Remarks shared by Fellow Andrea Dencklau at the HealthConnect Fellowship Celebration on November 18, 2019. Andrea shares what the fellowship experience has meant to her and the hope it brings that we can address critical issues in our community.

Eighteen fellows have joined Mid-Iowa Health Foundation’s HealthConnect Fellowship for a second 18-month phase focused on building a network of advocates to lead system changes that improve children’s well-being in central Iowa.

Two years ago, we launched the fellowship to foster a "tipping point" towards sound policy and practice changes that would positively and equitably impact the health of Iowa's children. We invited seven health advocates to join us as the inaugural fellows. Here is the release of our Cultivating Change report highlighting their work and our collective impact thus far.

Chaney Yeast shares her journey as part of the first cohort of fellows. Her project focuses on improving children's mental health through a coordinated, collaborative approach.

Mary Nelle Trefz shares her journey as part of the first cohort of fellows. Her project focuses on enhancing how Medicaid delivers care to kids to improve their health now and as adults .

The first piece of advice we are given when we decide to try creating system-level change is “you need to form a coalition." And if you ask, “What does it need to look like?” your answer is, "Get all the key stakeholders around the table." This is not enough.