Private entity to help fund new county health planner’s job

The Shawnee County Commission Thursday approved a contract arranging for a private entity to provide half the annual salary and benefits for a recently created community health planner’s job. The contract arranges for the Topeka Community Foundation to finance half the job’s salary and benefits.

Commissioners had voted in December to create the job, which will focus on the “big picture” of health in Shawnee County.

County health department director Linda Ochs told commissioners Thursday she had made a contingent job offer to a candidate, who is tentatively set to start May 28 at annual compensation in salary and benefits of $68,652.

“I am so excited about this project,” Ochs said. “This is pioneering work in a community, to see a county and a private entity come together to fund a position just to help community health outcomes.”