The Kidney C.A.R.E. (Clinicians and Adult Renal Education) Campaign is a Texas Kidney Foundation (TKF) initiative funded by BCBSTX. TKF offers free screenings through its signature program: the Texas Kidney Check. With the HKHF grant award from BCBSTX, TKF is expanding its footprint to 109 Texas counties over a three-year period. In year one, the foundation will reach 43 counties and thousands of Texas residents through the screenings. The goal: catch CKD early and educate people about the disease.

Objectives

The Kidney C.A.R.E. Campaign will center around raising awareness of CKD. The objectives of the program are:

• Education: To arm individuals with the tools and knowledge they need to fight the long-term and devastating effects of CKD.
• Prevention: To promote kidney health in the community through data-driven outcomes and targeted messaging.
• Collaboration: TKF’s goal is to collaborate with local, state and national organizations to ensure maximum community impact.
• Promotion: To highlight and promote kidney awareness and prevention programs that maximize reach and results.

Expansion

The goal of the expansion is to increase public knowledge of the effects of CKD. It has long been the goal of the foundation to make all Texans aware of the diminished quality of life one experiences after being diagnosed with a kidney related disease. With an estimated screening rate of 3,500 participants in year one, more than 1,100 participants will be identified as having two or more risk factors indicating they are outside of the normal range. Participants in the Texas Kidney Check will know their personal risk for kidney disease. They will be given the tools to take the next step with follow-up care.

Where are we going?

 Over the next three years, TKF plans to expand the Kidney C.A.R.E. Campaign throughout the state of Texas. The foundation will service the following counties throughout that time:

• Year 1: Aransas, Bandera, Bee, Bexar, Brooks, Calhoun, Cameron, Comal, DeWitt, Dimmit, Duval, El Paso, Frio, Goliad, Jim Hogg, Jim Wells, Karnes, Kenedy, Kleberg, Kinney, La Salle, Live Oak, Maverick, Uvalde, Atascosa, Gonzales, Guadalupe, Harris, Hidalgo, McMullen, Medina, Nueces, Randall, Refugio, San Patricio, Starr, Victoria, Wilson, Willacy, Potter, Webb, Zapata, Zavala
• Year 2: Bastrop, Bell, Blanco, Burnet, Caldwell, Crockett, Crosby, Edwards, Garza, Gillespie, Hale, Hays, Hockley, Kendall, Kerr, Kimble, Lamb, Lampasas, Llano, Lubbock, Lynn, Mason, McCulloch, Menard, Real, San Saba, Schleicher, Sutton, Terrell, Terry, Travis, Val Verde, Williamson
• Year 3: Austin, Brazoria, Brazos, Burleson, Chambers, Colorado, Falls, Fayette, Fort Bend, Grimes, Hardin, Jackson, Jasper, Jefferson, Lavaca, Lee, Liberty, Madison, Matagorda, McLennan, Milam, Montgomery, Newton, Orange, Polk, Robertson, San Jacinto, Trinity, Tyler, Walker, Waller, Washington, Wharton

Vision

BCBSTX and TKF are working together to change the impact that CKD is having on the lives of Texans. The vision of the TKF is to become a positive collaborative force in bringing kidney awareness, education and prevention to a region disproportionately hit by this devastating disease.

You can learn more about the TKF and find their schedule of free screenings by visiting their website. You can also follow TKF on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

This is part two of a multi-part series with our March Healthy Kids Healthy Families Partner of the Month, the Texas Kidney Foundation. Stay tuned for part three, where we will highlight TKF’s partners in the community.