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Kansas State University has launched the Institute for Community Health and Well-being, a new initiative aimed at tackling the challenges facing communities across the state while advancing K-State’s land-grant mission of research and engagement.

Rural Kansas communities face population decline, health disparities, limited access to health care, housing and child care shortages, and digital divides. The institute brings together K-State expertise in agriculture, education, public health, engineering, business, architecture, and social sciences to develop evidence-based solutions that strengthen communities.

Backed by initial funding from the One K-State Strategic Investment Fund, the institute aligns with the Next-Gen K-State strategic plan and the Kansas Board of Regents’ Building a Future plan, focusing on community health as key to economic prosperity.

The institute convenes interdisciplinary faculty and community partners to co-design projects, provide technical support, conduct research, assist with grants, and engage students in applied learning. K-State’s presence in all 105 counties allows for coordinated solutions built on existing relationships and expertise.

The initiative will collaborate with K-State’s Economic Development team and external partners, including the Kansas Health Foundation, offering small community grants and faculty support for local projects.

The institute aims to create measurable impacts: increasing awareness of rural needs in the short term, helping communities implement evidence-based strategies in the medium term, and improving long-term health and wellness outcomes while positioning K-State as a national leader in community-engaged research.

K-State has committed $500,000 over the next two to three years to establish partnerships, launch interdisciplinary projects, and build the institute’s long-term infrastructure.