Rep. Danny Bentley named Kentucky Health Policy Hero by Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky for his work to improve access to insulin for Kentuckians with diabetes
The Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky today named Representative Danny Bentley, (R) Greenup County, a Kentucky Health Policy Hero. The award honors Rep. Bentley’s work to improve access to insulin and for Kentuckians with diabetes.
Longest Day of Play
Play has the power to stimulate the mind, strengthen the body, and develop problem-solving skills, cooperation, wonder and imagination. When kids play together, they learn teamwork, dialogue, cooperation, conflict resolution, and how to be a leader and a follower.
Health challenges facing LGBTQ+ Individuals
This June, the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky is shining a spotlight on LGBTQ+ health, including barriers to care and disparities. Research shows LGBTQ+ individuals face health disparities linked to societal discrimination and the denial of their civil and human rights. This is associated with high rates of psychiatric disorders, substance use and suicide.
On-the-ground advocates: Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky adds to its Community Advisory Council
Dr. Donald Neel, John Parker, and Marcie Timmerman joined the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky’s Community Advisory Council. The Council advises the Foundation’s Board of Directors in overall policy direction in keeping with the mission of the Foundation. As on-the-ground practitioners from various fields, Council members bring grassroots insight to the conversation and are advocates for Foundation priorities in their own communities.
La campaña estatal de bienestar en verano promueve hábitos saludables para los estudiantes
La Fundación para un Kentucky Saludable y el Departamento de Educación de Kentucky han lanzado una nueva campaña de servicio público que informa a los estudiantes de Kentucky de los grados K-12 y a sus padres de cinco hábitos que pueden adquirir este verano para prepararse para un año escolar exitoso.
Statewide Summer Wellness Campaign Promotes Healthy Habits for Students
Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky and the Kentucky Department of Education launched a new public service campaign informing Kentucky students in grades K-12 and their parents of five habits they can form this summer to set themselves up for a successful school year.
Delivering the facts: new initiative encourages pregnant women to learn about COVID-19 risks and vaccine benefits
Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky (FHKY) – with major support from the Kentucky Association of Health Plans (KAHP) – is launching a statewide campaign to educate women on the health risks of contracting COVID-19 while pregnant and the benefits of receiving the COVID-19 vaccine.
Op-Ed: Don’t make a difficult situation even worse; Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky urges Kentucky Senators to vote ‘no’ on HB7
These days Kentuckians are paying more for a lot of things… gas and grocery costs are skyrocketing. Families are carefully budgeting their expenses to make sure their paychecks stretch as far as possible. But even with sacrifices, many Kentuckians will have to make tough decisions between fuel and food… filling up or feeding their kids. Add in an unplanned trip to the doctor’s office and families could end up in crisis.
The Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky urges Kentucky Senators to vote “no” on this HB7.
Foundation opposes bill that would risk thousands of Kentuckians losing health care coverage and food assistance
The Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky believes having access to health care and food, especially healthy food, is vital for the health of Kentuckians. Access to healthy food is an upstream way to combat chronic health problems such as diabetes, obesity, and high blood pressure, among others.
Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky recognizes Bill Wagner as Gil Friedell Memorial Health Policy Award Winner for his dedication to expanding health care access
The Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky (FHKY) has named William (Bill) Wagner recipient of its 2021 Gil Friedell Memorial Health Policy Award, for his work expanding access to medical care and health care coverage.
Op-Ed: Lawmakers should ban discredited, ineffective, cruel therapy that increases suicide among youth
t’s a therapy that is discredited, ineffective, and often cruel, that can lead to depression, anxiety, drug use, and even suicide. Yet, this practice – known as conversion or reparative therapy – still exists in the commonwealth today with a goal of changing a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity.
Now, Kentucky lawmakers have an opportunity to protect our next generation from these degrading practices. Two bills have been introduced – the Youth Mental Health Protection Act, HB 12 by Representative Lisa Willner, and SB 137 by Senator Alice Forgy Kerr. Both bills would bar licensed mental health professionals – including physicians, psychiatrists, psychologists, and social workers – from engaging in sexual orientation and gender identity change efforts for people under 18-years old.
Foundation names Healthy Kentucky Policy Champions
The Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky has announced a new class of Healthy Kentucky Policy Champions. The awards are given in recognition of individuals and organizations engaged in improving the health of people in their communities and/or the commonwealth through policy change.
Health challenges facing African Americans
February 2022’s Black History Month national theme is Black Health and Wellness. This month, the Foundation will be putting a spotlight on the challenges Black Americans face in their health.
Foundation adds three team members
The Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky kicks off 2022 with three new team members. Chloe Atwater and Katy Walker join the health advocacy organization as policy associates. Ally Wells joins as communications associate.
Foundation names new Board leadership; adds members to Board of Directors, Community Advisory Council
“We are proud to call such distinguished leaders members of our Board and Council,” said Ben Chandler, president and CEO, Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky. “Our Board and Council are a diverse and dynamic group of people from across our commonwealth. And while they represent many different fields and backgrounds, we all share a common goal: working toward making Kentucky healthier. We are grateful for their time and talent spent on this mission.”
Op-Ed: National study provides snapshot of Kentucky’s health challenges, progress
A review of the recently released 2021 America’s Health Rankings might be a good thought-starter. The rankings, released by United Health Foundation, provide a snapshot of Kentucky’s overall health relative to other states. It does not merely “rank” states against one another; it evaluates each state through a set of health, environmental and socioeconomic categories to help shed light on our health challenges and successes.
High Five for Health: Campaign helps parents and caregivers create a “game plan” for getting their children vaccinated against COVID-19
A new public service campaign speaks directly to the concerns of Kentucky parents about COVID-19 vaccines for children ages 5 – 11 years old. “High Five for Health,” launched by the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky and supported by Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Medicaid, addresses concerns voiced by parents in focus groups, offers answers to frequently asked questions, and provides five steps for parents to consider when getting their child vaccinated.
Tornado-recovery resources
The lives lost and devastation left behind by weekend tornadoes across Western Kentucky is heartbreaking. The Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky stands with those affected and sends its thoughts and prayers.
Foundation awards mini grants to 12 organizations to support increasing COVID-19 vaccine uptake
Twelve Kentucky organizations, working on the ground in counties with low COVID-19 vaccine rates, were selected as recipients of the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky’s Keeping our Communities Healthy mini grants. The grants – totaling $20,000 – are intended for rapid deployment for organizations to create new or expand on existing COVID-19 vaccination efforts.