SINCE 2001
A history of identifying needs—and acting together.
From eight original members to a broad community coalition, LACF has worked to address gaps in services and programs across Liberal.
LACF was started in 2001 and registered as a non-profit with the state in 2005 when it received its first grant. It has grown from the original 8 members to average 25 to 30 members at each monthly meeting representing 20 entities of the community. It was formed to address gaps in services and programs that the community needed to be a strong, healthy community. The idea was to identify and pro-actively address community problems.
Although it struggled to survive in its early years, LACF was able to contract with Wichita State University to conduct a community assessment to establish some base line on needs in the community and to conduct a training for volunteers and volunteer coordinators with K-State Extension.
Through its grant history, a number of non-profits have served as its fiscal agent, primarily the Seward County United Way but also the local K-State Extension office, the High Plains Heritage Foundation and the Southwest Guidance Center. One of the benefits of the long relationship with the Seward County United Way is that the Coalition did not have to pay for a separate audit. In 2016, the LACF acquired its own 501C3 and also moved into its own office space at 150 Plaza Drive.
LACF has had two executive directors, Liz Stamper from 2005 to 2011, and Sarah Foreman, from 2011 to present day. Susan Lukwago has been the coordinator for the Chronic Disease Risk Reduction Grant since 2006. Kay Burtzloff has been with the coalition since it was founded in 2001 and has served as president since 2006.
LACF has had a wide array of grants and projects in its 21 years. Since 2006 LACF has been the recipient of a Chronic Disease Risk Reduction grant (CDRR) from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. The purpose of the CDRR grant program is to provide funding and technical assistance to communities to address chronic disease risk reduction through evidence-based strategies that impact tobacco use, physical activity and nutrition. The Coalition works in all three areas. Over the ten years we have had this grant, we have worked in the areas of preventing initiation of tobacco use, promoting the Quitline through policies at dental and healthcare practices, evaluating comprehensive tobacco-free campus policies and policies that create environments that are supportive of breastfeeding in the workplace and at Southwest Medical Center.
Past grants
2006
CDRR
2007
CDRR
2008
CDRR, SPF/SIG
2009
CDRR, SPF/SIG
2010
CDRR, SPF/SIG
2011
CDRR
2012
CDRR–Breastfeeding Education Support, United Methodist Health Ministry Fund (UMHMF), Children’s Cabinet Trust Fund (CBCAP), Kansas Health Foundation–Healthy Community Initiative (KHF/HCI)
2013
CDRR, CDRR Supplemental, UMHMF, KHF/HCI, CBCAP
2014
CDRR, CDRR Supplemental, UMHMF, KHF/HCI, CBCAP, Russell Childhood Development Center–Learn and Play (L&P)
2015
CDRR, UMHMF, KHF/HCI, SPF/SIG, L&P
2016
CDRR, UMHMF, KHF/HCI, SPF/SIG, L&P
2017
KHF, Sunflower Trails, KLC, SPF/SIG, CDRR, UMMHF, Learn and Play
2018
KHF IVE, KHF Impact & Capacity, SPF/SIG, BCBS Pathways, KHF Healthy Communities, Learn & Play
2019
KHF IVE, KHF Impact & Capacity, SPF/SIG, BCBS Pathways, KHF Healthy Communities, Learn & Play
2020
UMMHF, KHF IVE, SPF/SIG, BCBS Pathways, KHF Healthy Communities, Learn & Play
2021
BCBS Pathways Phase 1 and 2, KHF Early Literacy, KHF Healthy Communities, KHF IVE, KS Trails Council, Patterson Family Foundation, RADx-UP, Learn and Play
MILESTONES
Programs that changed the community
2008–2012
Underage drinking prevention
LACF was awarded the state SPF/SIG grant in the area of the prevention of underage drinking in 2008 through 2012. LACF and their community partners successfully completed the four-year strategic planning process and executed all of the grant goals. At that time LACF collaborated with USD 480, Big Brothers Big Sisters, the Liberal Police Department, the Seward County Sherriff’s Department and several other community organizations in a variety of strategies to address underage drinking.
2012
Breastfeeding support
In 2012, the LACF identified a problem: Liberal had no certified breast feeding instructors, the LaLeche League wasn’t functioning and Southwest Medical Center did not actively promote breastfeeding. Knowing that breastfeeding is a critical health factor in a community, the LACF leadership decided to try to tackle the issue. LACF received a small grant from a local foundation, did some fundraising, and brought Debi Leslie Bocar, RN, PhD, IBCLC, who is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), to Liberal to provide at a greatly reduced rate and 25 individuals took the course and were certified as a Breastfeeding Educator. LACF has partnered with the medical center to use its grant funds to buy high quality breast pumps which are offered as a free “rental” available for check-out to new mothers. As a result of the program, policies and practices we orchestrated in the community, Liberal was one of the top six communities in Kansas picked by the Kansas Breastfeeding Coalition as part of its Communities Supporting Breastfeeding program. In just three short years, the breastfeeding culture and support in Liberal has completed shifted.
2013
Healthy Communities Initiative
In 2013, LACF awarded the Healthy Communities Initiative (HCI) by the Kansas Health Foundation (KHF). In this initiative the KHF promotes policy, practice and environmental changes that support physical activity, increase access to and demand for healthy, safe, local (where possible), fresh and affordable foods and decrease use of and exposure to tobacco products and tobacco marketing in Kansas communities.
2013–2016
Social and emotional health
From 2013 to 2016, LACF received a grant from the United Methodist Ministry Health Fund and the focus this funding is for support and services to promote social and emotional health in young children.
2014
Fresh food and active living
In 2014, LACF receive a $50,000 CDRR supplemental grant which enabled us to restart the Farmer’s Market to provide greater access to fresh produce, establish a community garden at the Stepping Stone (homeless) Shelter and provide equipment and staffing support to the Liberal Parks and Recreation Department to expand the healthy options at its concession stands.
Since 2014
Learn and Play
LACF has had a grant since 2014 from the Russell Child Development Center to offer the Learn and Play Program in Liberal at the First Baptist Church on Friday mornings from 10:1130 a.m. The program is geared for parents to work with children age 0 to 5 in a play environment that facilities learning. Marilyn Svaty is the current coordinator.
2016
SPF/SIG partnership
In 2016, LACF received another SPF/SIG grant to address underage drinking and it is partnering with Seward County Community College to target programs towards community college students and area high schools.