Legislature unanimously approves Our Healthy KC Eastside Project

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 10, 2021 

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Today, the Jackson County Legislature approved $4,998,014 in CARES Act funding for “Our Healthy KC Eastside” (OHKCE), a community-based partnership and project to address vaccine hesitancy and health inequities in portions of Jackson County identified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as having exceedingly high socially vulnerable index scores.

“The Legislature’s support puts into action a truly remarkable program that will make a real difference in the lives of many people that will start today and be felt for years to come,” said Jackson County Executive Frank White, Jr. “I am extremely grateful to every member of the Legislature, who share the vision that affordable, accessible and equitable health care is necessary in our urban neighborhoods whose residents are at a consistent disadvantage to living healthy lives. We are excited to start the program which I believe will change our community in ways we never imagined.”

Led by Dr. Jannette Berkley-Patton, Director of the UMKC Health Equity Institute, the OHKCE project is set to take place June 1, 2021 – November 31, 2021 with primary goals to significantly increase vaccination intake and the use of prevention health services.

Building on nearly two decades of large-scale collaborative community studies, the organizers will fully engage community members in the multi-sectoral COVID-19 education, communication and vaccination project. The OHKCE project will also tap the University of Missouri Kansas City’s, Truman Medical Center’s and the Black Health Care Coalition’s extensive experience in providing health services in community and medical settings on KC’s Eastside.