Making Kids Count

This week on our Advocate Virtual Forum, we discuss routine immunizations and the COVID-19 vaccination for Kentucky kids. Thank you to our panelists: Allison Adams, Vice President for Policy at the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky; Dr. Michael Kuduk, Vice President of the Kentucky Medical Association and pediatrician with UK Healthcare; and Kelly Pullen, Executive Director of the Aetna Better Health of Kentucky Supporting Kentucky Youth (SKY) Program.

August is National Immunization Awareness Month -- learn more and find resources at kyyouth.org. The Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky will be hosting their 2021 Howard L. Bost Memorial Virtual Health Policy Forum on Tuesday, September 21st on Kentucky vaccine policy including myths, messengers, and messages -- register at healthy-ky.org.

Thank you to Aetna Better Health of Kentucky for supporting the Making Kids Count podcast. Visit AetnaMedicaidKY.com/choose to learn more about their health care benefits and programs designed with your family’s wellbeing in mind.

Support this podcast with a gift to Kentucky Youth Advocates at kyyouth.org/donate

This week on our Advocate Virtual Forum we continue the discussion about the Bloom Kentucky initiative and addressing Adverse Childhood Experiences and Adverse Childhood Environments. State Representatives Kim Moser and Nima Kulkarni join the forum to share their insights on policy and state budget priorities in the 2022 General Assembly that could prevent and mitigate childhood trauma.

Learn more about Bloom Kentucky at BloomKentucky.org, and in our previous Making Kids Count podcast episode from August 12, 2021.

Thank you to Aetna Better Health of Kentucky for supporting the Making Kids Count podcast. Visit AetnaMedicaidKY.com/choose to learn more about their health care benefits and programs designed with your family’s wellbeing in mind.

Support this podcast with a gift to Kentucky Youth Advocates at kyyouth.org/donate

This week on our Advocate Virtual Forum, we discuss the impact of the pair of ACEs: Adverse Childhood Experiences and Adverse Childhood Environments. We discuss the various types of adverse experiences/environments, how to move upstream in preventing ACEs, and Bloom Kentucky, a new statewide initiative to advocate for policy changes that will address ACEs. Thank you to our panelists: Ben Chandler, President and CEO of the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky; Jo Cruz, an Independent Consultant and trainer with the Bounce Coalition; and, Cortney Emberson, with St. Joseph Children's Home.

Learn more about Bloom Kentucky at BloomKentucky.org.

Thank you to Aetna Better Health of Kentucky for supporting the Making Kids Count podcast. Visit AetnaMedicaidKY.com/choose to learn more about their health care benefits and programs designed with your family’s wellbeing in mind.

Support this podcast with a gift to Kentucky Youth Advocates at kyyouth.org/donate

This week on our Advocate Virtual Forum, we discuss the upcoming school year as our commonwealth continues to navigate a pandemic, socioemotional needs, and different learning needs with education leaders from across the state. Thank you to our panelists: Penny Christian, immediate Past President of the 16th District PTA and Vice President of Leadership Outreach for the Kentucky PTA; Dr. Jim Flynn, Executive Director of the Kentucky Association of School Superintendents; and Brent McKim, President of the Jefferson County Teachers Association.

This is part two of our education series -- listen to the part one episode featuring Lt. Governor Coleman and KDE Commissioner Glass, which aired July 29th.

Thank you to Aetna Better Health of Kentucky for supporting the Making Kids Count podcast. Visit AetnaMedicaidKY.com/choose to learn more about their health care benefits and programs designed with your family’s wellbeing in mind.

Support this podcast with a gift to Kentucky Youth Advocates at kyyouth.org/donate

This week on our Advocate Virtual Forum, we discuss the future of public education and workforce in Kentucky with Jacqueline Coleman, Lt. Governor and secretary of the Kentucky Education and Workforce Development Cabinet, and Dr. Jason Glass, Commissioner of the Kentucky Department of Education.

Thank you to Aetna Better Health of Kentucky for supporting the Making Kids Count podcast. Visit AetnaMedicaidKY.com/choose to learn more about their health care benefits and programs designed with your family’s wellbeing in mind.

Support this podcast with a gift to Kentucky Youth Advocates at kyyouth.org/donate

This week on our Advocate Virtual Forum, we discuss how we can best support youth who are LGBTQ+, especially as many of them are at risk of facing certain challenges, including homelessness, trafficking, mental health needs, and more. Thank you to our panelists: Rick Wurth, Chief Executive Officer of Children’s Home of Northern Kentucky, and Eltuan Dawson, youth advocate and board member of Sweet Evening Breeze.

Thank you to Aetna Better Health of Kentucky for supporting the Making Kids Count podcast. Visit AetnaMedicaidKY.com/choose to learn more about their health care benefits and programs designed with your family’s wellbeing in mind.

Support this podcast with a gift to Kentucky Youth Advocates at kyyouth.org/donate

This week on our Advocate Virtual Forum, we discuss opportunity youth--young people ages 16 to 24 who are neither employed nor in school--including new research, policy recommendations, and program developments across the state. Thank you to our panelists: Kate Arthur, Community and Youth Services Director at Brighton Center; Dawn Carson, Street Outreach Supervisor at the Brighton Center; Roan Head, youth leader; and Darryl Young, Executive Director of the Coalition Supporting Young Adults.

Thank you to Aetna Better Health of Kentucky for supporting the Making Kids Count podcast. Visit AetnaMedicaidKY.com/choose to learn more about their health care benefits and programs designed with your family’s wellbeing in mind.

Support this podcast with a gift to Kentucky Youth Advocates at kyyouth.org/donate

This week on our Advocate Virtual Forum, we discuss updates relating to child nutrition and access to food, including summer EBT, federal investments, and more. Thank you to our panelists: Karena Cash, Advocacy Coordinator with Feeding Kentucky; Leigh Dixon, Community Support Advisor Kentucky Department for Community-Based Services; and Michael Halligan, CEO of God’s Pantry Food Bank and Chair of Feeding America’s Federal Policy Advisory Board.

Families can text "food" to 877-877 to identify summer meals in their community. Take action to end hunger in America at www.feedingamerica.org.

Thank you to Aetna Better Health of Kentucky for supporting the Making Kids Count podcast. Visit AetnaMedicaidKY.com/choose to learn more about their health care benefits and programs designed with your family’s wellbeing in mind.

Support this podcast with a gift to Kentucky Youth Advocates at kyyouth.org/donate

This week on our Advocate Virtual forum, we discuss the 2021 national KIDS COUNT Data Book, which was recently co-released by the Annie E. Casey Foundation and Kentucky Youth Advocates. We review Kentucky data included in the book and discuss federal and state recommendations to improve child well-being and ensure an equitable and expansive recovery from the pandemic.

View the Kentucky State Data Profile Sheet and read our press release at kyyouth.org/national-kids-count/.

Thank you to Aetna Better Health of Kentucky for supporting the Making Kids Count podcast. Visit AetnaMedicaidKY.com/choose to learn more about their health care benefits and programs designed with your family’s wellbeing in mind.

Support this podcast with a gift to Kentucky Youth Advocates at kyyouth.org/donate

This week on our Advocate Virtual Forum, we discuss young children with special needs, including early identification of special needs and how communities, service providers, and policymakers can support these kids and their families. A special thank you to our panelists: Ivy Alexander, Executive Director of CHFS Office for Children with Special Health Care Needs; Judith Bradley, Founder of Jack Be Nimble; and Kristen Williams, Executive Director of Play Cousins Collective.

Thank you to Aetna Better Health of Kentucky for supporting the Making Kids Count podcast. Visit AetnaMedicaidKY.com/choose to learn more about their health care benefits and programs designed with your family’s wellbeing in mind.

Support this podcast with a gift to Kentucky Youth Advocates at kyyouth.org/donate