The Health Education Health Communication (HEHC) and HIV Services Division of the Health Department provides for public health education, health information, disease prevention programs, community councils and coalitions and safety needs.

Tobacco Use Prevention is contracted to work with Kansas City businesses to improve the health of their employees through consultation and policy change regarding tobacco use.  The program also works with area coalitions on environmental tobacco smoke reduction initiatives.

Health Literacy currently works with 4 area elementary schools and after school programs, which are located in the north, south, east, and central portions of Kansas City, Missouri. This project creates and publishes 8 monthly interactive and puzzle-rich “Healthy Reader” newspapers for K-third grade.  They are designed to promote good health habits, such as brushing their teeth or eating a healthy diet.

Maternal and Child Health Block Grant addresses two priority focus areas: Immunization and Injury Prevention.  The immunization campaign works with private physicians to keep them informed of new laws regarding immunization and assists them in entering their medical records into the State's immunization record database. The Injury Prevention project operates Safety Street at 24th and Campbell and teaches kids and adults injury prevention activities and safety behaviors.  Safety Street includes an outdoor street scene where students K through fifth grade can actively learn to ride bikes safely, cross the street, understand traffic rules and signals and practice getting on and off a school bus safely. Modules also include pet safety, poison safety, fire safety, gun safety, nutrition and fitness.  The Maternal and Child Health grant also has a system capacity building component that works with the faith community to strengthen their health outreach efforts and to empower them to provide health programs to their constituents and communities.

Public Health Ambassador Volunteer Corps works to recruit citizens from neighborhood associations and churches to join the Health Department to serve as volunteers.  They are taught how to keep themselves safe and healthy and to impart this same information to people in their circle of influence, such as their family, friends, co-workers, neighbors and faith family. This effort supports the Community Health Improvement Plan Primary Prevention Goal which is to keep the community informed and engaged in the prevention of the development of chronic disease as well as responding appropriately to public health emergencies.  These citizens will perform a critical role during public health outbreaks and crises, as well as during health information campaigns designed to keep the community healthy.

The Communications Team is a technical support and assistance team within the HEHC section for all Kansas City, Mo., Health Department programs.  Although each team member has additional primary programs and focus areas, they work together to fulfill the mission of the health department and its programs. Through web-based communication, social marketing strategies, risk communication campaigns and a working relationship with the Kansas City Metropolitan Media outlets, the communications team strives to keep the public informed of programs, new initiatives, emerging health issues and is an information resource for the community.  They also provide training in health communication and media advocacy for health department employees, and upon request, other health departments.

HIV Services is responsible for managing and administering the Ryan White Title I funds, Title II funds, and HOPWA (Housing Opportunities for Persons with Aids), and awarding funds to HIV service agencies through a competitive request for proposal process.  The Ryan White Care Act is a federal law that funds services for people living with HIV/AIDS.  It provides for HIV services in an eleven-county TGA (Transitional Grant Area) located in and adjacent to the KC metro area. Together with the HIV Prevention and Planning Council programs described below, the programs provide for $4.5 million in funding for programs that serve and support citizens with HIV and with AIDS.

HIV Prevention and Planning Council is a community based, mayoral-appointed council comprised of service providers and people living with HIV/AIDS whose mission is to enhance the HIV prevention and care services through community planning of interventions, and make recommendations for HIV/AIDS prevention and funding allocation within the Kansas City Planning Region.  The Prevention Programs provide behavioral, evidence-based training for high risk individuals in the community, as well as for those residents who are already HIV positive or who have AIDS.

Cardiovascular Health Initiative provides chronic disease secondary prevention activities for citizens through their local churches and health ministries.  The program teaches key leaders in the spiritual and religious communities how to train and educate their church members and neighborhood residents to take care of themselves when they become sick.

Community Engagements are councils, commissions and community-based projects that the Kansas City, Mo., Health Department either supports, participates or chairs.  Whether it is the committees of the Health Commission, Coalition of Hispanic Organizations, Native American Symposium, community health surveys or Community Initiative on Cardiovascular Health, the HEHC section takes an active role in supporting community based initiatives.

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