About Us
Our Mission
The Healthy Bourbon County Action Team’s mission is to increase access to healthy food and physical activity, promote commercial tobacco cessation, enhance quality of life and encourage economic growth. The problems of health inequity and social injustice are complex in nature and inextricably linked to key economic indicators. A healthy workforce is a prerequisite for economic success in any industry and in all cities.
Current Projects and Initiatives
Our solution to building healthy communities is by transforming the power, building trust, and encouraging community participation. Comprehensive strategy for change includes local organizing, strategic communication, community research, creating systems, and environmental changes.
Total Grant Funds Awarded Since 2016: $2,106,0575
Our Staff and Board of Directors
The Healthy Bourbon County Action Team Board consist of a cross sector of community organizations, business, and governmental entities:
Jody Hoener, President and CEO, Ex Officio
Rachel Carpenter, Director
Josh Jones (Chair), City Commissioner of Fort Scott
Lindsay Madison (Treasurer), President and CEO Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce
Kayla Stewart (Secretary), RN Coordinator Via Christi
Alex Barner, Business Owner and Entrepreneur
Kelly Perry, Business Owner and Entrepreneur and City of Bronson Council Member
Dalaina Smith, USD 234 Assistant Superintendent
Melissa Guns, City of Fort Scott Commission
Our History
In 2016, the HBCAT began as a joint effort between City of Fort Scott Economic Development and Mercy Health System’s Community Benefit. The action team applied for grant funding through the BCBS KS Pathways to Healthy Kansas Grant and was subsequently awarded. The committee was comprised of community leaders who were in positions of authority or influence in order to execute policy change. Mercy Health Systems served as the fiscal agent and the action plan mirrored the community health improvement plan.
Since 2016, our work has been broadly recognized and modeled through the state of Kansas. Jody Hoener, leader of the HBCAT since inception, was awarded the Governor’s Council on Fitness Kansas Health Champion honoree in 2019. Our work was also recognized with the prestigious Kansas State of Wellness Community Champion Award in May 2018. The Healthy Bourbon County Action Team initiative has been identified by the Kansas Hospital Association and Kansas Health Institute as a leader in the field and used in a toolbox for Kansas hospitals as an example of best practice approaches to address community health.
The HBCAT has gained momentum and continuous support since 2016, growing from a subcommittee of the Fort Scott Visioning Committee to our own Non-Profit 501 C 3 Corporation with two full time employees in just five years.