Free Books for the Niños!

County Administrator, Randall Partington, with members of the Kansas Health Foundation in front of the free book display at the Finney County Health Department

The Finney County Health Department got a special visit from the Kansas Health Foundation last week!

The Kansas Health Foundation is on a mission to improve the health of Kansas kids and they're doing it through reading!

"One of the reasons literacy is so important to [us] is that Kansans with higher education levels have better health outcomes. If we can improve education levels, we can improve health for future generations."

-- Kansas Health Foundation

So they created a book JUST FOR US!

"Just Like You / Igual Que Tu" is the bilingual children's book created specifically for children in Southwest Kansas. And we're giving them away for FREE at the Finney County Health Department.

This book is ONLY available at the Health Department and other participating partners in Finney County, Seward County, and Dodge City.

"Southwest Kansas is a unique region of the state for many reasons. After running our statewide "Can't Wait To Read" literacy campaign in early 2019, we realized we needed to engage with communities in Southwest Kansas more directly. Thanks to trusted community partners in the region, we are able to do that."

-- Kansas Health Foundation

63% of Kansas kids won't pass their fourth-grade reading tests. These kids are 4 times more likely not to graduate from high school, and 2/3 of them will likely end up in jail or poverty.

If we start reading with our children at an early age, we can close the reading gap and set our little ones on a path to success.

Dropping off books to the Health Department. There's more where these came from!

We're so proud to be a partner for this initiative and have the books personally delivered by the Kansas Health Foundation.

We were also pleased that the Foundation members had time to take a behind-the-scenes tour of our Health Department. We think they were impressed!

"Just Like You" is a fun family story, but most important, it's a resource that can set your kids on a path to reading success.

Pick up your copy at the Finney County Health Department, 919 Zerr Rd., Garden City.

DOWNLOAD THE E-BOOK and find a detailed list of the other participating locations online at: bit.ly/readwiththemFAQ.