Nurture KC

April has been a flurry of activity! Nurture KC has been featured across KC news stations for our COVID vaccine clinics, Black Maternal Health Week and education on safe sleep for baby. Check out this news coverage + meet our new Administrative Assistant + see where we’re at with key legislative priorities in KS and MO + more — all in our April 2021 Update. As always, thank you for supporting our efforts!

Sweet baby Victor is sporting our trademarked “EAT AT MOM’S®” onesie – touting the benefits of breastfeeding. Order the onesie and check out breastfeeding resources at https://nurturekc.org/resources/#breastfeeding

Nurture KC is thrilled to welcome Erica Wilson as our Administrative Assistant. Her background includes administrative experience in education and healthcare. Erica is already hitting the ground running!

“I am excited to join Nurture KC because I have a heart to serve our community,” she says. “This organization does so much substantial work to lift up moms and babies who need it most … it’s inspiring! I enjoy the advocacy and research our staff works together on to push for health equity for families in the heart of KC. You’ll find me at our front desk, keeping things running smoothly, and serving as a liaison with our Board of Directors.”

Erica has an Associate of Arts degree from Johnson County Community College. Her hobbies include photography, volunteering and doing yoga. Also, Erica enjoys going on adventures with her family and dogs.

Nurture KC’s next COVID vaccine clinic is at El Verbo de Dio (a church), located at 700 Washington Blvd. in Kansas City, Kansas on:

• Friday, April 23, from 1 to 4 p.m.
• Saturday, April 24, from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

This clinic is by appointment only because Walgreens will be administering the 2-dose Pfizer vaccine. Any Kansas resident, age 16 and older, can register for an appointment on April 23 or 24 (first dose), then a follow-up appointment on May 14 or 15 (second dose). All appointment days and times are on this registration link.

Nurture KC will be hosting more COVID vaccine clinics, so keep an eye out on the news and on our social media channels — Facebook and Twitter!

Sadly, 132 infants died in Kansas and Missouri in 2018 due to unsafe sleeping conditions. This week KSHB 41 Action News talked with Nurture KC staff for an in-depth story about safe sleep practices to help prevent infant deaths.

“It’s more about what isn’t in the crib than what is — and what we want is baby in that crib, and only baby,” Tracy Russell, Executive Director of Nurture KC.

Health Start Program Director, Shannon Williams, shared the ABC’s of safe sleep for baby (Alone, Back, Crib).

See the full news segment here.

Ebony Peterson was only 22 weeks pregnant when she went into pre-term labor. After the initial shock, she was expecting a long hospital stay on bed rest. Instead, her baby was born just 2 days later. Baby Aubrey was tiny at 1 pound, 2 ounces, but mighty in overcoming the odds.

Ebony is sharing her traumatic birth story in honor of Black Maternal Health Week, which is April 11 to 17. This week of activism and education was started by the Black Mamas Matter Alliance four years ago.

“There’s power in sharing our birth experiences,” Ebony says. “It helps to learn we are not alone. We can support and learn from one another. We can spur change and, in turn, improve the health of pregnant and new moms in our minority communities.”

Click “read more” below to read this inspiring story.

Nurture KC and Walgreens are hosting 2 free COVID vaccine clinics on:

— Friday, April 9 from 1 to 4 p.m.
— Saturday, April 10 from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Both clinics will take place at El Centro’s Academy for Children, located at 1340 S. 30th Street in Kansas City, KS. No appointment is needed and walk-ins are welcome! However, if you would like to schedule an appointment, click here or scan the below QR code with your mobile phone.

These clinics are open to Kansas residents age 18 and older. Recipients will receive the one-shot dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, and will need to bring a form of ID (e.g., driver’s license) and insurance card if they have one. No one will be turned away – even if they do not have insurance.

Questions? Please email Shelby Ostrom, Program Director of Mid America Immunization Coalition, (a program of Nurture KC) at sostrom@nurturekc.org.