Best CHF Podcasts (2024)

1
Expanding access to lifesaving medicine 34:54

1h ago34:54

34:54

For Chase Barnes, compassion has always been a part of his life. From volunteering in college to serving in the United States Peace Corps in Belize, Chase gravitates toward opportunities to help others. Today, Chase helps Kentuckians in some of their most challenging times in his role as manager of the Kentucky Department for Public Health Harm Red…

1
Saving lives in a new way 21:52

28d ago21:52

21:52

The daughter of an assistant fire chief, Angela Roberts had public service and the ideals of a first responder in her blood. After graduating from the University of Louisville, Angela’s early career focused on disaster response with the American Red Cross. Today, she focuses on individuals in crisis as the 988 program administrator in the Departmen…

1
Mile in their shoes 15:36

2M ago15:36

15:36

Growing up in Harrodsburg, Amanda Heacock thought her future career would be teaching. Her journey through the University of the Cumberlands would take her on another path through a similarly compassionate field – social work. Today, she’s in a role where she’s helping young people learn while also supporting them in their needs outside of school, …

1
Coming Home, Building Up 28:51

3M ago28:51

28:51

For more than a decade, Tricia Steward’s work took her to city after city to survey health care facilities. She enjoyed the travel but over time wanted to work closer to home in Kentucky – and it just so happened that an office she cared deeply about needed someone with her expertise to help improve staffing. Recently, Steward agreed to become Acti…

1
Prevention and Good Health 27:33

3M ago27:33

27:33

Elizabeth Goode grew up in Hopkinsville, the daughter of a physician, and until college she assumed she would follow in his footsteps. But, after reflection, she took a new path, graduating with a master’s in public health from the University of Kentucky. She launched a career working in health care policy and today serves as director of the Kentuc…

1
Come As You Are 30:52

6M ago30:52

30:52

Amy Smith was raised in Frankfort and began her state government career with the Department of Revenue. Driven by a passion for working with children and helping families, she joined the Department for Community Based Services in 2014 and is currently serving as a policy and research consultant. Today, we discuss early intervention, evidence-based …

1
Early Childhood Matters 21:02

6M ago21:02

21:02

Supporting the social, emotional and mental health of young children is a large part of what we do at the Cabinet for Health and Family Services. Today’s guest, Brittany Barber, oversees the implementation of the statewide early childhood mental health program for the Department for Behavioral Health, Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities. We…

1
A Tradition of Excellence at Medicaid Services 34:55

7M ago34:55

34:55

Every day, I hear remarkable stories about the work we do at the Cabinet for Health and Family Services. These stories often contain elements of adversity, hope and resilience. I’ve also discovered that every employee at the cabinet has a story that is equally inspiring. Today’s guest, Danita Coulter, is no exception. She is a branch manager for eq…

1
Seeing the Big Picture at Serve Kentucky 22:19

7M ago22:19

22:19

Today’s guest, Aubrey Mason, is an associate and fiscal grants officer with Serve Kentucky. She began her public service career with the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet. This allowed her to get eMARS and other important training that led to her current position. Outside of work, Aubrey has a variety of interests we’ll discuss, including cooking, …

1
OCSHCN Celebrates 100 Years 24:59

7M ago24:59

24:59

The Office for Children with Special Health Care Needs (OCSHCN) has provided comprehensive care to children and youth with special health care needs for 100 years. Today’s guest, Sondra Gilbert, shares her personal journey that began as a OCSHCN client with three special needs children. The Family-to-Family Program Director now matches families wit…

1
It's All About Families, Here 24:27

8M ago24:27

24:27

Today’s conversation is with my longtime colleague and friend, Staci Cain. She is the commissioner for the Department for Income Support (DIS) Disability Determination Services/Child Support Enforcement. We’ll take a trip down memory lane to discuss our humble beginnings, and how hard work and perseverance have enhanced both of our careers and prov…

1
Public Health Preparedness 26:07

9M ago26:07

26:07

On today’s episode, Kendra Steele describes growing up in the coal fields region, becoming an Emmy nominated broadcaster and her path to the Emergency Preparedness Branch. Kendra utilizes her media expertise to spread awareness about public health preparedness. Tune in to hear our impressions and takeaways from the deadly tornadoes in western Kentu…

1
Preventing Medicaid Fraud 29:14

10M ago29:14

29:14

Jennifer Dudinskie was raised in Spencer County and went on to graduate from Eastern Kentucky University with a double major in music and elementary education. Beginning as a Medicaid services specialist, she has come full circle in the span of 20 years as the director of program integrity. Today, we discuss her inspiring career path, management st…

1
Food Safety in Kentucky 28:05

10M ago28:05

28:05

Food safety is something we take for granted, until there is a food-borne illness or outbreak. The Food Safety Branch at Public Health makes sure our food products stay safe. This includes grocery stores, restaurants, hospitals, nursing homes and other locations where food is available to Kentuckians. Today’s guest, Mark Reed, is the food safety br…

1
Medicaid Saves Lives 26:49

11M ago26:49

26:49

How does one begin to tell the story of Medicaid? It is a state and federal program that provides health care for eligible populations. But there’s so much more to Medicaid than programs and services. Medicaid is about individuals: children, pregnant women, elderly adults and people with disabilities. Today’s guest Beth Fisher manages communication…

1
Helping Displaced Kentuckians 39:29

11M ago39:29

39:29

I first met Jason Bagley when I was chief resilience officer at Louisville Metro government. Together, we advocated on behalf of homeless individuals and families who were facing tremendous obstacles. Today we discuss his path from the foothills of Mt. Hood, Ore., to the circus, and then to the city of Louisville where he worked at a homeless shelt…

1
Sharing Our Stories 42:50

1y ago42:50

42:50

Storytelling is an important part of what we do at the Cabinet for Health and Family Services. Sharing genuine stories about our lives and the Kentuckians we serve boosts morale and builds trust. Today’s guest Susan Dunlap is Executive Director in the Office of Public Affairs. As spokesperson for the largest cabinet in state government she brings c…

1
Cybersecurity Superheroes at CHFS 18:24

1y ago18:24

18:24

National Cybersecurity Awareness Month is ideal for a conversation with Chief Privacy Officer Kathleen Hines in the Office of Legal Services. Raised in the south end of Louisville, she was a French language and literature major at Rhodes College in Memphis and attended law school at Case Western Reserve University. After graduating from law school,…

1
Teamwork is the Dreamwork at Medicaid Services 17:22

1y ago17:22

17:22

Kentucky Medicaid is a state and federal program authorized by Title XIX of the Social Security Act to provide health care for eligible, low-income populations. This population comprises around 1.6M children, low-income families, pregnant women, the aged and those who are disabled. Today’s guest works behind the scenes as an important part of the M…

1
Program Integrity at Behavioral Health 27:29

1y ago27:29

27:29

Greta Greenwade Jones, Ed.D., is assistant director in the Program Integrity Division at the Department for Behavioral Health, Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities. Born number 12 out of 13 children, she was raised in a loving home with a single mother in Western Kentucky. In today’s episode, we discuss Greta’s family life, career path and p…

1
Donors Make a Difference 13:45

1y ago13:45

13:45

Did you know that almost 185,000 people in the U.S. are expected to be diagnosed with leukemia, lymphoma or myeloma in 2023? Most patients do not have a fully matched, healthy donor in their family and have to depend on national registries for bone marrow donations. A group of employees from the Office of Data Analytics are doing something about th…

1
Almost 50 Years 19:19

1y ago19:19

19:19

Wanda Hartley is the longest serving employee at the Cabinet for Health and Family Services. After a diligent and productive career, she is retiring with almost 50 years at the cabinet. Hartley remembers the days of mimeographing, copying letters with a noisy hand-cranked machine and stamping envelopes. Today, we are rebroadcasting our 2020 convers…

1
Exceeding Expectations at Public Health 30:09

1y ago30:09

30:09

Born in Germany to a military family, Kyra Dailey lived in Oklahoma and Texas before landing in Frankfort, Ky. at age 10. After graduating from Midway College, she accepted a job at the Kentucky Community Crisis Response Board and was later hired at the Kentucky Department for Public Heath following graduate school. In today’s episode we discuss th…

1
Senior Living and Long-Term Care 31:43

1+ y ago31:43

31:43

Today’s discussion is about what we did right during COVID-19 and the amazing team behind our success. Dr. Keith Knapp arrived at the cabinet with 37 years of practice as a licensed nursing home administrator from managing stand-alone skilled nursing and rehabilitation facilities, to leading continuing care retirement communities. When many states …

1
Connecting Clinics With Communities 25:45

1+ y ago25:45

25:45

Kentucky’s community health workers (CHW) have connected clinics with communities since 1994. These public health advocates provide access to medical, social and environmental services while striving to overcome health inequities. Laura A. Eirich, M.P.H., manages the Kentucky Office of Community Health Workers. On today’s episode we discuss her edu…

1
Public Health Changes Lives 32:52

1+ y ago32:52

32:52

Taban Herrington brings a unique perspective to the Cabinet for Health and Family Services. While growing up, her father’s job took the family to Mexico to build self-sustaining communities. At times, the family lived without electricity and running water. This and other experiences deepened her empathy and commitment to help others in meaningful w…

1
Legislative and Regulatory Affairs 29:09

1+ y ago29:09

29:09

Sarah Cooper is executive director at the Office of Legislative and Regulatory Affairs (OLRA) with the Cabinet for Health and Family Services. Her state government career began in Protection and Permanency at the Department for Community Based Services before moving to OLRA as a policy analyst and staff assistant. Today, we discuss her current role…

1
Supporting Youth Through the Purple Star Program 30:28

1+ y ago30:28

30:28

Steve Cambron is a program administrator for the Purple Star Program in Kentucky. On the Friday episode before Memorial Day, we discuss the importance of supporting military-connected children in their diverse communities across the state. Son of a Korean war veteran, Cambron was raised in a Louisville neighborhood along the Ohio River called Rubbe…

1
Ya'll Means All 37:48

1+ y ago37:48

37:48

I often say, “All means all y’all,” and today’s episode reminds listeners that every Kentuckian deserves to be part of a caring community, despite our differences. My guest, Vestena S. Robbins, is a senior executive advisor in the Department for Behavioral Health, Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities. Raised in Bell County, her Berea College…

1
Saving Kentuckians from Vaccine Preventable Diseases 26:19

1+ y ago26:19

26:19

As we work to improve the health of all Kentuckians, vaccines are a key part of the process. Vaccines are safe and scientifically proven to protect the individual who receives the vaccine as well as families, friends and communities that interact together. Amy Herrington, RN, is the clinical team manager for the Department for Public Health Immuniz…

1
Autism Awareness and OCSHCN 38:12

1+ y ago38:12

38:12

April is Autism Awareness Month and today’s guest, Devenna C. Bales, is a nurse administrator with the Office for Children with Special Health Care Needs in Somerset. She describes growing up in Appalachia, donating plasma to help pay for college and raising three children while working full time. Bales’ vast experience and special insight as an au…

1
Every Number Tells a Story 30:17

1+ y ago30:17

30:17

The Cabinet for Health and Family Services has made great strides in quality improvement initiatives. From working to improve visitation rooms by expanding culturally appropriate toys, books, and music, to improved support for social workers, and increased recognition to community partners. Jessica Bowman, a resource management analyst in the Depar…

1
DCBS Cares About Kids 14:46

1+ y ago14:46

14:46

March is National Social Work Month, and a time to recognize the courage and dedication of Department for Community Based Services (DCBS) workers and staff. Today’s guest, Monica Gregory, shares her journey from college to DCBS and what makes her job so rewarding. Everyday heroes at DCBS strive to protect the vulnerable, enhance self-sufficiency an…

1
Employee Appreciation All Year Long 17:13

1+ y ago17:13

17:13

Shannon Dussault is a human resource specialist III with the Office of Human Resource Management. After 12 years in the private sector, she came to the cabinet for work-life balance and better opportunities. She said it’s the best decision she has ever made. On Employee Appreciation Day, I am grateful for Shannon and for every employee at the Cabin…

1
From Family Farm to Family Support 23:31

1+ y ago23:31

23:31

Ambre Irby grew up on a farm in Bracken County where she learned to work hard. After marrying and moving to Ohio, her husband suffered a catastrophic brain injury following a car accident. One month later, Irby gave birth to a son and moved back to Kentucky to be near family. As a newfound sole provider, she signed up for the Ready to Work (RTW) Pr…

1
Coordinating the Kentucky Opioid Response Effort 33:42

2y ago33:42

33:42

In January 2022, Adam T. Trosper transitioned to state opioid coordinator with the Kentucky Opioid Response Effort (KORE). Previously a program administrator in the Adult Substance Use Treatment and Recovery Services Branch of the Department for Behavioral Health, Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities (DBHDID), Trosper oversaw the Oxford Hous…

1
Strengthening Families through Child Support 30:14

2y ago30:14

30:14

Walking down the streets of San Francisco, today’s guest heard Italian, Japanese, Chinese, Spanish and many other languages growing up. It was a desire to bring people together that propelled Child Support Enforcement Division Director Lily Chan Patteson to become a mediator in sixth grade. Later on, an undergraduate degree in criminal justice led …

1
Serving Children and Families at Behavioral Health 24:54

2y ago24:54

24:54

Today’s guest is Program Manager Beth Jordan with the Children’s Mental Health and Recovery Services Branch at the Department for Behavioral Health, Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities (DBHDID). We discuss her training and accomplishments from girl scout leader and horseback riding instructor to graduating from a clinical master’s program a…

1
Things They Don't Teach You in Nursing School 33:30

2y ago33:30

33:30

I hope you enjoy today’s discussion with Angela M. Kik, supervisor at the Emergency Preparedness and Response Branch with the Kentucky Department for Public Health (DPH). Kik is an RN with a passion for emergency preparedness, who has been on several strike team missions, most recently in Florida after Hurricane Ian. She shares fascinating insights…

1
Advancing Equity with Medicaid 26:22

2y ago26:22

26:22

Leslie Hogue Hoffmann is Deputy Commissioner with the Department for Medicaid Services (DMS). Today we discuss her life, education and where our careers have crossed paths over the years. In addition to her other responsibilities, Hoffmann serves as a Medicaid racial and health equity champion tasked with ensuring that the program is diverse and in…

1
The Helpers at OCSHCN 31:41

2y ago31:41

31:41

As former Chief Resilience Officer for Louisville–Jefferson County Metro Government I was involved in discussions around equitable economic development, racial equity, homelessness, sustainability, infrastructure and the environment. Participating in homeless outreach during this time taught me that helping people reach their full human potential i…

1
A Servant's Heart in Hopkins County 16:30

2y ago16:30

16:30

Hillary Lantrip Croft has been part of the legal community for half of her life. Her father is a narcotics officer, and she took an early interest in criminal justice. At the age of 15, Croft became an intern at the Hopkins County Attorney’s Office and returned to her hometown after graduating law school. She’s come full circle as Assistant County …

1
Empowering Kentuckians Through Family Support 24:09

2y ago24:09

24:09

Former clients are some of our finest employees at the Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS), and today’s guest is no exception. When Tammy Thornsberry applied for Medicaid as a young mother-to-be, her case worker encouraged her to consider a job with the state. A year later, Thornsberry accepted a job at the Department for Community Based …

1
Providing a Softer Landing with KPAP 23:03

2y ago23:03

23:03

The Kentucky Prescription Assistance Program (KPAP) helps qualified individuals identify sources of free and low-cost medications offered by pharmaceutical companies. The process reduces paperwork and offers more direct access to programs. Today’s guest, Bryant Hileman, is a KPAP Western Kentucky community consultant. At the age of 22, he launched …

1
Eastern Kentucky After the Flood 29:20

2y ago29:20

29:20

Before joining the Department for Behavioral Health, Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities (DBHDID), Commissioner Wendy Morris worked for Appalachian Regional Healthcare Inc. in Hazard for over two decades. Following the historic flooding in eastern Kentucky, we traveled to the region to meet with people and find ways that the Cabinet can ass…

1
Pressing Forward at the Ombudsman's Office 31:36

2y ago31:36

31:36

LaToya Payne is director of the Division of Administrative Hearings Office of the Ombudsman and Administrative Review (OOAR). A graduate of Centre College with an MS in Family Studies from the University of Kentucky, she takes pride in the commitment of the Division to serving the residents of Kentucky. In today’s conversation, we discuss the lesso…

1
The Office of Dementia Services 32:16

2y ago32:16

32:16

Jennifer Craig is the coordinator of the Office of Dementia Services in the Department of Aging and Independent Living (DAIL). The office was established in 2021 after Gov. Beshear signed KY SB74. The program provides education, outreach and resources to over 75,000 Kentuckians living with dementia, their families and their caregivers. Craig has wo…

1
When Program Integrity Hits Home 21:42

2+ y ago21:42

21:42

Arielle D. Akin is a resource management analyst III in the Integrity Analysis Section within the Program Integrity Branch at the Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS). Over the years, she has acquired a knack for investigative work, particularly related to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits trafficking. Having witnes…

1
A New Day at DCBS 29:21

2+ y ago29:21

29:21

As a former Chief Resilience Officer in Louisville, I noticed that trauma was a common thread among Kentucky’s most vulnerable populations. Trauma, an emotional reaction to a distressing experience, affects both mind and body and its symptoms can be short or long-term. However, a person does not need to experience trauma firsthand to be affected. F…

1
World Peace through Oral Health 30:54

2+ y ago30:54

30:54

Julie Watts McKee, DMD, knew she wanted to be a dentist by the eighth grade. After graduating from dental school and practicing for 10 years in Mt. Sterling, she went on to work for the Governor’s Office, Inspector General’s Office and local health department as a director. Currently, the director of the Kentucky Oral Health Program (KOHP) in the D…

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