UMatters

[The following was provided by the Office of Public Relations.]

Lora Lacey-Haun, Ph.D., dean of the UMKC School of Nursing, has been appointed by Kansas City Mayor Sylvester James to serve a three-year term on the board of the Kansas City Health Commission. The Health Commission consists of 17 members, all appointed by the mayor. Rex Archer, the director of the Health Department, serves as a non-voting ex-officio co-chair. Members serve staggered terms to ensure continuity of membership and a regular introduction of new members.

The charge of the Health Commission is to provide structure and oversight for the cyclical development, implementation and evaluation of a Community Health Improvement Plan for Kansas City,and to advise the mayor and City Council on health-related programs and policies. The Health Commission’s mission is to achieve a citywide collaboration and partnership of organizations and individuals to work together to build a healthier community.

The Commission’s backbone is its committees. Each commissioner is expected to serve on a committee. Each committee has two co-chairs in presiding order: a commissioner co-chair and a community co-chair. The committees are made up of community members. The Health Commission Committees are:

Health Planning

Minority Health and Health Equity

Tobacco Use Reduction

Women’s, Infant’s and Children’s Health

Budget and Contract Evaluation

Executive Committee

Lacey-Haun’s primary appointment will be to serve on the Health Planning Committee, but she plans to play an active role in the Minority Health and Health Equity Committee as well.  The Health Planning Committee is charged with overseeing the development, implementation and updates of the city’s Community Health Improvement Plan. The committee also facilitates the drafting of the Health Commission’s Annual Report and the presentation of that report before the full City Council or an appropriate committee.

The Minority Health and Health Disparity Committee monitors the implementation of recommendations from the 2001 Minority Health Improvement Task Force Report, develops partnerships that align community efforts to improve minority health and advocates for adoption of public policies that reduce disparities in health outcomes for minorities, disadvantaged populations and underserved populations.