Home Room Health–MCCA Member Spotlight

Youth and children living in Jackson County will be the primary beneficiaries of an innovative approach to healthcare. Two reputable Kansas City nonprofit agencies, Cornerstones of Care and KC CARE Health Center, are opening a fully-integrated health center for infants, children, teens and young adults on the Troost Corridor.

It’s no secret that affordable, integrated healthcare is a challenge for communities like Kansas City. Layered with socioeconomic barriers such as poverty, low health literacy, limited transportation access, or unstable housing, these challenges are often insurmountable for families with Medicaid or who are uninsured. Children, teens and young adults are especially susceptible to significant long-term health disparities when adequate care is out of reach.

In recognition of these healthcare disparities, Read more “Home Room Health–MCCA Member Spotlight” →

Lessons from the Super Bowl

Lessons from the Super Bowl: What does Tony Dungy have to do with creating Trauma Smart® homes and schools?

By Marcia Weseman, Saint Luke’s Hospital’s Crittenton Children’s Center, Trauma Smart®

Between commercials during the Super Bowl, I overheard the commentators describing an event that made me think about the most important set of strategies educators can use to improve student academic performance.

In 1997, Michael Husted, kicker for the Tampa Buccaneers, was missing easy field goals and extra points. The Buccaneers had been having a good season and the media and fans believed Husted should be benched. His performance was declining and “everyone” knew he had to go (NBC, 2018).

“Everyone” except Coach Dungy who was not listening.  Read more “Lessons from the Super Bowl” →

Over 55,000 Missouri Children Lose Health Coverage

Georgetown Center for Children and Families’ new report shows that kids around the country are losing the health insurance they need. In Missouri, 55,634 kids lost Medicaid & Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) coverage in 2018.

From the Executive Summary:

“There is no debate over the fact that children are losing Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) coverage. Overall, more than 828,000, or 2.2 percent, fewer children were enrolled in Medicaid and CHIP, combined, at the end of 2018 than the previous year.^1 2 A drop in child enrollment is unusual; between 2000 and 2016, enrollment declined in only one year—2007—by 1.1 percent.³ During this period, the nation achieved historic success in covering children with the rate of uninsured children reaching an all-time low of 4.7 percent in 2016. In 2017, child enrollment in Medicaid and CHIP was basically flat while the uninsured rate for children increased for the first time in a decade to 5 percent despite the strong economy.⁴

The decline in children’s enrollment in Medicaid and CHIP reinforces serious concerns that this alarming trend could continue—and perhaps even worsen. At a time when the economy is strong, the critical question is whether these children are moving to private coverage or becoming uninsured—a question that will not be answered definitively until the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey data become available this fall.”

For the full report, go to: https://bit.ly/2W27pA5

Sex Trafficking–A Community Response

By Sara Lahman, Annie Malone CEO

Allison Mack, 36, best known for her role as Chloe in Smallville, pleaded guilty recently to charges of racketeering conspiracy and racketeering as a result of her involvement with Nxivm, a controversial alleged cult founded by Keith Raniere. Mack reportedly recruited women to become “obedient female companions” for Raniere. She admitted to luring women into Nxivm who were “extorted and coerced into following Raniere’s orders.” [1] The group claimed to be a “self-help” group. Mack will be sentenced September 11, 2019 on the two racketeering counts and faces a maximum of 20 years in prison.  She was originally charged last year with sex trafficking, sex trafficking conspiracy, and forced labor conspiracy. As for Raniere, he is charged with multiple counts of sex trafficking along with wire fraud and most recently, an added charge of child pornography. 

The Nxivm case has generated quite a bit of publicity namely because of its high-profile participants such as India Oxenburg, daughter of Dynasty actress Catherine Oxenburg, and heir to the Seagram’s liquor fortune, Clare Bronfman who is charged with racketeering. The same can be said of the media circus surrounding R&B superstar R. Kelly who was indicted on 10 counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse charges involving four victims, including teenagers below the age of consent. [2]  

But sadly, not enough attention is paid to the thousands of victims of sex trafficking who are exploited every day in this country. The pain and suffering they feel is every bit as traumatizing as that of the women exploited by Mack and allegedly by R. Kelly. Often, their plight is ignored because they are in many cases, the forgotten ones. Too often, the victims are young teens with severed connections to family. They may be runaways or homeless youth. They are preyed upon daily. Young people signing on for what they think are glamorous jobs traveling the country selling magazines are often victims of labor trafficking. Juvenile boys and members of the LGBTQ community are exploited and beaten and engage in survival sex. [3] This happens every single day in the United States of America.  Read more “Sex Trafficking–A Community Response” →