Food & Nutrition
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Food & Nutrition

The 2025-2028 Community Health Improvement Plan aims to implement strategies in schools, healthcare settings, and communities to support and expand local food systems. The effort also expands education and resource coordination with support for local food pantries. The plan also emphasizes increasing awareness of safety-net programs like SNAP and Sun Bucks and promoting the RISE Cowley Resource Directory. Kansas State Research and Extension leads this priority, with support from William Newton Hospital and other partners. These coordinated efforts aim to improve access to nutritious food, reduce food insecurity, and foster long-term community wellness.

STOP 1: No help 

Households not receiving help from the emergency food system, do not have enough food

STOP 2: some help

Households receiving some help from the emergency food system, still do not have enough food

STOP 3: ENOUGH HELP

Households receiving help from the emergency food system, have enough food

Children in Poverty

(14% KS, 16% US) CHNA Secondary Research pg 4 County Health Rankings & Roadmaps

11%

Food insecurity

CHNA Secondary Research pg 5, chart C, item H

Adult obesity

(37% KS, 34% US) CHNA Secondary Research pg 3 County Health Rankings & Roadmaps

10%

Limited Access to healthy foods

CHNA Secondary Research pg 5, chart C, item I

Free/Reduced Lunch

CHNA Secondary Research pg 5, chart D, item A

Children in Poverty

(14% KS, 16% US) CHNA Secondary Research pg 4 County Health Rankings & Roadmaps

Adult obesity

(37% KS, 34% US) CHNA Secondary Research pg 3 County Health Rankings & Roadmaps

11%

Food insecurity

CHNA Secondary Research pg 5, chart C, item H

10%

Limited Access to healthy foods

CHNA Secondary Research pg 5, chart C, item I

Free/Reduced Lunch

CHNA Secondary Research pg 5, chart D, item A

50.87%

of survey respondents either disagreed or strongly disagreed that there are sufficient healthy food options in Cowley County.

Disagree: 39.74%,  Strongly Disagree: 11.13% (PG 16, table 8, CHNA)

Initiatives

Goal 1: Promote nutrition and wellness through school-based initiatives

Objective 1.1
Increase consumption of healthy foods by youth (specifically fruits and vegetables).
Strategy 1
Implement healthy food experiences in schools

Goal 2: Promote nutrition and wellness in healthcare settings.

Objective 2.1
Increase the number of healthcare settings using “Food is Medicine” practices.
Strategy 1
Explore policy options within healthcare environments.
Strategy 2
Expand systems to promote patient knowledge about, access to and consumption of healthy foods.
Strategy 3
Connect hospital and clinic patients with locally-grown food.

Goal 3: Support and expand local food systems, specifically production, distribution and recovery.

Objective 3.1
Increase the number and variety of opportunities related to local food production.
Strategy 1
Conduct a Local Food System Assessment to provide baseline data for CHNA/CHIP implementation
Strategy 2
Support systems and environments that produce locally grown food.
Objective 3.2
Increase the number and variety of opportunities related to local food production.
Strategy 1
Promote systems and environments that influence food recovery
Objective 3.3
Increase the number and variety of opportunities related to local food production.
Strategy 1
Strengthen existing food pantries by supporting policy and program changes for healthy options.

Goal 4: Expand education and resource coordination related to food and nutrition in the community

Objective 4.1
Increase awareness of food and nutrition resources and use of safety-net resources.
Strategy 1
Promote use of RISE Cowley Resource Directory
Strategy 2
Provide assistance for people to apply for SNAP and Sun Bucks.

Organizational Partners

Lead Organization

k-state research and extension cowley county

additional partners

  • 4-H
  • Area Agencies on Aging
  • Border Queen Harvest Hub
  • CCLHD dieticians
  • CHWs and resource navigators
  • Community Health Center in Cowley County
  • Content creators
  • Cowley County Farm Bureau
  • Families active in gardening, producing
  • Friendship Meals
  • Meals on Wheels
  • Media personalities
  • Medical offices and providers
  • Parents as Teachers
  • Public libraries
  • Public transportation
  • PTO Teacher Work Group
  • Rise Cowley HEAL Committee
  • School Districts (school gardens, food service, nurses, counselors, social workers)
  • Southwestern and Cowley Colleges