Monday not only marked the public release of the 2013 National KIDS COUNT Data Book, it also included the unveiling of the new and improved KIDS COUNT Data Center by the Annie E. Casey Foundation. The Data Center is now easier to use, featuring an improved search tool, easier tools to make maps and charts, and better ways to customize and share materials on social media. For those not familiar with the KIDS COUNT Data [...]
Yesterday’s blog post focused on some of the new Kentucky data portrayed in the 2013 National KIDS COUNT Data Book released by the Annie E. Casey Foundation. I pointed out some of the child well-being indicators our state is moving backwards on and the fact that not all of the apparent good news is all good news. Given that we have a lot of room for improvement, I wondered what child well-being in the Commonwealth [...]
The 2013 National KIDS COUNT Data Book released today by the Annie E. Casey Foundation paints a fairly comprehensive picture of how Kentucky’s children and youth are faring and tells us whether Kentucky has been moving in the right direction on important indicators of child well-being. The Data Book measures child well-being through 16 indicators, with 4 indicators in each of these 4 domains: economic well-being, education, health, and family and community. What is quickly [...]
The Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky is updating the Kentucky Health Coalitions Directory, a list of local groups working on health related issues in the Commonwealth. This is the first revision of the 2012 directory. The Foundation wants to identify additional coalitions and update group contact information. There are 143 active coalitions listed in the Foundation’s current Kentucky Health Coalitions Directory. Some are increasing access to healthy food and physical activity; others are planning needed screenings [...]
The Cabinet for Health and Family Services’ Office of the Kentucky Health Benefit Exchange (KHBE) has issued a request for proposal (RFP) seeking for-profit and nonprofit entities and community and volunteer organizations to assist consumers who enroll for healthcare benefits through kynect, Kentucky’s Healthcare Connection. Proposals are due on July 3, 2013. KHBE is seeking contractors with experience reaching Kentucky’s diverse populations to assist the Commonwealth in reaching the goal of expanding health benefit coverage [...]
The court ruling this week in Franklin Circuit Court signals progress on an issue that put in danger a successful model of providing health services to children at school. A Medicaid managed care company – Kentucky Spirit – had argued that they did not need to reimburse local health departments for services provided at schools to children who have Medicaid. Though Kentucky Spirit may still appeal, the court ruled that they need to adhere to [...]
As part of Governor Steve Beshear’s emphasis on enhanced education efforts related to Medicaid managed care, the Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS) has scheduled forums for health care providers in each of the eight Medicaid regions during May and June. Senior officials from CHFS will attend the session, including Cabinet Secretary Audrey Tayse Haynes, Medicaid Commissioner Lawrence Kissner, Public Health Commissioner Dr. Stephanie Mayfield Gibson and Behavioral Health Commissioner Stephen Hall. The forums [...]
On Thursday, June 20, from 2-3 p.m. Eastern, the Safe Routes to School National Partnership is hosting a free webinar: Maximizing City Involvement in Safe Routes to School: Educating Municipal Transportation Departments Register here: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/2966698222397818112 Municipal transportation departments work to move people safely from one place to the other no matter how they choose to get there. Safe Routes to School practitioners should connect with transportation departments to affect long- and short-term planning and to ensure [...]
Governor Beshear recently announced the launch of Kentucky's Healthcare Connection - kynect. This is Kentucky’s Health Benefit Exchange created under the Affordable Care Act. Beginning October 1, kynect will allow individuals, families, and businesses to compare and select insurance plans and to find out if they qualify for programs like Medicaid or Kentucky’s Children Health Insurance Program (KCHIP). The website provides some basic, introductory information about kynect including a fact sheet for families. Help will [...]
Clasp.org discusses the polio epidemic of the 1950s that crippled tens of thousands of people every year – and was eliminated by 1979 due to a massive public health effort. The post also highlights that the Academic Pediatric Association (APA) Task Force on Childhood Poverty recently declared that childhood poverty is on par with polio in the 1950s as the most important problem facing American children today. While the APA Task Force acknowledges that there is no [...]
