The Wyandotte County Public Health Department has been recognized as the 2025 Organization Advocate of the Year by Grandparents for Gun Safety, a Kansas City-based nonprofit focused on promoting gun safety and preventing firearm-related injuries.
The award was presented during the organization’s 12th Annual Community Forum on Oct. 13 at Rockhurst University’s Arrupe Auditorium. The recognition highlights the department’s partnership with Grandparents for Gun Safety and its leadership in advancing violence prevention efforts in Wyandotte County.
Grandparents for Gun Safety works closely with the Wyandotte County Public Health Department through the 2024–2028 Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP), which includes a goal to reduce firearm fatalities. The department provides staffing and program support for CHIP’s violence prevention initiatives.
Shelby Woodward, Violence Prevention Program Coordinator for the Wyandotte County Public Health Department, accepted the award on behalf of the department.
“Shelby is a wonderful resource and partner, and we look forward to continuing working with her through the 2024–2028 CHIP program and beyond,” said Judy Sherry, founder of Grandparents for Gun Safety.
Over the past two years, the two organizations have partnered on several community projects, including the placement of safety signage in gun shops and the distribution of free, high-quality gun locks through the Lock It For Love program. In 2024 alone, more than 175 gun locks were distributed at events and locations across Wyandotte County, in collaboration with the Dwight D. Eisenhower VA Medical Center in Leavenworth.
The Wyandotte County Public Health Department also coordinates other community violence prevention initiatives, such as convening a Youth Fatality Review Committee to better understand and prevent youth deaths, including those involving firearms. Beyond violence prevention, the department provides backbone support for all CHIP focus areas: Jobs & Education, Health Care Access, Safe & Affordable Housing, and Behavioral Health.
