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Shawnee County health department launches public overdose dashboard, seeks KFA grants and outlines CHNA priorities
Summary
The Shawnee County Health Department unveiled a public overdose surveillance dashboard showing ~5,200 suspected overdoses since 2020, 462 naloxone administrations and 42 fatalities; staff also described two Kansas Fights Addiction grant applications, harm‑reduction options and priorities from a 3,816‑response community health needs assessment.
The Shawnee County Health Department presented several public‑health tools and initiatives at the Board of Health convening on Dec. 9, including a new public overdose dashboard, two grant proposals to expand harm‑reduction and prevention work, a community mural project and results from the county—s latest community health needs assessment (CHNA).
"This is what the dashboard looks like," said Britney Blattner, epidemiologist, who walked commissioners through an overdose surveillance dashboard that covers Jan. 1, 2020 to the present and is updated monthly. Blattner said the dashboard shows approximately 5,200 suspected overdose occurrences, 462 naloxone administrations and 42 overdose fatalities in that span.
Blattner described primary data sources that populate the dashboard: ODMAP (Overdose Detection Mapping Application Program), which Kansas Board of EMS personnel use to log suspected overdose events, and ESSENCE, the syndromic surveillance system that draws emergency‑department visit data from hospitals. Blattner noted some historical data discrepancies tied to changes in reporting and the addition of suspected drug data in mid‑2023.
Carrie Delce, clinical services division manager, summarized two Kansas Fights Addiction (KFA) grant applications. For RFP 3—focused on treatment, recovery and harm reduction—county staff requested about $186,000 from a $6,000,000 funding pool (project max $300,000). For RFP 4—focused on prevention, providers and public safety—the county sought just under $200,000 from a $4,000,000 pool. Delce said RFP 3 notifications were delayed and RFP 4 notifications are expected in January.
Commissioners asked whether the county envisions harm‑reduction vending machines that dispense naloxone and other supplies. Delce said site selection would depend on overdose hotspot data, partner hosting arrangements and local policy; commissioners debated whether money might be better spent purchasing naloxone for direct distribution.
Shelly Ramos, health promotion coordinator, described the "What is Public Health" mural project, funded initially by Arts Connect and supported by the Topeka Community Foundation and LiveWell Shawnee County. The project included a community planning meeting, an artist (Sarah Meyer), a public paint day on Nov. 15 and panel installation steps; final completion is slated for spring 2025.
Carla Headquist of Stormont Vail Health presented CHNA findings: 3,816 survey responses (an increase of roughly 1,300 from three years earlier), demographically representative data and stakeholder‑driven priorities—behavioral health (mental health and substance use), food security and healthy eating, neighborhood safety and affordable housing, and health equity. Staff outlined plans to map the CHNA to the state health improvement plan, convene steering and work groups monthly, and draft a Community Health Improvement Plan for 2026–2028.
LiveWell Shawnee County—s director reported coalition growth, diversified funding and ongoing initiatives including Pathways to a Healthy Kansas projects and an action summit scheduled Dec. 13. County health officer Dr. Locke closed by thanking partners; no public comments were received and the meeting adjourned.
