Every Spring, the Kansas City Health Department recruits a new group of Community Wellness Ambassadors (CWAs) to take important information into their communities.

CWAs are now some of the Health Department’s best promoters and communicators.

Ambassadors serve one year and receive a stipend of $255 per month for their training.

They are spread out throughout the city to reach residents in every council district. The Health Department is also recruiting bilingual ambassadors who speak Spanish to reach Kansas City’s Hispanic/Latinx communities.

Qualifications:

• Must be a Kansas City, Mo., resident
• Must be willing to speak to others about resources that benefit community health
• Must be willing to avoid/dispel the spread of misinformation
• Must understand English (as the presenters are English-speaking and interpreter services are currently unavailable)
• Must be willing to complete a form each month, indicating the number of people with whom they’ve shared KCMO health information
• Must be available either on Wednesday mornings (1 x per month) OR Thursday evenings (1 x per month)

The Health Department accepts applications from April 1 - April 30 or until capacity is reached on the application acceptance platform.  Participants will serve as Ambassadors from August 2024 through May 2025.

Interested? For more information:
Community & Family Health Education
Kimberly.McCauley@kcmo.org
Health Department
Phone: 816-513-6080

Share the Community Wellness Ambassador handout with residents and community groups you recommend for the program. Apply here: https://form.jotform.com/240456354067154.

History:
The program began in June 2022 when more than 50 ambassadors attended their first monthly training to learn about health department services and then take that public health information into their community.

Many ambassadors were surprised to learn the health department has more to offer than they thought. They didn’t realize how many Health Department programs and services are available to improve lives and prevent disease.

“You’re broader to me now,” said Shirley McDonald, ambassador and founder of Ea La Mar’s Cosmetology & Barber College almost 40 years ago.

Well-known and respected in her community, she encounters many people who need help. Now she knows where to send them.

“I didn’t have any idea; all I really knew about you all was the fact that you could come here and get copies of birth certificates and get vaccinations.”

McDonald began sharing her knowledge immediately. She has referred many people to the health department for assistance.

One was a young mother with eight children who is the only provider.

McDonald told her about the Nurse-Family Partnership program, our vaccination clinic, and our partnership with Harvesters to bring in food every month for those in need.

“The programs that you’re involved in are so needed at a time like this,” she said. “An awful lot of people are having trouble in their apartment complex with mold,” she said. 

She was able to refer them to the Health Department’s Healthy Homes Rental Inspection Program. The program works to maintain health and safety standards at every rental home/apartment in Kansas City.  
(Most common complaints are water leaks, mold, sewage, pests and electrical dangers. To file a complaint about a health or safety in your rental home, call 311 or 816-513-6464.)

Another ambassador, Estelle Brooks, retired from social work and is now a personal trainer who owns ‘Fit 4 U IS 4 U’. She became an ambassador in part because she’s concerned about all the misinformation people believe. 

“Sometimes we go on social media and we see all of this incorrect information,” said Brooks. “So the flyers, the brochures that we’re getting from the Health Department have been very helpful.”

She says it’s important to her to “give people in the community good information on COVID, monkeypox, information that might not have been correct.” 

Community Wellness Ambassadors return to the Health Department each month for training on various public health topics. 

For example,  the Heart of America chapter of the Alzheimer Association presented ‘10 Warning Signs of Alzheimer’s.’ 

It’s a ruthless disease and while it’s sometimes hereditary, there are also lifestyle and health factors that can increase a person’s risk. This includes poor diet, stress, smoking, high consumption of alcohol, becoming isolated. 

Another important training focuses on Mental Health First Aid.  With it, CWAs are better equipped to help those in their communities who are in crisis. 

"We appreciate our ambassadors so much. Because of them, people are coming through our doors who may never have known we’re here to help. The ambassadors are able to talk to residents about risk factors because the community trusts them. They are helping us rebuild trust in public health, and it’s our honor to work with them," said Dr. Marvia Jones, health director. 

 Estelle Brooks & Shirley McDonald, 1st year Community Wellness Ambassadors