Local schools receive grants to strengthen students’ health and well-being
Topeka, Kansas (March 3, 2025) – The Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas Foundation recently awarded 107 local schools with Healthy Habits for Life grants to assist in implementing programs that promote healthy lifestyle choices to their K-12 students.
The Foundation looks for programs that will help Kansas youth reduce cardiovascular risk, increase physical activity, learn healthy eating habits and reinforce positive mental health. This year, 57% of the grants are being used to support students’ mental health.
Just like many other schools across the country, Oliver Brown Elementary in Manhattan has seen a rising number of students needing additional support regulating their emotions. Currently, 20% of their student body regularly access social-emotional and sensory support resources. The school applied for and received the grant last year and, as a result, were able to increase their sensory tools. After the success students had with those tools, applying for the Healthy Habits for Life Grant again was a no brainer. This year, in addition to more sensory tools, they’re adding self-regulation books and social skills card games for all teachers.
“We wanted to ensure all teachers had resources that were readily available to assist students with developing social and emotional skills, as we continue to see delays in social-emotional development,” said Meagan Klein, Ed.S., Manhattan School Psychologist. “We likely would not have been able to purchase these items with our school budget and we are very appreciative that we received the grant two years in a row.”
Schools receiving grants must address at least one of four criteria: reduce cardiovascular risk, increase physical activity, learn healthy eating habits, and reinforce positive mental health among students. These programs range from adding new equipment for PE programs to launching after-school clubs to providing care cases for teachers to assist students who are having a difficult time and need items to help self-regulate their emotions.
Schools who were awarded grants (PDF)
About the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas Foundation
The Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas Foundation promotes the good health of Kansans who live in the Foundation’s 103-county service area. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas, the largest health insurer in the state, incorporated the Foundation in 2005 as a way to further deepen its commitment to helping all Kansans lead healthier lives, an effort which both entities believe is an essential factor in keeping health care affordable. Through its giving, the Foundation focuses on key health issues that can impact the lives of many Kansans. It funds programs and activities that are, at their core, health-related and in particular, promote health improvement, community health access and/or education, healthy behaviors, prevention initiatives and direct health services to the uninsured. The Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas Foundation and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas are independent licensees of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. Both entities serve all Kansas counties except Johnson and Wyandotte. For more information on the Foundation, visit bcbsks.com/foundation.