THRIVE ALLEN COUNTY INC
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Mission Statement
Thrive’s MISSION is to support and encourage programs, policies and resources that promote access to healthcare, healthy lifestyles, and positive community conversation that improves the well-being of residents of Allen County, Kansas.
About This Cause
Thrive Allen County is the pre-eminent rural health coalition in the state of Kansas. We are on the leading edge of public health in the state, designing models of engagement with communities. Thrive has achieved policy and systems changes in public health work in the state by engaging with community leaders in long-term projects for health in a rural context. Recognition of this innovation has allowed us to travel to rural communities throughout Kansas and the United States to share these models and assist other leaders in replicating our programs and strategies. Since 2007, Thrive Allen County has been at the center of efforts to bring health care providers, city and county governments and other stakeholders together to build a healthier Allen County. Thrive’s vision of becoming the healthiest rural county in Kansas is accomplished through supporting and encouraging programs, policies, and resources promoting access to healthcare, healthy lifestyles, sustainable economic development, and positive community conversations. Thrive connects and engages all of Allen County so residents work together to improve the built environment, increase access to healthy lifestyles, and create a strong local and regional health provider network. During the early years of the organization, Thrive became established as a resource for wellness, healthy nutrition, promoting physical activity, connecting communities, and alternative transportation models. Organizers of Thrive fought an uphill battle to convince local stakeholders change was possible. Once incorporated and work began, it became obvious not only was change possible, but residents in the county were best positioned to make that change in their communities, with background support and leadership from the Thrive coalition. Some key approaches to achieving our successes include: • Advocating for leading-edge public health policy changes. Thrive worked tirelessly to make Iola the first rural community in Kansas to raise the tobacco purchasing age to 21, as well as pass a Complete Streets policy. • Collaborating in broad, multi-year community coalitions and with other rural health organizations. Thrive is a convener and anchor organization for multiple initiatives, including: 1) the Rural Health Initiative; 2) the Kansas Health Foundation (KHF) funded Healthy Community Initiative; 3) the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) led and CDC-funded “1422” project focusing on obesity and diabetes; 4) the KHF funded Community Engagement Initiative to engage residents in planning and implementing local health improvement projects; and 5) the KHF funded Health Equities Partnership Initiative to build a rural health advocacy network. • Positioning Thrive as a community resource. Thrive currently 1) convenes community conversations to build consensus around agendas and priorities; 2) provides technical assistance to other rural community organizations throughout Kansas, and; 3) provides grant writing assistance to rural nonprofit organizations. Thrive functions as a backbone organization for many community-driven, underdeveloped nonprofits throughout Kansas. • Increasing quality medical access and equity. Thrive is the primary organization in Allen County for access to the Healthcare Marketplace. Since 2013, we have enrolled more than one thousand residents in Allen County and the surrounding areas, causing the uninsured rate to plummet from 21% in 2013 to 9% in 2018. In addition, we recognize the need for highly skilled professionals in our community and have successfully recruited doctors, dentists and other professionals into Allen County. • Committing to an environment supporting healthy living and active transportation. Thrive spearheads the construction and maintenance of an impressive network of walking and biking trails throughout Allen County. In 2017, we created a free rural bike-share program now modeled by other rural communities across Kansas and the United States. • Changing attitudes in the community about health and wellness. Allen County has shown progress in turning around negative data regarding social determinants of health. In 2011, Allen County was number 94 out of 105 counties on the County Health Rankings. In 2019 Allen County moved to number 38, a culmination of years of work finally showing the progress the community has worked fervently towards. • Eliminating health disparities throughout Allen County. Thrive continues its ongoing work in preventing new tobacco use and helping users quit, improving access to healthy foods for rural communities and preventing chronic diseases. In 2018, Thrive recruited and opened G&W grocery store to eradicate a food desert on the eastern side of Iola, and converted a struggling privately-owned grocery store in Moran (pop. 500), to a successful community co-op.