As the demographics of our population continue to shift, public health should elevate healthy aging as a core public health function. Age-Friendly Kansas is a new statewide initiative designed to unite aging and public health professionals to identify and embed healthy aging practices and age-friendly principles throughout Kansas communities, systems, and sectors. If you wish to get involved, consider expressing your interest in serving on the Age-Friendly Kansas advisory group.  

Key things to know about this group: 

  • This group will help inform the development of the Age-Friendly Kansas Action Plan.  
  • The official launch event for Age-Friendly Kansas is July 10, 2024. 
  • Group meetings are expected to begin in August 2024. 
  • The group will initially meet monthly over Zoom. Expect quarterly meetings in 2025.  
  • There will be opportunities for in-person meetings and networking events.  

This initiative is supported by Trust for America’s Health (TFAH) and facilitated by the Kansas Health Institute and our state partners. Our state partners include the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE), Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS) and the Kansas Department for Children and Families (DCF).  

Please contact Emma Uridge (euridge@khi.org) to express interest in serving on the Age-Friendly Kansas advisory group or to learn more about this initiative. 

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Kylee Childs
Kylee Childs, MSW, is the Director of Government Affairs.Since joining the association in 2023, she continues to be a fierce and resourceful advocate for aging services in Kansas. Her professional focus has always been service to others through advocacy. Kylee has a master’s degree in social work from the University of Missouri-Columbia, a bachelor's degree in criminology with a minor in Conflict Analysis and Trauma studies from Kansas State University, and a certificate in Grant Proposal Writing from Fort Hays State University. With a professional background in law enforcement and child welfare, and a successful 2023 legislative practicum with the Children's Alliance of Kansas, she brings rich professional experience to her role as Director of Government Affairs, and a front-line perspective on the needs of health and human services providers in our state. When not working, she's spending time with her two daughters. You can reach Kylee directly at 785.670.8051.

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