Upcoming & Past Meetings
Click on the Coalitions below to view upcoming meeting details, as well as summaries of past meetings. While the counties are divided into coalitions, all are welcome to attend any of the meetings.
Mark your calendars for the KY1 Community Coalition meeting on August 4 from 2:00–3:00 p.m. CT via Zoom. The agenda will be structured around food insecurity, healthy eating behaviors, and nutrition. Stay tuned for more details!
Counties in KY1: Ballard, Caldwell, Calloway, Carlisle, Christian, Crittenden, Fulton, Graves, Hickman, Livingston, Lyon, Marshall, McCracken, and Trigg, but all are welcome to attend!
KY1 Community Coalition met virtually on May 5 when the coalition learned about the importance of Food is Medicine programs and diabetes educational programs offered to the community. The Kentucky Department for Public Health (KDPH) published their 2025 Diabetes Report, highlighting Kentucky for having the 9th highest mortality rate from diabetes in the United States. Additionally, of the 14 counties located in the KY1 Community Coalition, only one (1) county is below the national average of adults with diabetes. These data points further emphasize the importance of community programs encouraging and empowering community members to take a more active role in improving their health status.
Morgan Bray, Food is Medicine Program Coordinator, shared information on the joint endeavor between KHA and Kentucky Department of Agriculture (KDA) to develop a Food is Medicine Initiative focusing on the power of food and its connection to healthier living. Through the Food is Medicine initiative (lowercase), several hospitals have partnered with their local cooperative extension offices to host farmers’ markets on site, giving access to local, healthy food for patients, staff, and the community. These partnerships have brought together hospitals, growers, leaders in agriculture, and food purchasing/services companies to align efforts of using local, healthier food products on site, and have developed creative ideas such as a hospital-branded burger made from lean Kentucky raised ground beef. To learn more or get involved with the Food is Medicine Initiative, visit foodismedicineky.com, or contact Morgan Bray.
Deanna Leonard, RN, LDE for the Purchase District Health Department (PDHD), presented on their Diabetes Self-Management Education & Support (DSMES) class offered free of charge to those in the community. DSMES has evolved to be a life-long collaboration between the person with diabetes and their health care team to share information with the participant on topics of interest, and considers the patient’s family/social support, health barriers, and life experiences when developing their education approach. At this time, participants can be referred from a health care provider, self-refer, and/or referred by a community service organization while working with the individual for any social drivers of health needs. Click here to have access to more resources and education related to DSMES.
KY2 Central KY Community Coalition will meet virtually on June 16 from 1:00–2:00 p.m. ET. As transportation was identified as a challenge across the state of Kentucky, the KY2 coalition invited speakers that have thought outside the box to address this need.
Melissa Harper, Director of Risk and Care Management for Taylor Regional Hospital, will present on the hospital’s transportation service, how it was accomplished, and the benefit it has been to their patients.
KentuckyCare, a network of medical clinics in Western Kentucky, will share how they developed a transportation service for their patients to travel to their follow-up appointments and social need organizations. You won’t want to miss hearing all the ways facilities are getting creative to address this systematic issue.
Counties in KY2: Breckinridge, Bullitt, Grayson, Hardin, Jefferson, Larue, Marion, Meade, Nelson, Oldham, Shelby, Spencer, and Washington, but all are welcome to attend!
KY2 Central Kentucky Community Coalition met on Tuesday, March 17, at 2:00 PM ET via Teams.
Claire Arant, Director, Community Outreach and External Communication for the Kentucky Hospital Association (KHA), presented the community coalition framework for the years ahead. The mission of the coalitions is to build stronger, healthier communities across Kentucky. The coalitions will accomplish that goal by bringing together health care and community-based organizations together to discuss gaps in transitions of care, empowering community members to self-manage their chronic illnesses, address social drivers of health, and mental health and substance use disorders. The coalition expressed support and excitement around the framework’s pillars.
Lauren Kallmeyer, Kentucky Double Dollars Director, with the Community Farm Alliance (CFA) shared their Kentucky Double Dollars (KDD) program with the coalition. The CFA was established in 1985 to preserve family farms during the farm credit crisis. CFA works to develop local food systems by supporting markets, farmers, food access, policy, and the KDD program. KDD supports farmers while addressing food insecurity, providing additional funds for SNAP and Farmers Market Nutrition Program recipients to purchase locally grown fresh fruit, vegetables, meat, eggs, and dairy. KDD works by exchanging SNAP dollars for tokens; the token doubles the value of benefits ($1 benefits = $2 value) and allows the tokens to be spent at participating farmers markets. In 2025, KDD had an impact of $278,000 double dollars redeemed. To learn more about CFA and KDD, visit kentuckydoubledollars.org.
Rhonda Gonzalez, Director, Agency Services & Programs for Feeding America, Kentucky’s Heartland, and Whitney Metcalfe, Manager, Community Health & Wellness with Baptist Health Hardin, shared their pilot program to provide food boxes to patients at discharge. Feeding America, Kentucky’s Heartland supports 215 food pantries in 42 counties from center to western Kentucky. Through this support, Feeding America, Kentucky’s Heartland was able to partner with Baptist Health Hardin to offer non-perishable food boxes for patients to take home. In addition to the boxes, patients are given information on how to get in touch with Feeding America, Kentucky’s Heartland for additional food support. If you are interested in partnering with your local food pantry to offer a similar program, Rhonda is happy to connect resources and share information with you. Please reach out to her at: rgonzalez@feedingamericaky.org.
The next KY3 Taylor/Lake Cumberland Community Coalition meeting will be in summer. Be on the lookout for the calendar invite and stay tuned for meeting topics!
Counties in KY3: Adair, Casey, Clinton, Cumberland, Green, McCreary, Pulaski, Russell, Taylor, and Wayne, but all are welcome to attend!
KY3 Taylor/Lake Cumberland Community Coalition met on Tuesday, April 28 at 11:00 – 12:30 PM CT. Catherine Hines, Research Project Manager at the Kentucky Injury Prevention and Research Center (KIPRC), educated the coalition on how to navigate and utilize FindHelpNow.Org. FindHelpNow.org is a website designed to assist community members looking for services around substance use, mental health, behavioral health, recovery housing, and community-based supports. The website searches for the services closest to the zip code of the person seeking services and showcases the services currently accepting new patients. Once a service is selected, the website shows what the application process looks like, what supports are provided by the service, which population is served, and how to get connected. The website can be utilized by case managers, family members, friends, or any member of a community who requires assistance for themselves; no referral needed!
Mandy Lynch, Behavioral Health Program Director and the Clinical Director for Inpatient Wood/Ostomy Care at Lake Cumberland Regional Hospital, shared information on their Geriatric Psychiatric (Geri psych) services offered at Lake Cumberland Regional Hospital. Geri psych services provide a safe environment for seniors ages 65 and above that are battling mental health conditions. Lake Cumberland Regional Hospital offers a 7 bed, short-term unit staffed with a team of psychiatrists, licensed counselors, nurses, licensed social workers, and recreational therapists to care for the patients while on the unit. In terms of admission criteria, there is a team of multidisciplinary providers to access patients for the most appropriate level of care. There are patient care challenges with this population as support and placement resources are very limited. Most patients do not have a qualifying skill that would allow them to step down into a skilled nursing facility and/or do not have the financial flexibility for a private care. What makes this more alarming is that, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, there will be a 20% increase in those over the age of 65 by the year 2030, further exacerbating the care challenges for this patient population. While there is a need for more services to support this patient population, Lake Cumberland Regional Hospital is there to care for patients. More information on this service can be found on the Lake Cumberland Regional Hospital website.
Dale Dobson, Division Director for Farm Safety & Rural Health, presented The Power of a Handshake. In addition to farming being hard work and one of the most hazardous occupations, farmers are constantly dealing with physical, environmental, and economic challenges, but there is another challenge not as widely known, mental health. American Farm Bureau states that farmer suicide is 2-5x higher than the national average. To help keep farmers safe, Kentucky Department of Agriculture developed Raising Hope, a program focused on farm safety, farmer health, and farm rescue. Raising Hope places a strong emphasis on the welfare of famers through health screenings and encouraging discussions surrounding wellness. Through the Power of a Handshake, farmers are shown appreciation through a handshake and a distribution of challenge coins. The challenge coins highlight the farmer is appreciated, hope is here, and if you are in need, call/text 988 for immediate support. For more information, please visit KDA’s Raising Hope Website.
Tabitha Hardin, Peer Support Specialist (PSS) with Ohio County Healthcare and a part of the Kentucky Statewide Opioid Stewardship Program (KYSOS), shared how a PSS can create a lasting impact for patients struggling with substance use disorder (SUD). A PPS is an individual with lived experience, who can bridge the gap between patients, providers, and community partners. When a patient comes to the emergency department in crisis, a PPS provides immediate connection and trust with the patient. The PPS meets the patient where they are whether it be bridging them into recovery services or increasing their access to harm reduction supplies; the goal is to support the patient. PSS have made a lasting impact on emergency departments by reducing repeat visits, decreasing the stigma and shame associated with SUD, increasing the amount of Naloxone provided to patients and families and enhancing the collaboration with community partners. PSS engages with local treatment facilities, law enforcement, jails, EMS, health departments, public libraries and more to bridge the gap between health care services and social supports for SUD in the community. If you are interested in learning more, please visit https://www.kentuckysos.com/.
KY4 Bluegrass Community Coalition will meet on June 3 from 8:00 – 9:30 AM ET at Morning Pointe of Lexington East (150 Shoreside Drive). KY4 is planning the agenda around supporting individuals within the community through the 1915 (i) RISE Initiative and the Kentucky Prescription Assistance Program (KPAP), in addition to these topics, we are finalizing a speaker around case management and how to partner with the Medicaid Managed Care Organizations (MCOs).
Ann Hollen, Executive Advisor, 1915i RISE Initiative Director with the Kentucky Department for Behavioral Health, Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities (DBHDID) will educate the coalition on the 1915 (i) RISE Initiative. The 1915 (i) RISE Initiative is a Medicaid program that offers Recovery, Independence, Support, and Engagement to Kentuckians with serious mental illness (SMI). Eligible adults will be able to access home and community-based services that support independent living, reduce reliance on institutional care, and promote long-term recovery.
Jennifer Toribio Nass, Health Program Administrator, Kentucky Department for Public Health, will share on how qualifying individuals identify sources of free and low-cost medications offered by pharmaceutical companies. The process reduces paperwork and offers more direct access to programs.
Counties in KY4: Anderson, Boyle, Fayette, Franklin, Garrard, Harrison, Jessamine, Lincoln, Madison, Mercer, Rockcastle, Scott, and Woodford, but all are welcome to attend!
KY4 Bluegrass Community Coalition met on Wednesday, March 11 at 8:00 AM ET at Morning Pointe of Lexington. A special thank you to CHI Saint Joseph Health Partners for breakfast and Morning Pointe of Lexington for hosting our meeting!
Claire Arant, Director, Community Outreach and External Communication for the Kentucky Hospital Association (KHA), presented the community coalition framework for the years ahead. The mission of the coalitions is to build stronger, healthier communities across Kentucky. The coalitions will accomplish that goal by bringing together health care and community-based organizations together to discuss gaps in transitions of care, empowering community members to self-manage their chronic illnesses, address social drivers of health, and mental health and substance use disorders.
Morgan Bray, Food is Medicine Program Coordinator, shared on the joint endeavor between KHA and Kentucky Department of Agriculture (KDA) to join forces to develop a Food is Medicine Initiative focusing on the power of food and its connection to healthier living. Through the Food is Medicine Initiative, several hospitals have partnered with their local cooperative extension offices to host farmers markers on site giving access to local, healthy food for patients, staff, and the community. These partnerships have brought together hospitals, growers, leaders in agriculture, and food purchasing/ services companies to begin efforts of using local, healthier food products on site and have developed creative ideas such as a hospital-branded burger made from lean Kentucky raised ground beef. To learn more or get involved with the Food is Medicine Initiative, visit https://foodismedicineky.com, or contact Morgan Bray.
Lauren Kallmeyer, Kentucky Double Dollars Director, and Margie Stelzer, Kentucky Double Dollars Administrator, with the Community Farm Alliance (CFA) shared their Kentucky Double Dollars (KDD) program with the coalition. The CFA was established in 1985 to preserve family farms during the farm credit crisis. CFA works to develop local food systems by supporting markets, farmers, food access, policy, and the KDD program. KDD supports farmers while addressing food insecurity, providing additional funds for SNAP and Farmers Market Nutrition Program recipients to purchase locally grown fresh fruit, vegetables, meat, eggs, and dairy. KDD works by exchanging SNAP dollars for tokens, the token doubles the value of benefits ($1 benefits = $2 value) and allows the tokens to be spent at participating farmers markets. In 2025, KDD had an impact of $278,000 double dollars redeemed. To learn more about CFA and KDD, visit kentuckydoubledollars.org.
Jennifer Cherolis, Outpatient Diabetes Educator, and Courtney Rogers, Outpatient Diabetes Educator Apprentice, with UK Healthcare, Barnstable Brown Diabetes Center presented their diabetes education services available across the enterprise. UK Healthcare Barnstable Brown Diabetes Centers offers a number of educational programs to help support individuals with self-managing their diabetes, diabetes prevention programs, Medical Nutrition Therapy, and a weight management program. You do not have to be a current patient of UK Healthcare Barnstable Brown Diabetes Center to participate in any of these programs. If you are interested in engaging with these programs, call (859) 323-7391, or email, diabeteseducationservices@uky.edu.
KY5 Fleming/Mason Community Coalition will meet at the Mason County Public Library on July 24 from 11:15–1:15 p.m. ET. The agenda is centered around transportation resources, programs, and thinking outside the box when it comes to transportation challenges. Stay tuned for more details!
Counties in KY5: Counties: Bath, Bourbon, Boyd, Bracken, Carter, Clark, Elliott, Estill, Fleming, Greenup, Lawrence, Lewis, Mason, Menifee, Montgomery, Morgan, Nicholas, Powell, Robertson, Rowan, and Wolfe, but all are welcome to attend!
KY5 Fleming/Mason Community Coalition met virtually on January 30, 2026 from 11:30 – 1:00 pm ET. Claire Arant, Director, Community Outreach and External Communication for the Kentucky Hospital Association (KHA), led a discussion in which consensus was achieved regarding the Community Coalition Framework and the priorities for the years ahead. The mission of the coalitions is to build stronger, healthier communities across Kentucky by bringing together health care and community-based organizations to discuss gaps in transitions of care, empowering community members to self-manage their chronic illnesses, and address social drivers of health, and mental health and substance use disorders.
Next, three local organizations shared their resources offered to the community.
Ion Center, offers free, confidential support and services to victim-survivors who have experienced power-based personal violence. These services include a 24-hour hotline, emergency shelter, hospital advocacy, crisis support, law enforcement advocacy, safety planning, court advocacy, therapy, prevention education and pet protection. These services are available to anyone and any gender. Check out their website for more information, https://ioncenter.org/
Shepherd’s House, a faith-based organization which offers services to the community, including a food bank every 3rd Tuesday of the month, clothing bank every Tuesday, and furniture ministry based upon request. If you are interested in donating or need assistance, please call 606.301.1921.
Comprehend Inc. offers a wide array of resources and services to the community. These services include mental health, substance use disorder treatment, and intellectual and developmental disability (IDD) services. One of the programs highlighted was Bridgeway for IDD. Bridgeway serves adults with IDD in and around Maysville, KY, with the goal to provide care, education and employment opportunities so that clients can live empowered and fulfilling lives. In addition to that service, Bridgeway also, offers help with respite care and support for families and caregivers.
Corey Richard, Community Consultant – Central Kentucky, Kentucky Department for Public Health, presented the Kentucky Prescription Assistance Program (KPAP). KPAP helps qualifying individuals identify sources of free and low-cost medications offered by pharmaceutical companies. Staff members collaborate with medical personnel and community agencies such as churches, hospitals, and social services to provide information about KPAP. KPAP has saved Kentuckians $1 Billion since the program’s inception in 2008. If you are interested in becoming a KPAP partner, please visit the Cabinet for Health and Family Services website.
Mark your calendars for KY6 & 8 Eastern Kentucky Community Coalition meeting on July 21 from 1:00–2:00 p.m. ET via Teams. The agenda will be built around transitions of care across health care sectors. Stay tuned for more details!
Counties in KY6&8: Bell, Breathitt, Clay, Floyd, Harlan, Jackson, Johnson, Knott, Knox, Laurel, Lee, Leslie, Letcher, Magoffin, Martin, Owsley, Perry, Pike, and Whitley, but all are welcome to attend!
KY6&8 Eastern KY Community Coalition met virtually on April 22 at 2:00pm ET. The meeting kicked off with Lisa Garrison, Community Outreach Specialist, Operations Team for UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Kentucky (UHC), who shared UHC’s member benefits available to their members. UHC has a number of benefits supporting members; of note is their support for mothers to be, new moms, and newborns through the Healthy First Steps rewards program. By attending prenatal and postpartum doctor appointments, moms are able to receive additional support with a case of diapers and wipes delivered directly to their homes. Please see the attachment titled “Get More from Your Health Plan 2026” for a full list of member benefits. UHC also offers quarterly Member Advisory Council (QMAC) meetings with the goal of learning from members how the benefits support members, how they can improve, and other ideas to consider for the future. If you are interested in attending the next QMAC meeting, please see the attachment titled “UHC June 9 QMAC Meeting Invitation.” You may also connect directly with Lisa for any questions or if you have ideas to share: lisa.garrison-ragsdale@uhc.com or (952) 406-3582.
Ashely Webb, RN LDE, System Diabetes Education Coordinator for Appalachian Regional Healthcare (ARH), shared her passion for diabetes education through ARH’s Diabetes Community Program. Appalachia has rates of diabetes prevalence that are nearly double those in the rest of Kentucky, highlighting the crisis and need for support services. ARH stepped up to serve their communities in a number of ways, one being the diabetes self-management education classes that are hosted in Paintsville and Hazard. These appointments can be conducted in-person or virtually and have been wildly successful, with 68% of participants in 2025 lowering their weight and A1C results. Since October 2023, ARH has provided 2,362 free A1C screenings to community members by participating in local events such as health fairs, farmers’ markets, festivals, and conferences. Given the incredible results seen as a result of these programs, ARH took it a step further in launching Diabetes Connection Support Groups. These groups are monthly classes that consist of diabetes education and cooking demonstrations to highlight food selection and preparation that is tailored to help construct menus for individuals managing their diabetes that can be delicious as well as medically therapeutic. These support groups have ten locations across the service area in order to have a high impact on diabetes outcomes. As the education groups evolve, folks experience a healthy competition with the 2025 Healthy Habits Challenge resulting in 75% of participants improving their A1C, 85% improved their weight at least once, and a total of 517.9 pounds lost between all 182 participants! If you or someone you know is interested in participating in any of these opportunities, please reach out to Claire on how to get connected.
Rounding out the meeting was Martha Ellis, Public Health Director for Floyd County Health Department (FCHD), who shared all the ways FCHD supports their community. In conjunction with all the health screening and services, FCHD offers a harm reduction service for folks regardless of readiness for recovery, and can receive confidential testing, vaccinations, syringe services, linkage to health care and more. These services are essential to protecting the health of the individuals and community with dignity, respect, and without judgement. In efforts to serve all community members, FCHD has three Youth Wellness and Prevention programs. The Teen Outreach Program (TOP), which is an evidence-based program that empowers teens to build health relationships, reduce risky behaviors, and positively impact their communities. The Teen Connection Program (TCP) connects teens through interactive lessons focused on establishing a safe and supportive group of peers. Last, but not least, is the Youth Thrive Program and Youth Cafes, which are student-led programs that empower teens to grow and connect through youth-driven experiences.
KY7 Northern KY Community Coalition is meeting on June 16 at the St. Elizabeth Technology Education Center (3861 Olympic Blvd) from 9:00 – 10:30 a.m. ET. KY7 Northern KY Community Coalition will kick off with a presentation from the Kentucky Hospital Association on their workforce development programs promoting health care and allied health careers to high school students. The programs offer career pathways and promotional videos to showcase the impact these careers have on patient care. Next, representatives from primary care, home health, nursing home, hospice, transitional housing, and palliative care will share their services and engage in a transition of care discussion with questions centered on improving transitions of care for individuals in Kentucky communities.
Counties in KY7: Boone, Campbell, Carroll, Gallatin, Grant, Henry, Kenton, Owen, Pendleton, and Trimble, but all are welcome to attend!
KY7 Northern Kentucky Community Coalition met virtually on Thursday, March 5, at 9:00 AM ET. Claire Arant, Director, Community Outreach and External Communication for the Kentucky Hospital Association (KHA), presented on the community coalition framework for the years ahead. The mission of the coalitions is to build stronger, healthier communities across Kentucky. The coalitions will accomplish that goal by bringing together health care and community-based organizations together to discuss gaps in transitions of care, empowering community members to self-manage their chronic illnesses, address social drivers of health, and mental health and substance use disorders.
Jerrod Wright, Director, Hospital Preparedness for KHA, presented on emergency preparedness within a community. Within Jerrod’s thorough presentation, coalition members were given actionable information on what to consider before an emergency, where to start when developing a plan, who all to involve in the plan’s creation, and who can help during a disaster. In addition to the wonderful resources of local and state folks that can assist with preparing for an emergency as a community, the presentation included a week-by-week plan to building an emergency kit at your home or organization. If you are interested in Jerrod’s presentation slides, please reach out to Claire for a copy of the PowerPoint.
KY9 Community Coalition is a brand-new community coalition being established in the northwestern part of Kentucky, made up of Daviess, Hancock, Henderson, Hopkins, McLean, Muhlenberg, Ohio, Union, and Webster counties! We will have our first meeting virtually on June 18 from 2:00 – 3:00 PM CT. During this meeting, we will introduce the community coalition’s framework and discuss the needs identified within the communities. We are actively recruiting partners in the health care, hospital, and community-based organization space! Please reach out to Claire Arant if you would like to be a part of this new coalition!
Counties in KY9: Daviess, Hancock, Henderson, Hopkins, McLean, Muhlenberg, Ohio, Union, Webster, but all are welcome to attend!
Interested in learning more and getting involved?
KHA is collaborating with hospitals, health care providers, and community-based organizations to build stronger, healthier communities across Kentucky. In a shared effort to share resources on discuss how to improve transitions of care, chronic disease self-management, social drivers of health, health literacy, mental health and substance use disorder concerns within the community.
Community Coalition partners include but are not limited to area agencies on aging, area development districts, clinician practices, community mental health centers, community organizations active in disasters, EMS providers, faith-based organizations, fire departments, food pantries, federally qualified health clinics, health departments, home health, hospice agencies, hospitals, housing shelters, libraries, nursing homes, patients/families, patient advocacy organizations, pharmacies, research institutions and universities, rural clinics, senior housing, state and local agencies, substance use recovery organizations. If you or your organization make an impact on a community member’s life, we want to invite you to the coalition meetings.
Have questions? Want more information? Reach out to Claire Arant, carant@kyha.com.