In Your Own Words – A Storytelling Contest About the Value and Impact of Public Health

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In Your Own Words - A Storytelling Contest About the Value and Impact of Public Health

Because storytelling is a powerful way of communicating ideas, promoting learning and fostering empathy, the Kansas Health Institute (KHI) is launching a storytelling contest to amplify the value and impact of public health in Kansas. We are seeking submissions from community members, students, public health professionals and others who are passionate about the role of public health in Kansas. The top two entries will receive great prizes. All stories received will be considered for use in KHI print, online and multimedia publications, with the goal of promoting public health awareness and education. Your story will be credited to you by name, unless you request anonymity or a pseudonym, and could be used for a range of purposes, from informing policymakers and communities about the personal impact of the public health system to helping public health professionals better communicate the value of their work.

Submission Guidelines

KHI is accepting original written stories of personal experiences or creative reflections about the impact and value of public health on your life, your family or your community.

• Submission Deadline: Midnight CDT on July 31, 2025.
• Enter by emailing stories to [email protected].
• Stories may range from approximately 500 to 1,500 words.
• Please submit your story in Microsoft Word (preferred) or PDF format.
• If you are including original photos or artwork you created, you may either paste them into your story document or attach them separately as JPEG, PNG or PDF files.
• Stories should clearly relate to the public health system, as defined below.

What Is the Public Health System?

The public health system includes all the people, programs and organizations that work together to prevent disease, promote well-being and protect communities from public health emergencies. This can include:

• Local and state health departments.
• Public policies and community-based programs.
• Public health professionals.
• Nonprofit organizations, clinics, schools and other institutions that support public health goals.

In short, the public health system is any coordinated effort that helps people live healthier, safer lives - especially at the community level.

Need Help Thinking of a Story?

You might write about a time when:

• A public health program made a difference in your life or community.
• Your work in public health impacted the health, well-being and vitality of your community.
• You saw how prevention, education or policy helped improve health.
• You noticed a gap in the system and imagined a better way to promote health.

Feel free to check out this example from our blog: Seeing Public Health as an Investment in People and Communities.

Judging Criteria

A team of judges will individually score stories based on the following criteria. Scores from individual judges will be combined to determine winners. If there is a tie, a drawing will be held among the winning entries to determine the winners. Criteria include:

• Personal Connection and Emotional Impact (30 points): Personal experience, emotional resonance and uniqueness.
• Clear Tie to Public Health (30 points): Demonstrates the value and impact of public health systems or interventions.
• Clarity, Engagement and Creativity (20 points): Quality, structure, creativity and engagement level.
• Call to Action or "So What" (20 points): Articulates the broader importance and relevance of the story.

Awards and Recognition

Selected stories may be featured in KHI publications and tools.

The top two entries will be recognized and published on KHI's Transforming Public Health for the 21st Century: Bridging Theory to Practice blog. They also will receive:

• 1st Place: Certificate, book about Samuel J. Crumbine (Frontier Doctor: The Autobiography of a Pioneer on the Frontier of Public Health), KHI water bottle and a $50 gift card.
• 2nd Place: Certificate, Crumbine book, KHI water bottle.

Consent Agreement

By submitting a story, participants acknowledge and agree to the following terms:

Use of Story:

• Your story may be used by KHI in print, online and multimedia formats to promote public health awareness and education.
• Stories may appear in blog posts, social media, presentations, technical assistance toolkits, public-facing reports and scholarly publications.

Attribution:

• You will be credited by name, unless you request anonymity or a pseudonym.
• You also may choose to include your location, profession or organization.
• Requests for anonymity will be honored.
• If your story is used for a scholarly publication, any identifying details will be removed.

Photos and Artwork:

• If you submit images, you confirm that you own the rights to them and have the permission of anyone shown.
• KHI may lightly crop or format visuals to fit publication standards.

Editing and Formatting:

• Minor edits may be made for grammar or clarity. Significant edits will be shared with the author before publication.

Right to Decline or Withdraw:

• KHI reserves the right not to publish all submissions.
• Authors may request to withdraw their submission or limit its use at any time by contacting [email protected].

Timeline

• Submission Deadline: Midnight CDT on July 31, 2025.
• Winner Announcement: September 2025.

Transforming Public Health for the 21st Century: Bridging Theory to Practice is a blog series that will explore the challenges and opportunities faced by the public health sector and will introduce innovative ideas and unique voices to support transformation. Sign up here to receive these summaries and more, and also follow KHI on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram. Learn more about the series on our blog page. Please feel free to share your feedback or suggestions with us by emailing [email protected].