RESOLUTION NO. 210443
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Endorsing and supporting the Health Commission’s 2022-2027 Kansas City Community Health Improvement Plan (“KC-CHIP”) and directing the Health Commission to provide an annual update to City Council.
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WHEREAS, the vision of the Health Commission is to promote a thriving people living, learning and working in a healthy, active, vibrant and safe community where there is equitable access to jobs, quality health care, education and social services; and
WHEREAS, a duty of the Health Commission is to advise the Mayor, Council and City Manager on the ongoing development, implementation and evaluation of a Community Health Improvement Plan; and
WHEREAS, the Health Commission advises and makes recommendations to the Mayor, City Council, and City Manager for improvements across health care systems, prevention and risk reduction strategies, legislation, and policies that reflect health as a human service; and
WHEREAS, the KC-CHIP Planning Committee was developed as a cross-sectoral group of community and organizational representatives to facilitate the development of the new KC-CHIP, along with actionable goals and objectives, for improving health and well-being in Kansas City, Missouri, especially in the lowest life expectancy zip codes; and
WHEREAS, racism is the main cause of health inequity in Kansas City, Missouri, that prevents black and brown community members from accessing opportunities needed to live a healthy life; and
WHEREAS, the 2022-2027 KC-CHIP focuses on racism as a foundational root cause for health inequities in Kansas City, Missouri; and
WHEREAS, to meaningfully and directly address racism as the root cause of health inequities in Kansas City, Missouri, the Health Commission recommends that the City of Kansas City, Missouri:
Invest in robust public health and prevention infrastructure;
Ensure equitable access to safe and affordable housing;
Support trauma informed and funded education;
Support the implementation of Medicaid expansion;
Support violence prevention strategies; and
Improve equity in resources, testing, and vaccinations for COVID-19; and
WHEREAS, this KC-CHIP focuses on the institutions, instead of placing the burden of health on community members with the goal of making impactful structural and institutional changes that promote anti-racism and result in improved health and well-being for Kansas City, Missouri residents; and
WHEREAS, the City Council has demonstrated its desire to address racism and improve the health of all residents and believes the KC-CHIP will help further this goal; and
WHEREAS, the Health Commission, in partnership with the Health Department, will be responsible for assuring collaborative implementation of the KC-CHIP to the fullest extent accomplishable; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF KANSAS CITY:
Section 1. That the Mayor and Council endorse and support the Health Commission’s 2022-2027 Kansas City Community Health Improvement Plan and its engagement of community partners to ensure the plan goals are achieved.
Section 2. That the Health Commission is directed to provide an annual update regarding the 2022-2027 KC-CHIP to the Council as a part of the Health Commission’s annual report.
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