Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas seeking communities for Pathways to a Healthy Kansas grants
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas (BCBSKS) is continuing efforts to improve the health and wellness in communities across Kansas. The company has released its Request for Application for Phase 3 of Pathways to a Healthy Kansas grant. The two-year coordination grants will award $100,000 each for up to 20 communities.
Pathways to a Healthy Kansas is the largest community grant initiative ever funded by BCBSKS. It launched in 2016 to provide community coalitions with the tools and resources needed to engage their communities and remove barriers to improve active living, healthy eating, behavioral health and commercial tobacco prevention across the state.
The funding period for Phase 3 is from Jan. 1, 2025 to Dec. 31, 2026. BCBSKS is accepting letters of intent from communities interested in applying for the grant. Letters of intent must be submitted no later than Aug. 23, 2024, in order to receive an application packet. Applications are due Sept. 27. Awardees will be notified on Dec. 6.
“The work being done through Pathways has resulted in connected communities, working together to improve the health of Kansans,” said Virginia Barnes, BCBSKS Director of Blue Health Initiatives. “We are excited to welcome the next round of community coalitions into this initiative to find creative solutions that address health inequities and improve quality of life across our state.”
Eligible communities are required to:
Be within the 103-county service area of BCBSKS (all Kansas counties except Johnson and Wyandotte).
Represent the community through an active health-related coalition. An active coalition is defined as a group that consistently meets to pursue defined health goals through collaborative efforts. This coalition engages its members and community in ongoing projects, allocates necessary resources, maintains clear leadership, and tracks measurable outcomes to ensure continuous progress.
Coalitions that can show multi-sector membership and active engagement with a diverse group of community stakeholders will be given priority consideration in the review process.
More information about Pathways is available at www.bcbsks.com/pathways. More information about applying to receive funding is available at www.bcbsks.com/blue-health-initiatives/grants.
