Partner Agency Spotlight: Community Health Council of Wyandotte County

Located in Downtown Kansas City, Kansas, is the Community Health Council of Wyandotte County (CHC), a member of Harvesters partner network. Though a small organization, CHC has a tenacious staff that are dedicated to their clients and go above and beyond to make sure they have what they need to make strides in their lives.   

CHC’s mission is to “enhance health outcomes in Wyandotte County through informing, collaborating, aligning, mobilizing and activating organizations, government entities and community members.” When a new client comes to CHC, they take a “Social Determinants of Health” survey that helps community health workers assess the needs of each person. Results often show a need to address something more pressing than the original issue the client sought help for.  

A lot of CHC’s work involves connecting clients with other partner organizations, whether healthcare, immigration, housing, or other services. They can also help clients sign up for programs such as SNAP and Medicaid, help new parents get the resources they need to take care of their children such as car seats and pack and plays, and receive food assistance, which is where Harvesters comes in.  

Harvesters partners with CHC by providing food for monthly mobile distributions and other occasional  community events. CHC staff also helps clients find food pantries in Harvesters’ network to supplement their food needs throughout the week.  

Carla Moralez is a Community Health Worker at CHC. Her job is similar to a traditional social worker but she provides a wider scope of services. She and the other Community Health Workers show their commitment to clients by sometimes helping with things that are outside of their normal job duties. She gave one recent example that has come up in response to rising anti-Latino sentiment in the area.  

“I work with a lot of Spanish-speaking families, so a lot of them are scared,” Carla says. “One of the things that a mom reached out to me and said, I know you’re helping me, but can you help me try to apply for a passport for my baby? And I was like, yes, I can help you with that because I recently just did one for myself, so I know what the process is. It’s not in my scope, but let me help you, too, so you can understand it better.”  

CHC staff continually looks for new ways to serve their community as needs shift and change. We’re honored to be a part of the way they work for a healthier Wyandotte County and admire their willingness to think outside of the box when needed. They’re a great example of the power of collaboration between different nonprofits is essential for all of us to reach our common goals.