Community Engagement

The purpose of the Kansas Rural Health Works program is to provide a process by which community residents can evaluate their health system. The process leads to increased use and expansion of health services and helps to ensure the continued existence of local health services. Rural Health Works engages community residents in local health care decision making by showing them the importance of the health care sector to their local economy. Further, it generates several information reports useful in local health care needs.

The Rural Health Works toolbox includes:

• Local economic impact analysis
• Community data and information compilation
• Local health care services inventory
• Local health services survey and analysis
• Materials and templates for local media campaigns
• Materials and instruction for local health care strategic planning

To see a PowerPoint presentation providing an overview of the Kansas Rural Health Works community engagement process, click the link below.

Kansas Rural Health Works Overview

In the initial round of community outreach, the Kansas Rual Health Works program worked in Belleville, Kansas (Republic County) and Goodland, Kansas (Sherman County).

Information Resources Supporting Kansas Rural Health Works' Community Engagement

Prepared by the Office of Local Government, K-State Research and Extension, 2005.