The Health Care Foundation of Greater Kansas City recently highlighted Allen County and Thrive in their “Local Health Buzz Blog”:

The Little County that could

Just over 100 miles southwest of Kansas City, there is a county of just over 13,000 residents that has created a model for community health improvement. A county that admitted collectively that it needed to improve health outcomes. A county that was willing to ask for help. A county that rolled up its sleeves (and put on its walking shoes) and built an infrastructure unlike any other county of its size in the state – and perhaps in the country. A county that improved its state County Health Ranking from 94 (of 100) in 2009 to 79 in 2014.

The county? It’s Allen, in the southeast corner of Kansas.

In what can often seem like bleak times for health advocates in rural areas — lack of Medicaid expansion, a shrinking healthcare workforce, an increasingly fragile health infrastructure — there is an inspiring story of community engagement, of commitment, of hope and of success. Right here in our own backyard.

Read more: The Little County that could

Thanks to HCF and to Krista Postai of the Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas!