Social Capital in Kansas

Social Capital in Kansas:
The Abilene Case Study
December 2009
KHI/09-15
Oliwier Dziadkowiec, M.A.
Caitlin McMurtry
212 SW Eighth Avenue, Suite 300
Topeka, Kansas 66603-3936
(785) 233-5443

Kansas Health Institute Social Capital in Kansas: The Abilene Case Study ii

The Kansas Health Institute is an
independent, nonprofit health
policy and research organization
based in Topeka, Kansas.
Established in 1995 with a multi-
year grant from the Kansas Health
Foundation, the Kansas Health
Institute conducts research and
policy analysis on issues that affect
the health of Kansans.

Copyright© Kansas Health Institute 2009.
Materials may be reprinted with written
permission.

Kansas Health Institute Social Capital in Kansas: The Abilene Case Study 1
SOCIAL CAPITAL IN KANSAS: THE ABILENE CASE STUDY
Abilene, a small town with a population of 6,500 in Dickinson County, Kansas, is described
as a stable, quiet and family-centered community. Data from the 2000 Census1
indicate that 57
percent of Abilene’s population is over the age of 35 and 20 percent of the town is over age 65.
In comparison, 50.2 percent of Kansas as a whole consists of adults over the age of 35 while only
13.3 percent of the state’s population is over age 65.
In the interviews from the Assessing Social Capital in Kansas: Findings from Quantitative
and Qualitative Studies2
report, most residents gave Abilene glowing reviews, commenting on
the generosity of the residents and the safety and security of the town. Compared to other parts of
the state, Abilene showed a high degree of social trust among its residents, as well as high levels
of voter registration and participation in conventional politics, civic leadership, charitable giving
and faith-based engagement. Interviewees also commented that many residents are involved in
the community in ways such as volunteer coaching, assisting at sporting events and contributing
letters to the editor, as well as other informal means of engagement.
This report will first explain the meaning and importance of social capital and then discuss the
strengths and weaknesses of Abilene’s social capital profile, including how social capital relates
to health in Abilene. A commentary will outline suggestions about how to best address social
capital-related challenges in Abilene, and the report will close with a series of reflective
questions for community leaders aimed at providing them with ideas for strengthening
community involvement.
SOCIAL CAPITAL: A COMMUNITY RESOURCE
Social capital is a measure of the social connectedness among individuals and groups within a
community. Social capital is beneficial to communities because it helps to create trusting
relationships (bonding capital), increases the likelihood that organizations and institutions will
collaborate and partner for change (bridging capital) and strengthens ties between community
members and representatives of formal institutions such as law enforcement, business, health
care and legislative bodies (linking capital).

Social capital can be a critical resource for improving the health and welfare of Abilene. The
social capital profile of Abilene (Figure 1) illustrates the kinds of social connectedness (i.e.,
faith-based involvement and volunteering) that is strongest in Abilene. The profile also illustrates
aspects of social capital that are low, including involvement in activist politics and diversity of
friends. Interviews with a variety of stakeholders in the Abilene area provided ground-level
perspectives about these community challenges.
LOCAL HEALTH CONCERNS
Although Abilene city officials and community leaders have worked hard to meet the needs of
the area’s residents, Kansas Health Institute’s Kansas County Health Rankings 20093
as well as
the Kansas social capital study reveal a few areas that might warrant improvement.

The Kansas County Health Rankings 2009 profile for Dickinson County, which includes
Abilene, shows a number of health behavior challenges among the residents. Although the
county scored well on measures of children in poverty, violent crime and sexually transmitted
diseases, other areas such as rates of binge drinking and smoking during pregnancy were among
the highest in the state. The table below highlights Dickinson County’s health indicators.

Table 1. Leading Health Indicator Assets and Challenges of
Dickinson County
Health Indicator Dickinson Kansas
Assets:
Violent Crime (per 100,000) 194.4 222.9
Sexually Transmitted Disease (per 100,000) 160.0 363.6
Children in Poverty (%) 13.0 15.2
Respiratory Hazard Index (%) 0.6 1.5
Low Birth Weight (%) 6.2 7.2
Single Parent Household (%) 23.9 24.4
High School Non-Graduation Rate (%) 9.7 10.9
Challenges:
Housing with Increased Lead Risk (%) 48.4 28.3
No Dentist Visit in Past Year (%) 37.0 28.6
Secondhand Smoking (%) 35.9 26.6
Binge Drinking (%) 20.1 14.2
Smoking During Pregnancy (%) 23.7 15.1
Overweight and Obesity (%) 65.4 60.9
Physical Inactivity (%) 28.8 24.2
Cigarette Smoking (%) 23.8 20.4
No Influenza Vaccine Shots in Past Year (%) 69.6 66.8
Teen Birth (%) 12.8 10.0
Not Always Wearing Seatbelt (%) 33.9 30.4
Did Not Receive Needed Health Care (%) 10.7 9.8
Low Fruit and Vegetable Consumption (%) 82.7 81.2

LOCAL BARRIERS TO SOCIAL CAPITAL FORMATION
Findings from the Kansas social capital study echo some of the health challenges listed above
and highlight additional social challenges such as the area’s questionable tolerance of diversity,

low community engagement by newcomers and younger residents, and the consolidation of
much social capital in the hands of relatively few town residents.
Data from the 2000 Census indicate that Abilene is 95.5 percent white. Due to the small
number of racial minorities in town, the 2006 social capital study could not produce conclusive
results regarding levels of interracial trust in Abilene. Additionally, even though the town is
slowly becoming more diverse, there is some evidence, based on interviews from the Kansas
social capital study that schools and other public institutions may lack the infrastructure to
accommodate the possible needs of incoming populations, such as English language instruction
for non-English speakers.
Connected to this diversity challenge are the feelings of alienation among newcomers to
Abilene. The feeling of the exclusive nature of Abilene’s social circles is highlighted in a quote
from the Kansas social capital study:
Interviewee: “They’re friendly. They’re cordial. But you don’t get the phone call,
‘Oh, would you like to join us today?’ or, you know, ‘We’re going here,’ or you
know, that kinds of stuff. It just doesn’t happen. It’s not just me either … They
know everything about each other. Their kids grew up together, you know, their
mothers knew each other, and it’s just kind of … it’s not like … I guess there’s a
wall there, but…”
Researcher: “Yeah? But you feel it?”
Interviewee: “You do. Sure. I mean, I think no matter how long you’re here …
there’s even one lady, she says, ‘I’ve been here 20 years and I feel like a
newcomer still.’ So yeah. Because she didn’t live here her whole life. She moved
from somewhere else at some point in time.”
The report also highlights the concern about access to community leadership opportunities for
those who do not come from an affluent family:
“A dynamic that was perhaps particular to Abilene was that foundations or
organizations were often perceived as turning to ‘families with names’ when
constituting their boards. Longevity and prominence in the community (‘multiple

generations in the cemetery’) were criteria that were perceived to be important to
the selection or nomination process to some, but not all boards of directors.
Having ‘names’ on a board was felt to be especially important for organizations
that dealt with priority issues of the community. Some interviewees found that
they could nominate less well-known people to boards only for causes that donors
and community members seemed to think were not important, such as the arts and
cultural programs.”
Strong attachments between well-bonded, likely homogenous groups of residents coupled
with a lack of important bridging bonds between different groups of residents, may make the task
of uniting the community difficult. However, including individuals from all geographical areas
of the town in meetings dedicated to addressing community-wide issues has a potential of
building connections between people who don’t usually work together or socialize, which will
contribute to increases in bridging social capital.

The Kansas social capital study interviews and the Kansas County Health Rankings 2009
indicate a need to further engage the area’s youth. Behaviors such as binge drinking, teen
pregnancy, physical inactivity and smoking during pregnancy suggest the need to develop
programs aimed at integrating teens and young adults into the broader community and creating
organizations that offer low-risk activities and other social or leadership opportunities.
HOPE FOR THE FUTURE
Despite the challenges laid out in the Kansas County Health Rankings 2009 and the Kansas
social capital study, the Abilene community seems to have the dedication and commitment to
improving its weaker areas. With an engaged citizen base willing to volunteer their time to town
causes, a variety of spaces for public use, a strong faith community and a town priority of caring
for children and those in need, Abilene has the potential to improve health outcomes in the
future, especially if it can harness the promise of its young people through widespread,
community-supported leadership programs. However, this outcome is more possible if
community leaders are willing to address the area’s strengths and weaknesses outlined in this
report.

QUESTIONS FOR COMMUNITY LEADERS
• Knowing both Abilene’s assets and challenges, what are the next steps for creating
change?
• Can the information in this report aid existing initiatives in your community?
• Who else should receive a copy of this report?
• Are there any important questions that, as a community leader, you would like to
address?
These questions are not meant to uncover one best answer, nor do they require a single
brilliant solution. Instead, they are intended to motivate and guide willing individuals who
believe in the strengths of their communities and acknowledge that change is possible.

1
U.S. Census Bureau. (2000). 2000 Census General Demographic Characteristics. Retrieved from
http://factfinder.census.gov/
2
Easterling, D., Foy, C. G., Fothergil, K., Leonard, L., & Holtgrave, D. R. (2007). Assessing Social Capital in
Kansas: Findings from Quantitative and Qualitative Studies. Retrieved from
http://www.khi.org/documents/2007/nov/12/report-assessing-social-capital-kansas-findings-qu/
3
Pezzino, G. (2009). Kansas County Health Rankings 2009. Topeka, KS: Kansas Health Institute. Retrieved from
http://www.khi.org/news/2009/may/07/kansas-county-health-rankings-2009/?research

Kansas Health Institute Social Capital in Kansas: The Garden City Case Study 7
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Sharon Homan, Ph.D., vice president for public health; Anne Berry, communications
specialist; Jim McLean, vice president for public affairs; Cathy McNorton, communications
specialist; and Robert F. St. Peter, M.D., president and CEO, (Kansas Health Institute) also
contributed to the case study.
Greg Meissen, Ph.D., professor of psychology (Wichita State University), and Matt Jordan,
director of programs (Kansas Leadership Center), helped to edit and gave valuable insights on
initial drafts of this report.
The Assessing Social Capital in Kansas quantitative study was conducted by Doug Easterling,
Ph.D., and Capri G. Foy, Ph.D. (Wake Forest University School of Medicine). The qualitative
study was conducted by Kate Fothergill, Ph.D., Lori Leonard, Ph.D., and David R. Holtgrave,
Ph.D., (Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health).
The Kansas County Health Rankings 2009 study was conducted by Gianfranco Pezzino,
M.D., M.P.H., and Cheng-Chung Huang, M.P.H. (Kansas Health Institute).
Assessing Social Capital in Kansas: Findings from Quantitative and Qualitative Studies,
Kansas County Health Rankings 2009, and this study on social capital in select Kansas
communities were all made possible by funding from the Kansas Health Foundation, Wichita,
Kan. The Kansas Health Foundation is a philanthropic organization whose mission is to improve
the health of all Kansans.

The Garden City Case Study
December 2009
KHI/09-17
Caitlin McMurtry
(785) 233-5443

Kansas Health Institute Social Capital in Kansas: The Garden City Case Study ii


permission.

SOCIAL CAPITAL IN KANSAS: THE GARDEN CITY CASE STUDY
Garden City is an ethnically diverse city with a population of about 28,500 located in Western
Kansas. Compared to the rest of the state, where only 48 percent of the population is under the
age of 35, 54 percent of Garden City’s population is younger than 351
. The economy is
agriculturally based and 37 percent of individuals in the labor force can be classified as blue
collar workers2
. Garden City’s recent history is highlighted by profound demographic, social and
economic transformation from new businesses and international immigration.
strengths and weaknesses of Garden City’s social capital profile, including how social capital
relates to health in Garden City. A commentary will outline suggestions about how to best
address social capital-related challenges in Garden City, and the report will close with a series of
reflective questions for community leaders aimed at providing them with ideas for strengthening
collaborate and partner for change (bridging capital), and strengthens ties between community
The social capital profile of Garden City (Figure 1) illustrates the kinds of social
connectedness (i.e., social support, social trust and faith-based involvement) that are strongest in
Garden City. The profile also illustrates areas of social capital that are low, including
participation in organized activities and conventional politics. Interviews with a variety of
stakeholders in the Garden City area provided ground-level perspectives about these community
challenges.

LOCAL RESOURCES FOR SOCIAL CAPITAL FORMATION
Garden City key informant interview participants reported a high level of commitment to
attending faith-based services, yet the number of reported church memberships did not match
this degree of organizational and faith-based involvement obtained from the telephone survey
(Figure 1). This finding suggests that there may be other instances of unmeasured informal
participation elsewhere in the community. For example, although the telephone survey reported
lower levels of informal socializing for Garden City, key informant interviews from the
Assessing Social Capital in Kansas: Findings from Quantitative and Qualitative Studies3
report
revealed a hearty willingness on the part of neighbors to help one another.

For instance the above cited study quotes one of the participants talking about how another
resident casually offered to jumpstart his/her car:
“He came over and did it. He thought nothing of it.”
Another strength of the Garden City community is its residents’ involvement in activist
politics. The Kansas social capital study revealed a long-standing initiative on the part of beef-
packing plant workers to unionize. These residents’ perseverance, even in the face of repeated
defeat, suggests a strong commitment to their work environment and their professional roles in
Garden City.
Garden City was noted as one of the more diverse communities from the Kansas social capital
study. Based on 2006 U.S. Census data4
, Garden City was racially 83.4 percent white and
ethnically 45 percent Hispanic. Although these categories overlap in the Census, the numbers
highlight Garden City’s lower levels of racial minorities and higher levels of ethnic minorities.
According to Kansas social capital study interviewees, despite the area’s diversity, the
community has struggled with issues of racial intolerance and exploitative practices targeted at
the Hispanic community.
Though the area’s diversity should be regarded as an asset, Kansas social capital study
interviewees indicated that some of the past practices of the city and its residents might have left
the Hispanic population feeling alienated and unwelcome. Residents described numerous
situations of immigrant victimization — where community members purposely took advantage
of newcomers with a limited ability to communicate in English in order to gain a profit at their
expense. Some interviewees described practices of unfair racial profiling tactics by police that
left Hispanic residents feeling as if they had been targeted. Additionally, interviewees noted that
some residents have written editorials advocating for legislation that would make English the
official language used in business, government entities and schools, and some community
members specifically choose to send their children to schools that are minimally integrated.

These findings point to a need for increased community awareness about the benefits of cross-
cultural communication and understanding. Such improvements could help raise the levels of
interracial trust among residents, especially within the Hispanic community.
One final barrier to social capital in Garden City is the community’s limited professional
opportunities. The concern about the shortage of middle-management positions in the area was
raised numerous times during interviews with community stakeholders who noted that Garden
City has an abundance of low-level, low-skilled jobs, a few upper management positions, but
little employment in between. As a result, most residents consider Garden City to be a temporary
residence and consider that their professional journey will eventually take them elsewhere in the
state or country. Thus, if the city hopes to attract permanent residents who are committed to
investing in the town and becoming active participants in the community, it must find a way to
develop and support more mid-level careers.
SOCIAL CAPITAL AND HEALTH INDICATORS
Similar to other communities included in the Kansas social capital study, Garden City has
both notable challenges and important assets when it comes to social capital formation and health
improvement.
Findings from the Kansas social capital study and Kansas Health Institute’s Kansas County
Health Rankings 20095
report indicate the importance of addressing the lack of activities for
young people in Garden City. Interviewees for the Kansas social capital study mentioned an
“exodus” on the weekend when residents leave the area in search of entertainment. Increasing
the number of healthy activities for young people locally could have a positive impact on
measures of violent crime, high school dropouts, teen pregnancy and binge drinking in Finney
County.

Finney County
Health Indicator Finney Kansas
Assets:
Sexually Transmitted Diseases (per 100,000) 296.0 363.6
Unemployment (%) 3.2 4.1
Lead Poisoned Children (%) 0.3 1.1
Challenges:
No Adequate Prenatal Care (%) 41.9 20.3
No High School Diploma (%) 32.6 14.0
Nitrate and Coliform Levels in Water (%) 32.4 3.1
No Health Insurance (%) 18.2 12.4
Teen Birth (%) 14.9 10.0
Overweight or Obese (%) 64.6 60.9
HOPE FOR THE FUTURE
Although Garden City has a number of social and health challenges to address, the
community has a number of assets that create a very advantageous starting point for major
improvements. For instance, although the area’s teen birth rate is almost five percent greater than
the state average, the area’s sexually transmitted disease contraction rate is substantially lower
than that of Kansas in general. Additionally while many of the area’s expectant mothers do not
utilize or have access to adequate prenatal care, most mothers in the community cease smoking
during pregnancy. These findings point to a concerted effort among town residents to make
healthy decisions regarding their personal and familial well-being. Beneficial health decisions
and improved relationships among individuals from diverse populations will likely contribute to
notable improvements in health behaviors and health outcomes, as well as social capital
formation in Garden City. However, the city should look to further invest its resources in areas

that offer leadership opportunities for youth or expand job opportunities to its residents. These
improvements will encourage young people to make more of a commitment to the community
and possibly make Garden City their lifelong residence. However, these suggestions likely only
go as far as motivated community leaders are willing to take them.
• Knowing both Garden City’s assets and challenges, what are the next steps for
creating change?
address?

1
2
U.S. Census Bureau (2006−2008). American Community Survey 3-Year Estimates. Retrieved from
3
4
U.S. Census Bureau (2006−2008). American Community Survey 3-Year Estimates. Retrieved from

5

The Junction City Case Study
December 2009
KHI/09-16
Caitlin McMurtry
(785) 233-5443

Kansas Health Institute Social Capital in Kansas: The Junction City Case Study ii
permission.

Kansas Health Institute Social Capital in Kansas: The Junction City Case Study 1
SOCIAL CAPITAL IN KANSAS: THE JUNCTION CITY CASE STUDY
Junction City, a growing town with a population of about 30,0001
, sits to the southwest of
Fort Riley in East-Central Kansas. Junction City is home to many of the enlisted service men and
women from the nearby military base. When the First Battalion (otherwise known as “The Big
Red One”) was relocated back to Kansas from Germany, Junction City experienced a swell of
newcomers — a population influx the town has worked assiduously to accommodate.
Overall, results from the Assessing Social Capital in Kansas: Findings from Quantitative and
Qualitative Studies2
report indicate that Junction City is a wonderful place to live and raise
children. Military culture currently and historically has been a part of Junction City and most
citizens view this as beneficial. Racial, ethnic and religious diversity are embraced. Parents are
unusually active in school life and civility and cooperation serve as important pillars of the
community. Given this dynamic, it makes sense that social trust and interracial trust were two of
Junction City’s highest social capital attributes, according to the Kansas social capital study. A
noteworthy result of the recent population growth has been an increase in political engagement
among the residents of Junction City. Attendance at town hall meetings, for example, has
increased significantly.
strengths and weaknesses of Junction City’s social capital profile, including how social capital
relates to health in Junction City. A commentary will outline suggestions about how to best
address social capital-related challenges in Junction City, and the report will close with a series
of reflective questions for community leaders aimed at providing them with ideas for
strengthening community involvement.

An increase in social capital can be instrumental in improving the health and welfare of
Junction City. The social capital profile of Junction City (Figure 1) illustrates the kinds of social
connectedness (i.e., social trust, organizational involvement) that are strongest in Junction City.
The profile also illustrates aspects of social capital that are low including informal socializing
and formal leadership. Interviews with a variety of stakeholders in the Junction City area
surfaced ground-level perspectives about these community challenges.

The inclusive mentality of the Junction City community is one of the town’s strongest
attributes. One excerpt from the Kansas social capital study highlights this concept:
Interviewee: Well, when we were kids I know, I mean, we did these little annual
exams, you know, Scantron — they’d ask for your race and we’d always put
“other,” we’d put [ODIGREEN?]
Researcher: [ODIGREEN?] what does that mean?
Interviewee: That’s the army — Army Green. We were like that’s our race.
We’re Army Green.
Researcher: And that was everybody?
Interviewee: Yeah. Because that’s what we felt like. We didn’t see, you know,
you were different because you were from Oklahoma and because you were from
Kansas. You know, and that’s what made you different, but we were all one big
family. You know?
The engaged presence of local elected officials is another asset of Junction City. Residents
commented during interviews that community leaders have been instrumental in helping the
town accommodate its rapid growth, welcoming individuals from the military base and handling
the high population turnover. Business leaders have also been dedicated to the cause of
integrating Fort Riley into the daily activity of Junction City.

The Kansas social capital study acknowledged Junction City’s apparent lack of informal
socializing activities as a factor preventing social capital formation. Although neighbors
frequently interact with each other through everyday means, residents’ social networks tend to
become rather small and insular when they depend solely on geographical convenience. Raising
the amount of informal socializing opportunities in Junction City, expanding the social scope of
residents and attracting more people from Fort Riley may depend on the city’s ability to develop
more restaurants and entertainment venues. With the town’s growing population, this should be
easier to accomplish than in the past.
Another challenge Junction City faces is the lack of youth involvement in the community.
Although interviewees described the community’s youth organizations as active, Junction City

has struggled to recruit adolescents and young adults to participate in organizations comprised
mostly of older adults. Members of the community also noted that there has been difficulty in
finding young people to serve leadership roles within faith-based organizations, although this
finding may be related to the fact that Junction City is becoming more secular.
Nonetheless, since many community members describe a strong leadership presence as
imperative to successful volunteering initiatives, it seems critical that the community primes
younger residents so that they may assume these roles in the future.

Geary County
Health Indicator Geary Kansas
Assets:
No Dentist Visit in the Past Year (%) 22.6 28.6
No Influenza Vaccine Shots in the Past Year
(%) 62.0 66.8
Not Always Wearing a Seatbelt (%) 28.6 30.4
Challenges:
Sexually Transmitted Disease (per 100,000) 1,651.0 363.6
Divorce Rate (per 1,000) 7.7 3.2
Lead Poisoned Children (%) 3.3 1.1
Teen Birth (%) 12.2 10.0
Low Birth Weight (%) 8.6 7.2

LEADING HEALTH CONCERNS
Like other community sites of this study, Junction City has its fair share of health-related
challenges. Although the qualitative social capital assessment generally produced positive
reviews for Junction City, two important community health challenges that weren’t specifically
mentioned in the Kansas social capital study interviews, but were noted in Kansas Health
Institute’s Kansas County Health Rankings 20093
report, included sexually transmitted infection
rates and violent crime. For both measures, the incidence rates in Geary County, which includes
Junction City, were higher than any other area in the state of Kansas.
HOPE FOR THE FUTURE
Amid these various challenges, the future health of Junction City looks promising. Its
residents demonstrate a profound commitment to the community, but there still remains a need to
encourage youth involvement, expand social interaction opportunities and attend to the area’s
health concerns. Information in this analysis about Junction City’s social capital and health is
more likely to lead to improvements if community leaders are willing to take the necessary steps
in addressing the areas that could benefit from change.
• Knowing both the Junction City’s assets and challenges, what are the next steps for
creating change?
address?


1
2
3

The Kansas City Case Study
December 2009
KHI/09-18
Caitlin McMurtry
(785) 233-5443

Kansas Health Institute Social Capital in Kansas: The Kansas City Case Study ii


permission.

Kansas Health Institute Social Capital in Kansas: The Kansas City Case Study 1
SOCIAL CAPITAL IN KANSAS: THE KANSAS CITY CASE STUDY
Kansas City is a metropolitan area in Northeast Kansas with a population of about 145,000.
This city has a diverse, stable population, a highly active and mobilized faith-based community
and elected officials who are interested in improving the city on a grassroots level. This report
explains the meaning and importance of social capital, discusses the Kansas City social capital
profile in terms of strengths and challenges, and connects social capital to health in Kansas City,
Kan. The report also outlines some possibilities of how to address social capital-related
challenges in the city. The report closes with a series of reflective questions for community
leaders.
The social capital profile of Kansas City, Kan., (Figure 1) illustrates the sub-scales or
measures used to estimate the types of social connectedness (i.e., involvement in civic groups,
faith-based involvement) that are both strong and weak in the community. Interviews with a
variety of stakeholders in the area provided ground-level perspectives about these community
challenges.

Although Kansas City is exceptionally diverse, many stakeholders noted the segregated and
insular neighborhoods. The Kansas social capital study, Assessing Social Capital in Kansas:
Findings from Quantitative and Qualitative Studies,1
indicates that specific neighborhoods, such
as the “Quindaro Ruins” neighborhood located in the Northeast part of the city, are particularly
racially homogenous:
“The Northeast section tends to be predominantly African American. The
Quindaro neighborhood used to be a very affluent neighborhood. Now it’s
considered one of the highest crime, most violent sections of the city.”
Another interviewee added:
“I think probably they [the African American community] are kind of
concentrated in the Northeast area, and that’s probably one of the most depressed

areas in the city…Crime is a fairly frequent occurrence, even violent crime.
People being shot and killed and such. That can undermine trust in a community.”
So although the city is more diverse than many other parts of the state, ethnically and
culturally diverse groups remain segregated in different pockets of the city. This trend is also
reflected in the low rates of friendships and trust reported among ethnically and culturally
diverse residents.
Another factor that may limit social capital formation in Kansas City, Kan., is Wyandotte
County’s transportation system. One interviewee from the Kansas social capital study noted:
“People in the Northeast and some people in the center city had the impression
that efforts were made to keep them confined to these areas. They talked about the
lack of transportation that would allow them to get to the new shopping mall
(Legends) and racetrack in Western KCK, and how this made it impossible for
them to compete for the jobs available there.”
Although expanding the transportation system would require considerable resources, it is
important to recognize the connection in the mind of residents between scarce city services and a
latent feeling of oppression and marginalization. The city’s ability to revitalize sinking
neighborhoods may depend on its willingness to enhance the relationship between city officials
and residents of marginalized neighborhoods.
Wyandotte County, which includes Kansas City, benefits from a fairly stable population.
Unlike other locations in the Kansas social capital study, multiple generations of family members
choose to remain in Kansas City. However, the area has seen micro-migration patterns. While
the inner city houses a high number of African Americans and, more recently, Spanish-speaking
immigrants, white Kansas City residents have tended to relocate either to western Wyandotte
County or to other parts of the Kansas City metropolitan area. Because of this migration, much
of Wyandotte County’s economic base has also traveled away from the urban core — Kansas
City. Additionally, Kansas City is described as a “sunshine town,” a place where people work

during business hours, but leave when the sun sets. This economic migration in which outsiders
travel to the area for work but leave at night not only drains the property tax base of the area, but
also compounds the high unemployment rate in the city.
Faith-based organizations and neighborhood associations were described as pillars of the
Kansas City community, sturdy institutions that help in both uniting residents in formal and
informal settings and broadening the social opportunities within neighborhoods. While these
organizations have proved to be critical components of community revitalization and
engagement efforts, some interviewees felt that the institutions failed to focus enough attention
on larger-scale socializing. Thus, even though faith-based institutions and neighborhood
associations have done much to expand local social networks, they lack cooperation on a broader
level. As a result, residents’ social capacities are still dictated by geographical convenience,
reifying socioeconomic homogeneity and racial segregation.
The community leaders that took part in the social capital study highlighted how the city’s
elected officials have pushed to strengthen community bonds through supporting neighborhood
associations, brokering the construction of new grocery stores in areas with little food access and
endorsing the establishment of significant economic attractions in western areas of Wyandotte
County.
While the Unified Government of Wyandotte County’s support of various grassroots
initiatives to address challenges in Kansas City is commendable, and the city’s organized group
participation score is higher than other surveyed sites in Kansas, the Kansas social capital study
points to a need for the government to adopt a more macro-oriented outlook. Interviews
indicated that many believe Kansas City will remain a fractured community unless elected
officials are able to rehabilitate inter-neighborhood trust, create targeted, systematic programs of
economic stimulus (especially in the Quindaro neighborhood), expand the city’s transportation
system, work toward a concerted effort at transparent metro-area collaboration, focus more
community educational efforts around political campaigns and educate residents about the
benefits of political involvement.

Wyandotte County
Health Indicator Wyandotte Kansas
Assets:
Divorce Rate (per 100,000) 1.4 3.2
Nitrate and Coliform Levels in Water (%) 0 3.1
Challenges:
Sexually Transmitted Disease (per 100,000) 1,038.0 363.6
No High School Diploma (%) 26.0 14.0
Unemployment Rate (%) 7.1 4.1
Single Parent Households (%) 42.2 24.4
Teen Birth (%) 15.6 10.0
Low Fruit and Vegetable Consumption (%) 83.5 81.2
Overweight and Obesity (%) 64.3 60.9
HEALTH INDICATORS AND YOUTH
Relating this information to Kansas Health Institute’s Kansas County Health Rankings 2009,2
it is important that Kansas City focus its attention on its younger residents. The behaviors of
young people directly impact indicators such as sexually transmitted disease contraction rates,
teen birth rates, high school graduation rates, violent crimes, single parent households, prenatal
care, children in poverty and obesity. If Kansas City hopes to work toward improving the overall

health of its residents, it is necessary to focus on programs that target the engagement and
education of the area’s youth.
HOPE FOR THE FUTURE
Ways in which Kansas City can increase social capital of its community in order to benefit
the overall health of its residents include: establishing community fitness centers where young
people can exercise, informally socialize and entertain themselves; enhancing the scope of after-
school clubs and subsidized school sports in order to build self-esteem, a sense of teamwork and
develop leadership in student participants; and scheduling local block parties to not only offer
residents a chance to form supportive social connections, but also afford government officials the
opportunity to disseminate information to a broad audience.
However, these suggestions likely only go as far as community leaders are willing to take
them.
• Knowing both the Kansas City community’s assets and challenges, what are the next
steps for creating change?
address?

1
2

The Wichita Case Study
December 2009
KHI/09-19
Caitlin McMurtry
(785) 233-5443

i. Kansas Health Institute Social Capital in Kansas: The Wichita Case Study ii


permission.

Kansas Health Institute Social Capital in Kansas: The Wichita Case Study 1
SOCIAL CAPITAL IN KANSAS: THE WICHITA CASE STUDY
Wichita, the most populous city in Kansas with a population of 350,000, is located in the
South-Central area of the state. However, since Wichita is divided into smaller, self-contained
neighborhoods, it manages to retain the feel of a smaller community.
strengths and weaknesses of Wichita’s social capital profile, including how social capital relates
to health in Wichita. A commentary will outline suggestions about how to best address social
capital-related challenges in Wichita, and the report will close with a series of reflective
questions for community leaders aimed at providing them with ideas for strengthening
The social capital profile of Wichita (Figure 1) illustrates the kinds of social connectedness
(i.e., social support, organizational involvement and giving and volunteering) that are strongest
in Wichita. The profile also illustrates areas of social capital that are low, including participation
in formal leadership and conventional politics. Interviews with a variety of stakeholders in the
Wichita area provided ground-level perspectives about these community challenges.

In the Kansas social capital study, Assessing Social Capital in Kansas: Findings from
Quantitative and Qualitative Studies1
, Wichita residents commented that the county government
demonstrated great leadership, even though the political climate in the area was thought to be
overly competitive. Furthermore, the governmental substations also received considerable praise,
as they were said to allow residents to interact with elected officials and police agencies more
easily.
While participation in conventional politics, measured by voting behavior and general interest
in politics, was below the state average for Wichita residents, participation in activist politics,
measured by political meeting attendance and other behaviors such as signing a petition, was
relatively high. In terms of conventional politics, interviewees described a number of barriers to

voting such as not understanding how to find polling places, lack of transportation and
hindrances to personal mobility. However, in terms of activist politics, residents in Wichita were
characterized as being enthusiastic about initiatives especially when (1) the activism advocated
for ‘family values’ and (2) petitioners lobbied door-to-door, actively seeking out resident
participation. Using door-to-door campaign drives to make voters feel personally valued could
have a positive effect on engagement in conventional politics throughout the city.
Charitable giving is also a major strength of Wichita. The Kansas social capital study found
that residents not only gave generously to both religious and non-religious causes, but they also
split their donations between local and national causes.
One of the most unique assets of the Wichita community is the organizational involvement of
young people in town. Unlike most of the other cities studied, adolescent apathy was not a
consistent theme in the city. Even though the rate of charitable giving is fairly low among youth
and young adults, these age groups show exceptional levels of involvement in sporting leagues.
Residents also mentioned that children regularly volunteered around the holidays at the food
pantry and other social service organizations.
Wichita has a diverse population and it scored highly on the Kansas social capital study’s
measures of interracial trust and diverse friendships. However interviewees cited a latent feeling
of prejudice that seemed to pervade the area and mentioned concerns of intolerance, racism and
segregation, among other issues.

Although survey findings indicate that levels of interracial trust in Wichita did not differ
much from the Kansas average, the interviews revealed more intricacies about interracial
relations in the community. Respondents of color spoke about how racially homogenous many of
the city’s social and cultural events could seem. They further indicated that seeing few racially
similar attendees at these functions frequently made them feel like outsiders. In addition to city
events, some of the respondents of color indicated that the city itself was not welcome to
individuals from diverse ethnic backgrounds. This finding is supported by the results of a 2005

survey administered by Wichita State University’s Center for Economic Development. Among a
number of other issues, respondents to that survey reported feeling that not everyone benefited
from equal educational or professional opportunities and that racism was a barrier to social and
professional advancement.
The existence of race-related issues was particularly apparent in the social trust measures
among Hispanic residents. When separated from the rest of the Wichita sample, Hispanic
respondents reported relatively low levels of interracial and social trust even when compared to
African-Americans and Asian-Americans. According to interviews with residents, these low
levels of trust may be a result of the debates surrounding immigration in Wichita and some
residents’ views that Hispanic immigrants do not donate generously to local churches, deplete
social service resources and unfairly drain educational money away from white students.
Interviewees also mentioned that many white residents have chosen to move away from
integrated neighborhoods and into suburban enclaves where neither they nor their children
experience diversity as frequently.
In addition to the tensions felt by members of racial and ethnic minorities, Wichita
interviewees also noted instances when residents have been discriminated against based on
sexual orientation. One respondent described a culture of public intolerance when it came to gay
relationships. She went so far as to express a fear that certain parts of the city and certain public
situations actually jeopardized her physical well-being when out with her partner. As a result, she
and her partner openly acknowledged their relationship only in “designated” locations they knew
to be accepting to same-sex couples and not physically threatening.
HOPE FOR THE FUTURE
Relating this all back to health in Wichita, it is important to note the kinds of health obstacles
Wichita faces2
. Although residents display excellent health choices regarding seatbelt use, binge
drinking and secondhand smoke exposure, there are still numerous improvements to be made.
Measures such as violent crime, sexually transmitted disease infection rates, high school dropout
rates, teen pregnancy and the number of single parent households suggest a need for the
community to establish a city infrastructure that supports positive youth development.

Sedgwick County
Health Indicator Sedgwick Kansas
Assets:
Challenges:
Sexually Transmitted Disease (per 100,000) 578.0 363.6
Single Parent Households (%) 27.5 24.4
Divorce Rate (%) 5.6 3.2
Commuting to Work by Driving Alone (%) 84.8 81.5
Teen Birth (%) 11.4 10.0
Despite these challenges, residents seem genuinely interested in making their city a better
place to live and elected officials have proven their commitment to serving constituents.
Community leaders can use the information and suggestions included here to improve the future
of Wichita.
• Knowing both Wichita’s assets and challenges, what are the next steps for creating
change?

address?

1
2

Social Capital in Kansas

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