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The Immunize Kansas Coalition mission is clear: "To protect all Kansans from vaccine-preventable diseases by working with communities to ensure equitable vaccine access for all people. To be the trusted resource for evidence-based information to support immunization decision-making for individuals, families, and policymakers."
IKC Community Health Specialist Lucy Watie and her crew played host to the weekly Chamber Coffee at the Grant County Chamber of Commerce Friday morning in the hopes of spreading the word about their mission to Ulysses and beyond.
“Some of the things that we do is we table events such as health fairs, we have participated in community resource fairs like at Stevens County and Garden City,” Watie said. “We do a lot of different workshops partnering with local senior centers, the school district, the library where we can bring education, we can address some of the misinformation and the myths that are going around.”
Accordingn to Watie, IKC includes dozens of organizations and hundreds of individuals with different perspectives, including healthcare providers, health departments, researchers, healthcare payers, advocacy groups, non-profits, school nurses, community members, parents, and now Promotora de Salud, which are community health workers.
Promotoras de Salud is a Spanish term used to describe trusted individuals who empower their peers through education and connections to health and social resources in Spanish speaking communities.
IKC has set three priorities including strengthening vaccine confidence through education, awareness and partnerships with trusted community sources; increase child, adolescent and adult vaccination rates and vaccine access with a particular focus on gaps in the current community, and health equity.
“We have community health specialists in Liberal, Ulysses, Kansas City, and Wichita,” Watie said. “The ones in the rural counties have been assigned more counties. I also have Haskell, Kearney, Hamilton, and Grant. I’ve picked up Finney because the Community Health Specialist we had there is no longer with IKC.”
Locally, IKC has done community baby showers, the health fair in Great Bend, the Spring Fling, the Grant County Fair, and recently hosted a conference called Entre Mujeres in Garden City which focused on women’s health.
“Always looking for innovative ways, things we can do different that can still draw in this targeted population and be able to educate and advocate for the importance of vaccines,” Watie said.
Watie is collaborating with local pharmacies and health during “Respiratory Season” to provide vaccines for agriculture employees and will be going to a dairy in Kearney County to provide vaccines. She’s also partnered with Finney County Health Department to provide vaccines for ag workers in Garden City.
“We want to meet people where they’re at and make sure they don’t fall through the cracks,” Watie added.
Watie introduced the Promotoras de Salud which are volunteer community health workers important in Spanish-speaking communities.
“They share key information and help people get access to health and social services,” Watie said. “Being trusted members of the community, they educate and support others... Their work brings everyone closer together and encourages smart choices.”
The Promotoras recently helped with the Home Products Dinner, organized fundraisers at Grant County Senior Center, teamed up with K-State Research and Extension for free carseat checks, and helped at the Spring Fling. The Promotoras take informal training on a range of topics including HIPAA, diabetes, blood pressure, civic engagement, nutrition, and breast feeding. They also attended IKC’s Advocacy Day in Topeka and Latino Day at the state capital.
“I really don’t have the words to express how much this group means to me,” Watie said. “They have a calling, and it’s one of service to their friends, families and communities.”
“I truly appreciate the Promotoras,” said Chamber Director Marieta Hauser. “When we have a need, they’ve helped us. I appreciate what you’re doing for the community in the volunteer sense, but also what you’re doing for the community through the Immunize Kansas program.”
Upcoming Events
Upcoming events include an EMT Class beginning January 4, 2025, at Grant County EMS; Grant County Library’s Coats for Kids program is under way. They will accept gently used and freshly laundered winter coats, gloves and hats at the library.
The Miracles and Magic Light Parade begins at 6:30 p.m. December 5 in downtown Ulysses; the Chamber of Commerce Silent and Live Auction takes place at 6 p.m., November 23, at the Historic Adobe Museum. Tickets are $20; the Tumbleweed Bazaar Christmas Vendor Show is November 23-24 at the Grant County Civic Center, and Community Baptist Church will have its annual Thanksgiving Dinner from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. at the church on Thanksgiving Day.
Grant County Recreation will have a Christmas Paint Party November 24.
The next Chamber Coffee will be November 22, at Bear Creek Coffee and will be the Grant County Gives awards ceremony beginning at 10 a.m.
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