CHFS Community Podcast

CHFS Community is an award-winning podcast featuring ordinary people doing extraordinary work at the Cabinet for Health and Family Services. Hosted by Secretary Eric Friedlander and produced by Julianne Hatton, you'll hear inspiring stories from the people who serve every Kentuckian in some way. Join our community so you'll never miss an episode and tell your friends about the show. Until next time, stay healthy Kentucky!

‘Best Customer Service in the World’ 05/20/2025

‘Best Customer Service in the World’ When it comes to kynect, David Verry has done it all. He was among the first frontline team members answering phones on Day 1 of the health benefit exchange launch. He’s answered Kentuckians’ questions about health care options in malls and stadiums. Today, he serves in leadership as the assistant director of the Division of Health Plan Oversight in the Department for Medicaid Services. In this episode, he discusses his journey from military brat to his role today helping Kentuckians get the help they need through kynect. /episode/index/show/chfscommunity/id/36646315

‘Before Anything Ever Happens’ 04/29/2025

‘Before Anything Ever Happens’ In Harlan, Amanda Body was raised in a safe community that encouraged young. In her career as a social worker, she appreciates that not all young Kentuckians grow up in these circumstances. Today, Amanda is the Director of the Division of Prevention and Community Well-Being in the Department for Community Based Services – and relatively new role that focuses on helping vulnerable people before a crisis. Amanda discusses her path to the Cabinet for Health & Family Services and the importance of prevention. /episode/index/show/chfscommunity/id/36354575

‘Patient with the Present’ 04/09/2025

‘Patient with the Present’ Not long after graduating from Anderson County High School, Chelsea Agee embarked on a path to becoming a photographer. Today, Chelsea focuses on Managed Care Organizations and the well-being of her Medicaid coworkers. She is the Contract Monitoring Branch Manager for the Division of Health Plan Oversight in the Department for Medicaid Services – and she also hosts Mindfulness Mondays. In the former, she helps ensures Kentuckians are delivered the health care they need. In the latter, she uses her training in yoga, life coaching and mindfulness to help colleagues manage the sometimes chaotic nature of government work. /episode/index/show/chfscommunity/id/36074750

‘Do the Little Things Right’ 03/25/2025

‘Do the Little Things Right’ Playing football in his youth, Sam Flynn learned the importance of teams – each person performing their assignments in tandem toward a greater goal. Flynn applied the lessons learned on the gridiron in Northern Kentucky to his role as Executive Director of the Kentucky Office for Medical Cannabis. Flynn discusses building and leading the office from the ground up, bringing Kentucky to a point where medical cannabis licenses are being issued to patients. /episode/index/show/chfscommunity/id/35858105

Ready to step up 03/05/2025

Ready to step up Growing up on a Franklin County farm taught Grant Gillion lessons in the value of hard work and being ready for what the day brings. Today, preparedness is at the core of his work. Gillion serves as Manager for Emergency Preparedness and Response Branch in the Department for Public Health – an important response team when disasters strike Kentucky. Just days before storms swept across Kentucky in late February, bringing tragic loss of life and property to several counties, Gillion spoke with us about his journey to CHFS and the steps each Kentuckian can take to put themselves and their family in the safest position possible during an emergency. /episode/index/show/chfscommunity/id/35548810

‘Saving Lives Together’ 02/20/2025

‘Saving Lives Together’ For Dr. Stephanie Rose and Gina Brien, the health of Kentucky women is a central concern. Rose is director of the Division of Women’s Health, working with Brien – assistant director of the Department for Public Health – to ensures promote women's health education, navigate access to care and provide access to vital services including breast and cervical cancer screenings. As we entered a new year, Rose, who grew up in Louisville, and Brien, who is from Pike County, shared about their journey to the becoming key Cabinet for Health & Family Services team members and the important work of the Division of Women’s Health. /episode/index/show/chfscommunity/id/35368340

Connecting the pieces 01/13/2025

Connecting the pieces For their respective Kentucky communities, Vickie Flynn and Graham Temple are community resources. Graham is a kynector based in Owensboro; Vickie is a kynector based in Covington. Each day, they walk people through the process of applying for health care programs, SNAP and other benefits, assistance and resource programs – putting a human face on the many ways CHFS helps people reach their full human potential. Just before the holidays, we spoke about their experiences as kynectors. /episode/index/show/chfscommunity/id/34839950

Reflecting on an eventful 2024 12/30/2024

Reflecting on an eventful 2024 Dr. Lisa Lee Williams, D.Min., MaOM, is the new Chief of Staff for CHFS. She shares her thoughts about serving as a member of Team Kentucky and the Cabinet’s commitment to help Kentuckians reach their full human potential. She returns to the CHFS Community Podcast to help reflect on the important work that happened within CHFS in 2024. Dr. Williams has more than 20 years of leadership and program management experience in both the public and private sectors. She is also a teacher, author and consultant to religious and non-profit organizations. /episode/index/show/chfscommunity/id/34660760

Serving veterans, thanking veterans 12/03/2024

Serving veterans, thanking veterans After growing up in Louisville and college at Kentucky State University, John Miles joined the U.S. Army – in doing so, he gained knowledge and skills from his service and travels that he’s used throughout his career. It just so happens that John’s career centers around helping his fellow veterans. John is the veteran families and caregiver support coordinator for the Department for Aging & Independent Living, helping veterans and their families navigate the array of supports available to them from the state government and federal government, as well as nonprofits. As we celebrate America’s veterans this month, John discusses his journey and his love of veterans and his work. /episode/index/show/chfscommunity/id/34263605

Expanding access to lifesaving medicine 10/30/2024

Expanding access to lifesaving medicine 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 Reduction Program. From distributing life-saving naloxone to supporting public health professionals in the work of helping steer people with substance use disorder toward recovery, Chase has a role in tackling one of Kentucky’s most important challenges in recent years. /episode/index/show/chfscommunity/id/33683472

Saving lives in a new way 10/02/2024

Saving lives in a new way 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 Department for Behavioral Health, Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities. She shares some of 988’s successes in helping Kentuckians in crisis over the last two years. /episode/index/show/chfscommunity/id/33299757

Mile in their shoes 08/29/2024

Mile in their shoes 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, as Youth Service Center coordinator at Bondurant Middle School in Frankfort. Some days, she’s providing students with moral support; others, she’s helping a family find a new place to live. A few weeks ago, she was helping students with another critical need – shoes. /episode/index/show/chfscommunity/id/32798162

Coming Home, Building Up 08/08/2024

Coming Home, Building Up 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 Acting Inspector General, continuing her work to further build up a team. /episode/index/show/chfscommunity/id/32501902

Prevention and Good Health 07/25/2024

Prevention and Good Health 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 Kentucky Department for Public Health's Division of Prevention and Quality Improvement. Her focus is on helping Kentuckians take steps that lead to healthy lives so they can reach their full human potential. /episode/index/show/chfscommunity/id/32291122

Come As You Are 05/22/2024

Come As You Are 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 practices and what it’s like to navigate social services as a single parent. Amy is a doctoral student at the University of the Cumberlands who advocates for education, human services and self-reliance. She also founded Capital Area Autism Parents and is involved in numerous organizations and community initiatives including the Midway Alumni Association, Focus on Race Relations and Capable Ministry at Capital City Christian Church. Her son Brendan is entering Georgetown College in the fall. /episode/index/show/chfscommunity/id/31417017

Early Childhood Matters 05/09/2024

Early Childhood Matters 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 will discuss how Brittany’s education and life experience influenced her impressive career. You’ll also discover why universal training, early intervention and trauma informed care are vital when it comes to the future of Kentucky’s children. /episode/index/show/chfscommunity/id/31213482

A Tradition of Excellence at Medicaid Services 04/22/2024

A Tradition of Excellence at Medicaid Services 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 equity and determinants of health at Medicaid Services. This Danville native grew up hearing stories about her ancestors, family ties and the trauma of slavery. These narratives sparked a passion for equity and public service that touches every part of the work she does. We’ll talk about service, compassion and connection, and also reveal some secrets for workplace success in this week’s episode of CHFS Community Podcast. /episode/index/show/chfscommunity/id/30936373

Seeing the Big Picture at Serve Kentucky 04/09/2024

Seeing the Big Picture at Serve Kentucky 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, art, travel and yoga. We also talk about the Governor’s Service Awards, coming up on April 16. This Serve Kentucky partnership with the Office of the Governor highlights the importance of volunteer and national service across the commonwealth. You can find out more about becoming an AmeriCorps member on the . /episode/index/show/chfscommunity/id/30748568

OCSHCN Celebrates 100 Years 03/26/2024

OCSHCN Celebrates 100 Years 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 with mentor parents who provide emotional support and assistance in finding and accessing information and resources. Sondra is a trailblazer and valued leader at OCSHCN, but more importantly, a friend to those who need services or just someone to talk to. /episode/index/show/chfscommunity/id/30548473

It's All About Families, Here 03/14/2024

It's All About Families, Here 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 provided much in the way of personal and professional satisfaction. You’ll also learn about the social security disability program and how DIS became the industry standard, with the third lowest processing time in the nation. /episode/index/show/chfscommunity/id/30377203

Public Health Preparedness 01/30/2024

Public Health Preparedness 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 Kentucky in 2021, and the catastrophic flooding in eastern Kentucky in 2022. For information about how to prepare for disasters, check out Kendra’s monthly articles in the employee newsletter and click on . /episode/index/show/chfscommunity/id/29713378

Preventing Medicaid Fraud 01/15/2024

Preventing Medicaid Fraud 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 style and expertise in identifying fraud, waste and abuse. Jennifer also shares with our listeners some interesting life lessons and her enthusiasm for yoga, health and wellness practices. /episode/index/show/chfscommunity/id/29513278

Food Safety in Kentucky 01/03/2024

Food Safety in Kentucky 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 branch manager. He began his career in environmental health as a food safety inspector with a local health department. You won’t want to miss his fascinating stories along with some impressive accomplishments here and abroad. I guarantee you’ll never take food safety for granted again. /episode/index/show/chfscommunity/id/29328963

Medicaid Saves Lives 11/28/2023

Medicaid Saves Lives 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 communications for the Department for Medicaid Services. We discuss her life in Oil Springs, journalism career and 18-year anniversary with the cabinet. We also talk about the benefits of Medicaid, including improved health care access, lower medical costs and the ability to fill medical coverage gaps in rural areas. I hope you enjoy our conversation as much as I did, while gaining an even greater appreciation of how Medicaid benefits Kentuckians. /episode/index/show/chfscommunity/id/28824828

Helping Displaced Kentuckians 11/28/2023

Helping Displaced Kentuckians 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 shelter for 21 years. Bagley is currently the BHDID program manager in the Adult Mental Health and Recovery Services Branch at the Division of Mental Health. We’ll share what we have learned firsthand about trauma, resilience and how to best advocate for Kentuckians who are displaced. /episode/index/show/chfscommunity/id/28507118

Sharing Our Stories 11/01/2023

Sharing Our Stories 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 common sense and C-suite experience to the conversation. Tune in to find out what we’ve discovered about successful and not-so-successful communication strategies, along with some heartfelt stories of our own. /episode/index/show/chfscommunity/id/28460303

Cybersecurity Superheroes at CHFS 10/17/2023

Cybersecurity Superheroes at CHFS 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, Hines began her legal career as a prosecutor in the juvenile division at the Jefferson County Attorney’s Office before coming to CHFS. Today, we discuss cybersecurity and the superheroes behind the scenes who protect private information at the cabinet. The Commonwealth Office of Technology encourages you to be aware of the latest cybersecurity technologies to stay safe and secure online. Our and teams are available to assist you with work-related questions and concerns about information security and privacy. /episode/index/show/chfscommunity/id/28341551

Teamwork is the Dreamwork at Medicaid Services 10/03/2023

Teamwork is the Dreamwork at Medicaid Services 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 Medicaid team. Meagan Hart received her undergraduate degree at Midway College and MBA at Columbia Southern University in Orange Beach, Ala. Today, we discuss how she came to state government, the importance of teamwork and why flexibility and communication are important traits for cabinet employees to strive for. /episode/index/show/chfscommunity/id/28212125

Program Integrity at Behavioral Health 09/20/2023

Program Integrity at Behavioral Health 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 passion for volunteerism beginning at age nine. I personally consider it a blessing to wake up every morning with the opportunity to change somebody’s life through work and am grateful for the vast number of employees, like Greta, who exemplify this at CHFS. /episode/index/show/chfscommunity/id/28065924

Donors Make a Difference 09/06/2023

Donors Make a Difference 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 this. Ben Duncan, Reagan Gaetz and Darby Todd are raising awareness about how ordinary people can register to donate bone marrow and blood stem cells. On today’s episode, Darby and I talk with Be The Match Representative Dannielle Moore about how easy it is to provide hope and save lives by volunteering or becoming a donor for a patient seeking a match. /episode/index/show/chfscommunity/id/27960396

CHFS Community Podcast

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