Public Spaces in Western Kansas to Feature Lactation Benches for Breastfeeding and Diaper Changing

KANSAS – Four Kansas counties are installing lactation benches to make it easier for families to find safe, comfortable spaces for breastfeeding and diaper changing in public. This initiative is funded by the CDC REACH (Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health) program awarded to the KU Medical Center.

The installation of these benches in Grant, Finney, Ford and Seward counties follows an learning collaborative conversation in which the Kansas Breastfeeding Coalition and Lactancia Latina En el Suroeste de Kansas shared their how-to knowledge and ways to improve usage of lactation benches in the community.

Pictured here is a lactation bench installed in front of the Crosspoint Church community park in Liberal, Kansas. Each bench has signage in Spanish and English and includes a QR code for lactation support.

The REACH funding aims to improve health, prevent chronic diseases and reduce health disparities among Latinos, who have the highest burden of chronic disease in Grant, Finney, Ford and Seward counties. Vicki Collie-Akers, Ph.D., MPH, associate professor in the Department of Population Health in KU School of Medicine is the principal investigator for the project.

Grant County LHEAT Launches Initiatives to Improve Access to Ulysses Park  

KANSAS – The Grant County LHEAT has unveiled an initiative aimed at improving residents’ access to a community park located in a vulnerable area of Ulysses, underscoring the impact of collaborating with local city officials.

Parks and green spaces are known to promote both physical and mental well-being, but access can be limited for those facing accessibility challenges.

The LHEAT identified an opportunity to improve the park's accessibility for all community members. The team began efforts to assure Barb Dye Park not only met minimum criteria for ADA compliance but also went further to provide a variety of spaces in which all people felt comfortable and safe regardless of mobility. Assembly of the new additions, including ADA picnic table, swing frame, net climber, seesaw, wheelchair-accessible swing, fountain, swing nest and court lights, is set in 2025, according to Ulysses City Council meeting minutes.

Looking ahead, the LHEAT is set to extend its fundraising efforts into 2025 with the aim of securing $22,000 for a accessible carousel at the park. Nancy Borthwick, the Lead in Grant County, shared that monetary donations or pledges have been received from the following businesses: Pioneer Communications, Golden Plains Credit Union, Pioneer Electric and The City of Ulysses. The team is currently awaiting a decision from the Women Of Purpose board regarding their contribution.

Buoyed by a grant from the Grant County Community Foundation and pledges from local stakeholders, Borthwick remains optimistic about raising the requisite funds by March. Construction of the carousel is slated to commence in May or June, pending the successful culmination of their fundraising campaign.

This initiative reflects the power of partnerships between local organizations and government to create more accessible spaces for residents.