McPherson County approves four health department grant applications totaling $148,687.49

McPHERSON, Kan. — The McPherson County Commission voted to approve four aid-to-local grant applications from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) for state fiscal year 2026, totaling $148,687.49.

Jenny Shea, director of the McPherson County Health Department, told commissioners the four applications cover family planning (Title X), the Immunization Action Program (IAP), public health emergency preparedness, and a general state formula aid grant. She said aid-to-local grants make up about 10% to 15% of the department's annual budget but do not include larger non-aid grants the department also receives.

Shea said 2026 will be the department's first year to provide administrative services to Rice County to mentor that county's restarting family-planning program; Rice County's funding for administrative services will flow to McPherson under that arrangement, increasing McPherson's requested Title X award. "We would have the option then to continue with either a parent agency if we wanted, or we could just let them loose and say, yeah. You guys are good to go," Shea said, describing a typical three-year mentorship timeline.

Shea outlined program uses: Title X serves underserved, uninsured and underinsured residents; IAP funding is small and used primarily for staff time to vaccinate children; and the preparedness grant includes about 20 work-plan items and funds exercises and monthly trainings in coordination with KDHE and local LEPCs. Shea said she plans a measles tabletop exercise in the 2025 calendar year tied to the preparedness grant work plan.

Commissioners approved the motion to submit the applications and authorized the chairman to sign the grant signature page.

Votes at a glance: motion to approve and submit KDHE aid-to-local grant applications totaling $148,687.49 and authorize chairman to sign — approved by voice vote.

Ending: The health department will submit the applications to KDHE and, if funded, will administer the grants as part of its 2026 work plan.