Healthy Bourbon County Action Team
Contact:
Jody Love
About the Coalition:
Healthy Bourbon County Action Team (HBCAT) is a community-based coalition and backbone organization working to improve health, economic stability, and quality of life across Bourbon County and Southeast Kansas. HBCAT brings together residents, nonprofits, healthcare providers, educators, employers, local governments, and faith-based partners to address the root causes of health inequities in rural communities.
HBCAT supports and coordinates Rural Community Partners (RCP), a grassroots regional network of Local Health Equity Action Teams (LHEATs) operating across Southeast Kansas. Each LHEAT is a place-based, community-led team made up of residents and local partners who identify priorities based on community needs, lived experience, and data, then work collaboratively to design and implement solutions.
Together, HBCAT and RCP operate as an integrated coalition model that balances regional coordination with local ownership. HBCAT serves as the fiscal agent and provides shared infrastructure including grant administration, data collection, evaluation, technical assistance, and cross-county coordination. Rural Community Partners and its LHEATs lead on-the-ground action, relationship building, and community engagement.
HBCAT and RCP also provides business technical assistance and a rural entrepreneurship mentorship program. Through one-on-one mentoring, expert advising, and resource navigation, the program supports startups and existing small businesses, helping entrepreneurs strengthen operations, access capital, and grow sustainably. Experienced local business owners and professionals are compensated for their time, ensuring practical, high-quality support rooted in real-world experience.
HBCAT and RCP are committed to long-term, community-led change that strengthens people, businesses, and systems across rural Southeast Kansas.
Coalition Established Date:
July 1, 2018
Past Grants:
Over the past 10 years, Healthy Bourbon County Action Team (HBCAT) and more recently Rural Community Partners have led and administered a range of grants, contracts, and community-driven initiatives focused on health equity, workforce development, and rural economic resilience across Southeast Kansas.
Key highlights include:
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas – Pathways to a Healthy Kansas: Multi-phase funding supporting coalition capacity, community health workers, and cross-sector health improvement efforts.
USDA Rural Business Development Grant (RBDG): Administration of business technical assistance, capital navigation, and workforce-related support for rural entrepreneurs through the Center for Economic Growth.
Regional Small Business & Entrepreneurship Technical Assistance Hub: Grant-funded initiative providing one-on-one advising and access-to-capital support, serving more than 200 entrepreneurs and contributing to over $3 million in local capital investment.
Rural Entrepreneurship Mentorship Program: Ongoing program connecting startups and existing small businesses with experienced local mentors, providing paid, practical expertise to strengthen operations and growth.
Substance Use Prevention and Recovery Initiatives (KDADS and partners): Coalition-led prevention, recovery support, and systems coordination efforts addressing substance use disorder.
Community Health Worker (CHW) Programs: Deployment of CHWs to support care navigation, resource connection, and barrier reduction in alignment with community priorities.
Local Health Equity Action Teams (LHEATs): Creation and support of grassroots, place-based teams advancing locally led solutions in health, workforce, and community development.
Focus Areas:
Community Health Worker Programs, Access to Care, Built Environment, Substance Use Prevention / Harm Reduction, Food Access, Tobacco Cessation & Prevention, Workforce Wellness, Local & State-Level Advocacy, General Health & Wellness, Physical Activity
County:
Bourbon County
Region:
Southeast Region
Estimated Membership size:
23
Partner Network:
40
Meeting Frequency & Format:
Monthly; Hybrid