Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas Selects The Healthy Bourbon County Action Team for Pathways to a Healthy Kansas Program in Bourbon County
TOPEKA, Kan. (July 20, 2020) — Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas (BCBSKS) announces it has selected the Healthy Bourbon County Action Team in Bourbon County, along with 23 other communities in Kansas as grantees for its second phase of Pathways to a Healthy Kansas initiative. This includes 12 returning communities that were selected in the initiative’s first phase of grants.
Pathways to a Healthy Kansas is the largest community grant program ever funded by BCBSKS. Since the initiative began in 2016, BCBSKS has donated more than $11.7 million in grants and assistance to communities throughout Kansas. The Pathways program was created to inspire long-lasting, community-wide health and wellness in communities across Kansas.
“We are excited to recognize our second cohort of Pathways grantees,” said Matt All, president and CEO of BCBSKS. “We have been rooted in Kansas for over 75 years and have a commitment to our neighbors to strengthen the health of all Kansans. Through our Pathways initiative, we are making strides toward this goal by helping remove barriers to accessing healthy foods, increasing physical activity and preventing commercial tobacco use. We are thrilled to continue this program with our new Pathways grantees.”
The grant funding includes a coordination grant of $200,000 for each community.
In addition, Bourbon County community will have the opportunity to apply for non-competitive implementation grants amounting to $200,000, for a total of up to $400,000.
“The Healthy Bourbon County Action Team has seen measurable success with resources from the Blue Cross Blue Shield Pathways to Healthy Kansas Grant in the past four years. We look
forward to the next four years, working to make the healthy choice the default choice.” Jody Hoener, Coordinator Healthy Bourbon County Action Team.
The Pathways grant addresses the three behaviors of focus – physical activity, commercial
tobacco prevention, and healthy eating – that reduce the risk for serious health conditions though
six areas or work, or pathways.
The pathways include Community & Social Context,
Neighborhood & Physical Environment, Food, Healthcare, Education, and Economic Stability,
and strive to improve conditions that are the drivers of health in a community.
About The Healthy Bourbon County Action Team
The Healthy Bourbon County Action Team was created to coordinate community efforts and improve upon the health outcomes of Bourbon County. The Action Team consists of a cross-sector of members with a shared vision to improve the quality of life of Bourbon County residents, foster economic growth, and remove barriers to living healthy lifestyles. For more information, visit
http://www.bourboncountyks.org/healthy-bourbon-county-action-team/.
About Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas
For more than 75 years, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas has built a reputation of trust with its members and contracting providers by providing outstanding customer service while
quickly and accurately processing claims; fairly administering benefit plans and contracts; offering programs, services and tools to help members improve or maintain their health; and
operating under the highest ethical standards while being good stewards of premium dollars.
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association and is the state’s largest insurer, serving all Kansas counties except Johnson and
Wyandotte. For more information, visit bcbsks.com.