KCHC April Newsletter

Kentucky Coalition For Healthy Children Newsletter

Issue 47 | April 2026

Working collaboratively on policies and practices in and around schools that promote equity and improve the physical, social, and emotional health and well-being of children, youth, and families.

The opinions and viewpoints expressed in this newsletter do not necessarily reflect the positions of all coalition partners.

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KCHC Member Highlights

Webinar Series│ State & Federal Policy Updates

Join the ThriveKY Coalition’s webinar series for important updates on the economy, Medicaid, KCHIP, SNAP, housing, transportation, child care, public health, and behavioral health. A virtual program is being held on April 21. For more information about the series, CEUs, and how to register- click here.

Webinars | Health for a Change

The Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky’s next webinar in the Health for a Change series, Understanding Genetic Counseling in Cancer Care, is being hosted on April 22. It will explore what genetic counselors do, when someone should consider genetic testing, and how community-based professionals and healthcare providers can talk about these services in clear, supportive ways. Learn more and register here.

You can also watch the recording of the most recent Health for a Change that highlighted innovative studies related to place-based health. More details and the recording are available here.

Webinar Series | Systems Simulation

Cairn Guidance brings over 15 years of experience facilitating system change with state education agencies, funders and grantees. They are hosting a 2026 free webinar series with opportunities to learn about their various systems simulations professional development experiences. The next webinar is being hosted on April 22. Learn more and register here.

Nominations | School Health Leadership Award

Cairn Guidance is accepting nominations for its School Health Leadership Award! Nominate educational leaders (yourself or someone else) who have prioritized the health and well-being of students and/or staff. These leaders see the link between health and education, and create systems that are more equitable and healthier for the school community – through policy, programs, curriculum, practices, hiring techniques, evaluations, and more. Learn more and nominate someone here.

Webinar | A Celebration of School Nurses

Alliance for a Healthier Generation is hosting a webinar on May 6 to celebrate the vital role school nurses play in advancing student wellness. It will explore practical strategies for supporting school nurse well‑being, including best practices for self‑care, stress management, and sustaining joy in the profession. People can also nominate a school nurse for recognition during the event. More information can be found here.

Training | Spiritual First Aid

The Bounce coalition is hosting a free, in-person training on Spiritual First Aid. Designed for faith and community groups, this session offers practical, trauma-informed tools to support individuals facing mental and emotional challenges. Participants will receive hands-on instruction, along with a workbook and field guide to strengthen their ability to support children, adolescents, and adults in their communities. The training will take place May 15, 2026, 9:00 AM-4:00 PM in Louisville at the offices of Kentucky Youth Advocates. Register here.

Training│Trauma-Informed Care for Trainers

The Department for Behavioral Health, Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities (DBHDID) has announced a virtual Trauma-Informed Care Training for Trainers (TIC TOT), taking place over two days: Tuesday, June 23, 2026, and Wednesday, June 24, 2026, from 9:30 AM to 3:30 PM (ET) each day. Registration will open May 21, 2026, with only 50 spots available. For information regarding this training, please contact Brittany Barber at brittanya.barber@ky.gov.

Training │Supporting Youth in Building Resilience & Healthy Coping Skills

The Bounce coalition is offering a free training for out-of-school time and other youth-serving professionals. The session equips leaders with evidence-based strategies for talking with youth about substance use, along with practical activities to foster resilience and healthy decision-making. Please contact Hannah McCarty at hmmcarty@kyyouth.org to schedule a training.

Kentucky Behavior Institute 2026 | Registration Open

The Kentucky Council for Children with Behavioral Disorders is hosting the Kentucky Behavior Institute 2026 on June 15-16 in Louisville. It will offer sessions designed for every educator, including Back to Basics, Positive & Proactive Classrooms and sessions for Administrators (new and seasoned). Attendees can choose sessions that best meet their needs and take away practical strategies to use immediately in their classrooms and schools. Learn more and register here.

What's New in Children's Health

Statewide Study Highlights Root Causes of Hunger in Kentucky

Feeding Kentucky, in partnership with IQS Research and supported by private donors and the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services, has released the first statewide study in more than a decade examining how Kentuckians experience and navigate food access. The Hunger Study findings challenge common assumptions about hunger. The study shows that food insecurity is more often driven by affordability, transportation barriers, and the difficult financial tradeoffs families must make each month. Hunger in Kentucky is less about proximity to food and more about stability, cost, and competing expenses. The research also underscores that hunger affects communities across every zip code. Many Kentuckians are working hard to support their households yet still face persistent challenges.

How Stability Shapes Children’s Health and Development

From before birth, children’s health and development are influenced by the full range of experiences in the places they live, play, learn, and grow. Stability is a key factor, strengthening it in one area, such as housing, caregiver relationships, or financial security, can have ripple effects across a child’s environment. This is the focus of the working paper From Resources to Routines: The Importance of Stability in the Developmental Environment from the Early Childhood Scientific Council on Equity and Environment of Harvard’s Center on the Developing Child. The paper explores how stability impact children and offers strategies for policymakers, community leaders, and service providers to build more resilient systems that support young children and their caregivers.

Making Data and Computing Education Work for All K–12 Students

A new report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, Data and Computing in K–12 Education: Foundational Competencies 2026, highlights the rapid but uneven growth of data and computing education in K–12 schools. It offers guidance for state and local education agencies on integrating these skills into curricula consistently, enhancing student learning in existing subjects like science and math. The report provides 14 recommendations for schools, districts, and states to better prepare students for a technology-driven world. While many initiatives in computer science and data science exist, they are often fragmented, leaving students, especially in elementary school, with only brief or isolated exposure.

In Your Community

Bridging Service Gaps in Louisville: Growing Impact, Global Recognition, and Community-Led Change

Last December, we shared the story of how More Than a Smile Foundation has been working to bridge critical service gaps for refugee and immigrant families across Louisville. Rooted in trust, cultural understanding, and community partnership, the organization has continued to expand both its reach and its impact in meaningful ways.

Founded in 2016 by Director Amina Shale as a volunteer-led tutoring initiative, More Than a Smile has grown into a multifaceted nonprofit serving more than 300 youth and families. Its core pillars are tutoring and mentoring, women’s empowerment, and community engagement. The organization serves a richly diverse population, including families from Somalia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi, Afghanistan, and Syria. With participants speaking a wide range of languages, culturally and linguistically responsive programming remains at the heart of every service offered. Programs continue to be hosted in trusted community spaces, ensuring accessibility and fostering the strong relationships that make this work effective.

One of the most impactful components of More Than a Smile’s programming continues to be its trauma-informed sports and arts initiatives, which support youth mental health, confidence, and connection. These programs, alongside monthly community engagement events providing essential resources, have strengthened community ties and created safe, supportive environments for young people to thrive.

Since our last update, the organization’s work has gained even greater recognition on the global stage. Building on its earlier acknowledgment by the United Nations Youth Office and contributions to international conversations on gender equity, More Than a Smile has reached an exciting new milestone.

This spring, the organization will present its work at the United Nations Regional Forum on Sustainable Development for the UNECE Region in Geneva. Their featured side event, “Fun & Play as a Catalyst for Youth-Led Community Transformation,” will spotlight how youth-led recreational programming can advance mental wellness, foster social cohesion, and create leadership pathways in underserved communities.

This invitation represents more than an international speaking opportunity, it is a powerful affirmation that community-driven solutions developed in Louisville are resonating on a global scale. It highlights how culturally responsive, grassroots programming can inform broader strategies for youth development and mental well-being worldwide.

As the organization continues its efforts to establish a dedicated community center and expand its programming, this global recognition underscores an important truth: meaningful change begins at the community level, but its impact can reach far beyond.

Take Action!

Kentucky’s Children Need Health Champions!

The Kentucky Coalition for Healthy Children has released its 2026 Policy Priorities Brief, highlighting strategies for improving children’s health, which constitutes the Commonwealths best return on investment. The brief is designed to guide policymakers toward high-impact solutions that support healthier outcomes for kids across the state.

What you can do: The coalition encourages readers to share the brief widely to help elevate these priorities and drive meaningful change.

Download the Brief: Kentucky Coalition for Healthy Children’s Policy Priorities