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Check out current and past public-service campaigns. Whether we’re encouraging adults to “Turn a Page. Touch a Mind.” or “Take a Second. Make a Difference.”, you’ll find a common thread. All work to make Kansas the best state in the nation to raise a child.

“Best State for Children”

What if we could make Kansas the best state in the nation to raise a child? Who says we can’t? Continuing the Foundation’s focus on early childhood development, this campaign was designed to begin a statewide discussion about children’s needs both now and in the future. Through television, radio, newspapers and billboards, the media component of this campaign asked Kansans to visit a Web site and share their visions for how we could be a state that put children first.

The campaign ran in 2007, beginning in February and concluding in September.

“Change Something”

You don’t have to change everything to live healthier. Just change something. That was the message behind the Kansas Health Foundation’s “change something.SM” public motivation campaign that was designed to promote good nutrition and physical activity among Kansas adults and children. The idea was that small changes in the lives of Kansans can add up to big benefits. These changes could include everything from parking in a distant spot at the grocery store to ordering green beans instead of French fries. The campaign utilized TV, radio and newspaper ads, as well as billboards and an interactive Web site. Of particular interest on the Web site were the change kits, which were packets (available for download as PDF files) detailing how people could “change something” at work, at school or at a place of worship.

The campaign was launched in September 2006 and concluded Jan. 1, 2008.

“Build from Birth.”

Everyday activities such as reading, rhyming, drawing, singing and telling stories lay a foundation for reading and learning for life. Our “Build from Birth.” campaign encourages parents and caregivers of young children to incorporate simple, interactive activities into their daily routines to positively impact early child development. You could read street signs on the way to the grocery store. Tell your child about the day he or she was born. Sing your favorite song – even if it is off-key.

Turn a Page, Touch a Mind

“Turn a Page. Touch a Mind.”

Studies show that children who are introduced to books early in life are better prepared for success in school and that children who complete their education are less likely to experience poverty and are more likely to have positive health behaviors.

This knowledge prompted the Kansas Health Foundation to partner with the Kansas Pediatric Foundation (KPF) and the Kansas Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (KAAP) for “Turn a page. Touch a mind.” Launched in 2005, it’s the first statewide program in which medical practitioners help prepare children for school and a healthy life by promoting reading with children from birth to age five.

“Turn a Page. Touch a Mind.” is a two-part initiative. One component takes place in physician offices across Kansas. The second communicates the message through a statewide mass-media campaign.

While You Wait
When a primary-care provider, pediatrician or family physician signs up with KAAP to participate in the program, he or she is trained to highlight the value of adults sharing books with children. Then when a family visits a participating site for a well-child checkup, the physician gives the child a book and explains to the parents how reading can help their child develop.

In the Media
The Kansas Health Foundation produced a “Turn a page. Touch a Mind.” mass-media campaign. It launched mid-2005 and runs through early 2006. The campaign message is based on research conducted by the Boston Medical Center, which shows that a literacy-rich environment helps build reading skills. Such environments are created through sharing everyday activities with children. Three television commercials – featuring real Kansas families – and two radio spots illustrate how reading, rhyming, drawing, singing and telling stories can be woven into daily life.

“Take a Second. Make a Difference.”

Not that long ago, Kansas was a place of front porches and communities. A place that, when a child did something – for better or for worse – someone who cared was there to see it. Things have changed. Today, people are busy and more scattered. They can’t seem to find the time to connect with their neighbors. The idea of a community goes no further, unfortunately, than this side of a privacy fence. And that’s what we were out to change with our campaign “Take a second. Make a difference.”

While it may not seem possible that learning a child's name, or simply offering a friendly wave and smile makes a difference, it does. We have research that proves it. We also know it in our hearts.

We’ve learned that the more connections a child makes with adults other than their parents and teachers, the healthier that child will be. For a child, these connections lead to healthier living and less risky behaviors. Let’s make Kansas a place where adults connect with children and where we put them first. In the end, it helps us all.

Take it outside.

“Take It Outside”

Adults have a responsibility to protect the health and lives of children. The Kansas Health Foundation's “Take It Outside” campaign urged smokers to protect children from secondhand smoke. The first phase of this print and broadcast campaign aired statewide in 1997-1998. The tremendous response led us to reintroduce it in 2000 and 2004. Portions of the campaign were picked up for use by other states, as well.

The Impact of Taking It Outside
The campaign significantly raised awareness of the dangers of secondhand smoke to children's health, especially among smokers. The messages also increased smokers’ willingness to go outside to protect children from smoke. It changed their perception about the risks of smoking when compared with other risky behaviors.

The campaign’s impact drew interest nationwide as a model for public health. Among the most significant was The Center for Disease Control's selection of the campaign for its Media Campaign Center. The CDC leveraged the campaign’s print, TV, radio and outdoor creative elements for low-cost distribution to nonprofits throughout the country.

While the dangers of second-hand smoke have been well-known and well-documented for many years, further proof came in June 2006 in a comprehensive report by the U.S. Surgeon General, which states that there is no risk-free level of exposure to secondhand smoke. According to the report, nonsmokers exposed to secondhand smoke at home or work are at 25 to 30 percent greater risk of developing heart disease and at 20 to 30 percent greater risk of lung cancer.

“Simple Acts. Big Impact.”

A simple act can last a lifetime. Our “Simple Acts” campaign reminded people of the lasting impact of positive interaction with children. The research-based campaign combined children’s words and voices, asking adults to get involved in a child’s life. The more developmental assets a child has growing up – such as good family communication, relationships with adults outside the family, and a caring neighborhood – the more likely that child is to thrive. Positive adult interaction in children’s lives can make a major difference in helping children grow up to be healthy, happy, contributing adults.

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