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Ellis County health director outlines rural chronic‑disease pilot grant application with Wichita State
Summary
Ellis County health department said it applied with Wichita State for a Kansas chronic‑disease intelligence and action pilot grant that would fund a 15‑month rural pilot; awards and kickoff timing were delayed but staff said a late‑May/July decision was expected.
Melissa Miller, director of the Ellis County Health Department, briefed the commission on the county’s application for the Kansas Chronic Disease Intelligence and Action pilot program, submitted in partnership with Wichita State University.
Miller said the grant is part of the state’s health transformation plan and that the county hoped to have an award determination by May 15 but faced a timeline delay with an updated expectation toward the end of May and funds to be awarded in July. She described the grant as a short, 15‑month pilot to coordinate rural chronic‑disease work across neighboring counties, improve community health assessments, strengthen partnerships with hospitals and federally qualified health centers, and collect data to test a model for broader adoption.
Miller said the county has already received letters of support from nearby counties and local health providers and emphasized the grant’s focus on preventing conditions such as diabetes, hypertension and obesity through localized monitoring and shared services. She told commissioners that if the county is not awarded the grant, the relationships formed during the process remain valuable for future funding opportunities.
Commissioners asked about job impacts; Miller said the grant would support term‑limited contract positions tied to the grant period. She committed to updating the board when award decisions are announced.
