News

U.S. Census Bureau Releases 2016 Poverty Estimates          Johnson County Poverty Levels Stagnant The U.S Census Bureau yesterday released 2016 estimates of population, poverty, income, and other demographic indicators from its American Community Survey and Current Population Survey. Nationwide, the official poverty rate dropped from 13.5% to 12.7%, with 2.5 million fewer Americans living below the federal poverty level than in 2015. Median household income increased nationwide, although there was no significant increase in the Midwestern states. Early analysis of Johnson County data indicates that unlike the nationwide trend, more people were identified as living poverty in ...

Immigration in Johnson County Immigrants from all over the world call Johnson County home, including non-citizens and naturalized citizens. Almost 48,000 Johnson county residents, or 8% of Johnson County's current population, came to the United States from another country, according to data from the U.S Census Bureau. Approximately half of all immigrants in the community are naturalized U.S. citizens. Growth in the immigrant population has outpaced growth in the general population by more than three times over the past decade. The Migration Policy Institute (MPI) estimates that Johnson County has the largest number of immigrants in the five-county, bi-state Kansas ...

County and Cities across Johnson County Recognize UCS' 50th Anniversary Milestone Johnson County Board of County Commissioners and city councils throughout the county have taken time this summer to help celebrate UCS' 50th Anniversary with proclamations recognizing the organization's work and impact on our community.  UCS and its board members have been honored to receive proclamations so far from the cities of Leawood, Overland Park, Westwood Hills, Edgerton, Olathe, Merriam, Lenexa, Shawnee, Gardner, Prairie Village, Roeland Park, Spring Hill, and Johnson County, and are looking forward to being recognized at Mission's September 20th City Council meeting. In presenting the proclamations, our ...

UCS Publishes Employment Planning Project Report and Recommendations UCS launched the Employment Planning Project to identify opportunities to improve employment and career pathways for low income households. Based on the belief that employment should be a pathway out of poverty, the project's goal included developing a Johnson County-specific set of strategies to increase income and expand household-sustaining employment opportunities for low-income residents. The ultimate vision is that every household in Johnson County has adequate income to sustainably meet their members' basic needs.   Last week UCS released its report:  A Plan to Increase Income through Employment in Johnson County . The Employment ...

UCS' Navigating the Future Event Sold Out Attendance Showcased the Importance of Planning for a Healthy Future More than 200 professionals from across various community sectors including business, public safety, education, human services, government, faith community and funders gathered at the new Johnson County Arts and Heritage Center to discuss health and human service challenges and opportunities facing Johnson County residents and the importance of cross sector collaboration to address these challenges. As UCS celebrate its 50th Anniversary, the organization determined to use its annual Human Service Summit this year as a component of UCS' current strategic planning process which ...

2017 UCS Navigating the Future - Registration Deadline This Friday June 14, 2017     Join us for a Community Conversation When 8:30 a.m. - NOON Wednesday, June 14, 2017 Where Johnson County Arts & Heritage Center (former King Louie building) 8788 Metcalf Overland Park, KS 66212 Please join UCS and participate in a community conversation about human service needs and solutions in Johnson County. This is a unique opportunity to come together with representatives from various community sectors who care deeply about the future of our community. The morning kicks off with a panel of leaders representing key community sectors moderated ...

Enews April 26 Grant Applications for ATF and HSF and KU Today News Article ...

Enews March-24 Save the Date and KanCare passes Out of the Senate SAVE THE DATE! The 2017 UCS Human Service Summit will take a page from the past and be a  Navigating the Future event.  This community conversation about human service trends, needs and solutions in Johnson County will launch planning for the next 50 years.  Mark your calendar now for June 14, 2017, 8:30 - Noon.    This is a community-wide event for health and human service agencies, funders, faith community representatives, elected officials, county and city governments, public safety, education and business sectors. UCS is excited for this to be ...

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January 27, 2017 ...