners, KMOS created children’s health kits for educators with lesson plans, resources and information about basic health care like immunizations and nutrition. One hundred organizations received free kits with 4500 take-home "Parent Packs."

"These kits are valuable," said Johnson County Public health coordinator Judy Schache. "They focus on the basics. But basics are basic. Immunization. Nutrition. Washing hands, for example, breaks the chain of infection." Schache, a public health nurse for 25 years, affirmed the Leadership Summit’s practical impact. Olas agreed.

"We have a wide reach" Olas said. "The power of television and the power of partners. We can touch a lot of lives."