News

GRANT APPLICATION MEETING SET FOR 2020 ALCOHOL TAX FUND On May 16, 2019, a pre-proposal meeting will be held for organizations interested in applying for a 2020 Alcohol Tax Fund (ATF) grant.  The meeting will be held at Johnson County Court Services (588 E. Santa Fe, Room 1040, Olathe).  The 2020 ATF Request for Proposal and application will be reviewed from 8:30 to 9:30 for non-schools, and from 9:30 to 10:30 for public school districts. The ATF supports programs whose principal purpose is alcohol and drug abuseeducation, prevention, detoxification, intervention and/or treatment.  Applicants for ATF grants must be recognized by the IRS under section §501(c)(3), ...

REGISTER NOW FOR THE JUNE 11 HUMAN SERVICE SUMMIT - HEALTH STARTS AT HOME Join UCS for the 2019 Human Service Summit - Health Starts at Home. Be a part of the community conversation of how having access to a safe, stable and affordable home impacts our health. This is a unique opportunity to come together with representatives from various community sectors who care deeply about Johnson County. Our community's economic vitality and sustainability are only as healthy as those who live and work here. When 8:30 a.m.-12:30 P.M. Tuesday, June 11, 2019 Where Johnson County Arts & Heritage Center 8788 Metcalf ...

UCS' Transitional Age Youth Initiative Hosts Dinners with Youth A vital key to the success of any human service project is partnering directly with service recipients to ensure that programming reflects their needs and includes their participation. In partnership with the UCS led Transitional Age Youth (TAY) Planning Project, UCS participated in three events aimed at connecting directly with youth in Johnson County to learn more about their experiences, barriers, successes and needs. Framed as Feast and Feedback opportunities, members from the Transitional Age Youth Planning Project shared a meal and conversation with youth, from high school to 21 years old at CASA, ...

Register Here Mark your calendars now for Tuesday, June 11, 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. at the Johnson County Arts & Heritage Center Join UCS for the 2019 Human Service Summit - Health Starts at Home. Be a part of the community conversation of how having access to a safe, stable and affordable home impacts our health. This is a unique opportunity to come together with representatives from various community sectors who care deeply about Johnson County. Our community's economic vitality and sustainability are only as healthy as those who live and work here. The session will be an interactive morning ...

UCS Releases 2019 Point in Time Count of Homelessness - Second Year Numbers Increase One hundred and eighty-nine persons were identified in Johnson County's 2019 point-in-time (PIT) count of homelessness - an increase in overall numbers for a second year. The number of unsheltered individuals remained essentially the same - but the number of households in emergency shelter doubled. Understanding who is experiencing homelessness and their permanent housing needs is critical in Johnson County's work to end homelessness in 2019 and beyond. The median age of a person experiencing homelessness in Johnson County's 2019 count was 32 years, continuing a ...

UCS Board Members Meet with Johnson and Wyandotte Counties' Council of Mayors to Discuss Housing Needs UCS Board President Kate Allen and board members Rick Worrel and Tom Herzog presented at the March meeting of the Johnson and Wyandotte Counties' Council of Mayors. UCS board members shared research and data pointing to the vital need to create home ownership and rental options that fully reflect where residents are - at all ages, life stages, and income levels -throughout Johnson County. The discussion focused on work done by the UCS led Johnson County Health Equity Network's Leadership Team, a multi-sector group ...

Johnson County Health Equity Leadership Team Host Legislative Luncheon Representatives from the Johnson County Health Equity Network (HEN) and UCS Board hosted a luncheon in Topeka on Wednesday, February 21, for the Johnson County legislative delegation to discuss the role of public policy in addressing the need for varied priced housing options that increase access, stability and safety for residents in Johnson County and throughout Kansas. HEN and UCS representatives discussed how many working families in our community - from first responders, nurses, and elementary teachers, to seniors and residents with disabilities - face the challenges of increasing housing and ...

Health Insurance Coverage in Johnson County According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 93% of Johnson County residents were insured in 2017, down from 95% in 2016. This drop between 2016 and 2017 represents approximately 9,000 more members of our community without health insurance, limiting their ability to seek medical help when they needed it, afford prescription medications, and obtain preventative health care. Where Johnson County residents obtain their insurance differs depending on household income level. People at the highest income level are three times more likely to get their health insurance through their employers compared to those at the lowest ...

Full House for UCS' Annual Kansas Public Policy Forum This week's Kansas Public Policy Forum, presented by UCS, Community Health Council of Wyandotte County (CHC), Tenants to Homeowners, Inc. of Lawrence and United Way of Greater Kansas City, convened a dozen state legislators from Johnson and Wyandotte counties as well as local elected officials, county and city staff, health and human service agencies, health foundation grant makers, community advocates, educators, and residents. Healthy Communities was the focus of this year's forum. UCS Executive Director Julie Brewer, CHC Executive Director Jerry Jones, and Tenants to Homeowners Executive Director Rebecca Buford began ...

Housing Affordability in Johnson County Safe, stable, and affordable housing is the foundation on which families build healthy and sustainable futures. Housing also represents one of the largest expenses in a household budget, and where one lives can impact access to schools, jobs, and community resources. Housing influences both individual and community health and well-being in significant ways. Rising property values can displace low- and fixed-income home owners unable to keep up with property taxes. The number of homes valued at less than $250,000 declined by 20,000 between 2007 and 2017, while the number of homes valued between $250,000 and ...