Safe Sitter Babysitting Course and/or Emergency Preparedness & Safety Camp
Elevate Kansas is excited to feature the success stories from our Mini Grant recipients. The 2026 Community Impact Mini Grants supported short-term, community-led projects focused on coalition capacity building, youth engagement, youth mental health and well-being, and tobacco prevention and cessation.
One prevention-focused initiative led by Republic County Hospital is working to educate youth about the risks associated with e-cigarette and vaping use through interactive community and educational programming.
Using Elevate Kansas Community Impact Mini Grant funding, Republic County Hospital developed E-Cigarette and Vaping Education Packages and materials that will be incorporated into multiple youth-centered events throughout the year. The project is designed to increase awareness of the negative health outcomes associated with vaping while helping young people build healthy decision-making and resilience skills.
The first opportunity to share these resources will take place during the hospital-sponsored Safe Sitter Babysitting Course on June 2–3. The Safe Sitter program serves students in grades 5–7 and teaches essential safety, childcare, and rescue skills to help youth stay safe while home alone, caring for younger siblings, or babysitting other children.
The educational materials will also be incorporated into the hospital-supported Emergency Preparedness & Safety Camp scheduled for July 21–23. The three-day summer camp serves students in grades 3–6 and focuses on emergency response, resilience, and safety education through interactive experiences led by local emergency services, law enforcement, and fire departments.
By integrating vaping prevention education into existing youth safety and preparedness programs, Republic County Hospital is helping connect prevention messaging with broader conversations around personal wellness, healthy choices, and community safety.
In addition to these summer events, hospital staff shared plans to continue expanding the initiative into local schools. While dates have not yet been finalized, the hospital intends to host E-Cigarette and Vaping Education Days at both USD 109 and USD 426 during the upcoming school year.
This project reflects the importance of early prevention education and the value of reaching youth through trusted community programs and partnerships. Through proactive outreach and youth-focused education, Republic County Hospital continues working to support healthier futures for young people and families throughout Republic County.
To learn more about Live Well Geary County, check out their website and Facebook to keep up with updates.
Administered by Wichita State University Community Engagement Institute in partnership with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment Bureau of Health Promotion, this program provided flexible funding to support prevention and health promotion efforts across Kansas. Twenty organizations were selected to receive $1,000 mini-grants to fund locally led activities aligned with these goals. These mini grants also support the broader purpose of Elevate Kansas: strengthening community health coalitions across the state by connecting leaders, sharing resources, and supporting locally driven solutions that improve the health of Kansans.