In support of monitoring the state's progress towards achieving the state health objectives, the Bureau implements and/or oversees surveillance activities which include:

The Kansas Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System is a monthly telephone survey of Kansas residents conducted to assess their knowledge, attitudes, and health behaviors that contribute to the leading causes of preventable disability, disease and premature death of Kansans. The information obtained from the survey is distributed to health policy leaders, health professionals, and both public and private health agencies for use in designing and providing effective health programs and interventions in Kansas.

The Kansas Cancer Registry provides health data related to cancer for the state of Kansas. It contains basic information related to the occurrence of all cancers in the state, thereby providing data needed for a) investigation of abnormal clusterings of cancer; b) decreasing cancer mortality through preventive screening; c) eliminating or reducing known cancer risk factors; d) identifying previously unrecognized risk factors/cause of cancer; e) monitoring the potential health impact of environmental exposures; f) monitoring health care access and utilization of services for the prevention and treatment of cancer; g) quantifying costs associated with cancer care.

Special population studies are conducted to assess the burden of health problems and the prevalence of risk factors which lead to them. Recent studies conducted include the diabetes study (600 surveys), tobacco use 1000 surveys), poor nutrition (1000) , health risks of the African American population (500), health risks of the Hispanic population (500). Such studies provide comparative analysis and forecasting of regional and state trends regarding chronic disease and injury in the state's population. Information is used in developing program intervention strategies that target the sub-populations most at risk for preventable disease and injury.