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WELCOME |
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Dear Friends!
It is with great enthusiasm that I announce Troy Body as
the new executive director for the Governor’s Office of
Minority Empowerment. Tierra Kavanaugh Turner has moved
on to new opportunities in her hometown of Louisville.
We wish her the best.
For the past six months, Troy has served as a press
secretary in our communications office. He is a
native of Harlan County and holds a bachelor’s
degree from the University of Kentucky and a
master’s degree from Marshall University in West
Virginia. Prior to joining my administration, he was
the commissioner for the West Virginia Division of
Culture and History. Troy’s education and work
experience make him uniquely qualified for the
position of executive director.
The charge for the Governor’s Office of Minority
Empowerment is to study, review and make substantive
policy recommendations in four key areas: African
American incarceration rate, student achievement
gap, minority economic empowerment and greater
access and opportunity to grants, funding and
services provided by the state and federal
governments.
All of these areas are interconnected. Therefore,
it is crucial we work to ensure the government has
an established system that is inclusive and
meaningful for every citizen of the Commonwealth.
I have traveled to every county in Kentucky and have
met and listened to thousands of individuals
throughout our state. Regardless of race or
geographic location, the citizens of Kentucky all
want the same things: a safe community, quality
schools and an economy that allows their children to
remain close to home.
I intend to do everything within my power to secure
the rights and opportunities every Kentuckian
deserves. We have a lot of work ahead of us. You
can be certain we will not rest until we achieve
everything we have set out to accomplish.
Sincerely,
Ernie Fletcher
Governor
http://www.governor.ky.gov/
 Greetings!
It is indeed an honor and a pleasure to have the
opportunity to serve the people of the commonwealth
as the new executive director for the Governor’s
Office of Minority Empowerment. I am committed to
public service and will work tirelessly to fulfill
the mission of this office.
It has been said that good government answers the
questions: How do the people want to live their lives
and in what type of community do they wish to live?
To that end, the mission of the Governor’s Office of
Minority Empowerment will be to serve as a direct
connection to the minority community in the
commonwealth. Also, to offer legislative, policy and
fiscal recommendations to Governor Fletcher, the cabinet
secretaries and all other elected officials throughout
Kentucky, in the best interest of the minority community
and the state as a whole.
Real change for
Kentucky’s minority community requires a commitment from
every level of government and the private sector. It
will require marshalling our resources as well as our
attitudes to a singular focus and purpose.
When
he offered me the job, the governor outlined very
specific issues he wanted the office to tackle. In
response to his charge, I explained the kind of change
he desires would require a sea-change throughout the
entire system. His response: “Go for it!”
We are
going to “go for it!” I am going to begin with hard
data, research and nationally known best practices to
tackle the issues facing Kentucky’s minority community.
In the coming weeks, our office will report back to each
of you what data we have gathered and the policy
recommendations we seek.
All things work through
an established system. We simply cannot wish equality so
– we must demand it and establish it. Change is coming.
Stay tuned.
All best,
Troy Body
Executive
Director of Minority Empowerment
Office of the
Governor
http://www.ome.ky.gov/
 Greetings!
As many of you know, this is my final note to you
as Executive Director of the Governor’s Office of
Minority Empowerment. I am forever thankful to Governor
Fletcher and the First Lady for the opportunity bestowed
upon me to serve in this capacity. It has been my
distinct honor and privilege to have served as a member
of this administration.
Governor Fletcher’s
vision for championing the cause of minority empowerment
has placed Kentucky on the cutting edge of progress and
I am proud to have marched by his side.
My new
endeavors afford me the opportunity to spend more time
with my family while pursuing my commitment to . . .
small business development.
I am certain that our
paths will cross again, but until then, I wish each of
you the very best for the
future.
Sincerely,
Tierra Kavanaugh
Turner
TKT & Associates, Inc.
2304 Hurstbourne
Village Dr., Ste 800
Louisville, KY 40299
Ph:
502.499.9440
Fax:
502.499.9404
www.tktandassociates.com
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UPCOMING HIGHLIGHTS
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Free Medical Services for Immigrants
July 29,
2006 –
10 am to 3 pm
Dental appointments, physical therapy, praying services.
Professional doctors and nurses will provide services. Free
music, food and drinks, clothing, groceries, aerobic
sessions and school supplies for your children. Refugee
Church in Kentucky, 207 South Hancock St., Louisville, KY.
For more information, call (502) 710-9057. Voluntary
translators are also needed.
27th Annual Indian Artifacts Show
August 4 - 6, 2006
Antique & contemporary Indian artifacts will be on display
in the Executive Inn EXPO Center, Owensboro, KY. Open Friday
from 1-6 pm, Saturday from 8:30 am-5 pm, and Sunday 8:30
am-2 pm.
2006 Champion for Children Award
Nomination Deadline: August 7, 2006
Prevent Child Abuse Kentucky is accepting nominations (Nomination
Form) for the 2006 Champion for Children Award and ask
citizens to please consider colleagues and community
partners and nominate those you feel are deserving of
recognition at the KIDS ARE WORTH IT! conference in
September. Contact Janna Estep (jestep@pcaky.org)
for additional information.
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EDUCATION
OPPORTUNITIES |
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View Scholarship
Opportunities available in Kentucky
Other Available Scholarships:
FastWeb
Fastweb is one of the best websites available for
students who are interested in searching for
scholarships or grants. Using this link, you can
enter specific information about you and your life
situation and the site will match you to potential
scholarships and grants.
Statistics
354,000 Number of
African Americans who earned a high school diploma in
2005.
114,000 Number
of African Americans who dropped out of high school in
the 2004-05 academic year.
1,106,800 Total
number of African Americans enrolled in higher education
in 1980.
2,164,700 Total number of African Americans enrolled in
higher education in 2004.
(Source:
U.S. Bureau of the Census; Reprint from The Journal of
Blacks in Higher Education Weekly Bulletin, 5/25/06,
U.S. Department of Education;
Reprint from The Journal of Blacks in Higher
Education Weekly Bulletin, 6/08/06; http://www.jbhe.com/latest/index.html)
Governor Fletcher Urges Students to Apply for $790
Million in New Grants
Frankfort, Ky.
–
Governor Ernie Fletcher urges qualified Pell
Grant-eligible students to apply for new grants
worth between $750 and $4,000 that will help make
college more affordable. The new
Academic Competitiveness (AC) grants and the
National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain
Talent (SMART) grants provide $790 million in
funding this fall and $4.5 billion over the next
five years.
“In an era of rising cost to attend college, this is
a wonderful opportunity to reward college students
who excelled, while helping to make higher education
more affordable,” said Governor Fletcher.
“These grants will inspire academic excellence and
higher education accessibility while making careers
in science and math more attractive and affordable.
I urge every student to look at the Web site and
check their availability as soon as possible.”
These grants provide further incentive for students
to take more challenging courses in high school and
to pursue college majors in high demand areas, such
as science, math, technology, engineering and
critical foreign languages. The Department of
Education estimates that approximately 500,000
students will qualify to receive these grants.
“Math, science, and critical foreign language skills
are the new currency in our global economy. To
ensure our nation’s economic competitiveness, we
must first expect high academic performance from our
students,” said U.S. Department of Education
Secretary Margaret Spellings. “The new Academic
Competitiveness Grants and SMART Grants encourage
students to take the courses and complete the
degrees to help them compete. As of July 1,
students can visit www.federalstudentaid.ed.gov to
view eligibility information and apply.”
The AC grants provide college students who completed
a rigorous course of study in high school with
additional funds of up to $750 during their freshman
year and up to $1,300 during their sophomore year.
This is in addition to Pell Grant funds students are
already receiving. College juniors and seniors
who are eligible for SMART grants automatically will
receive up to $4,000 in additional aid next year.
To receive an Academic Competitiveness Grant, rising
college freshmen and sophomores must be Pell
Grant-eligible and have completed a program of
rigorous high school course work as defined by their
state and recognized by the U.S. Department of
Education. To receive a SMART Grant, third- and
fourth-year Pell Grant-eligible students must meet
the requirements, major in designated science,
technology, math or critical foreign languages and
maintain a 3.0 GPA.
Students can receive more eligibility and
application information for both of these grant
programs online at
www.federalstudentaid.ed.gov or by calling 1-
800- 4FEDAID (or 1-800-433-3243). For a fact sheet
on the Academic Competitiveness and SMART Grants,
click
here.
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EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES |
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 The mission of the
Commonwealth’s Personnel Cabinet is to take care of
state government employees, as well as, those seeking
employment with the state. Thus, we invite you to peruse
their
website.
We are confident you will find the information
beneficial.
Kentucky State Police
Applications are now being
accepted.
Find out how you can become a Kentucky State Trooper.
Kentucky Department
of Fish & Wildlife Resources:
*
Communications Dispatcher I
* Conservation Education
Program Leader I
* Fisheries Biologist I
*
Conservation Officer
To
learn more about these jobs and how to apply, please
click KDFWR to view their website.
Kentucky Department
of Corrections
The Kentucky
Department of Corrections is seeking applicants for the
following positions:
CORRECTIONAL OFFICER –
Beginning Salary: $22,027.20. DUTIES: Stands watch in
corridors of buildings, towers, and other security
posts. Takes required action during emergencies to
prevent escapes and suppress disorders. Oversees
inmates/patients inside and outside the institution.
Takes periodic counts of inmates/patients. Searches
inmates/patient’s person, mail and quarters for
contraband. Makes written reports on violations on
institutional rules. Takes proper use of weapons.
Transports inmates/patients. MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS: High
school graduate or GED. Must be twenty-one years of age.
PROBATION & PAROLE
OFFICER
- Beginning Salary: $27,483.36. DUTIES:
Supervises and counsels all assigned probationers,
parolees and other designated clientele. Interviews
client to gather information. Maintains dialogue with
client. Investigates and verifies information. Advises
client of legal rights. Formulates, develops and
monitors plan of supervision for client. Acts as liaison
between client and legal and enforcement authorities.
Makes contacts, referrals and arrangements for client’s
housing, employment, education, etc. Prepares and
maintains detailed client records and reports. Provides
testimony and evidence in hearings or trials concerning
violation of terms of probation or parole. When
necessary, arrests and/or transports violators to proper
authority. Prepares all necessary documentation
requested by courts, central office, or Parole Board for
hearings or legal purposes. MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:
Bachelor’s degree. Must be twenty-one years of age.
Hiring for these two positions are on an on-going
basis. For more information on these positions, please
contact Teresa Harris, Recruitment Branch Manager, P.O.
Box 2400, Frankfort, Ky. 40602. Telephone: 502-564-4636;
Fax 502-564-3571; Email at teresa.harris@ky.gov.
The
Department of Corrections is actively involved in the
recruitment and promotion of minorities and is committed
to building a more diversified work force that will best
represent all people, regardless of race or gender. The
Department has worked diligently to promote job fairs
throughout the state with emphasis on minority hiring.
As a result of this endeavor, over 300 new employees
were hired in 2005, with the majority being
African-American. These series of job fairs proved to be
a true testament that carefully planned recruitment
efforts can be successful. For the first time in
history, the Department achieved a record of 11%
African-American female workforce, with total minority
hiring averaging 16.6% in 2005.
For
more information on these positions please
click here.
Kentucky Educational
Television (KET)
Please
click here to see KET Internships
available.
Kentucky
Domestic Violence Association
The
Kentucky Domestic Violence Association is seeking
applicants for the following positions:
DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE ADVOCATE POSITIONS
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The
Domestic Violence
program has two direct service positions available.
Bilingual and Multilingual abilities a plus.
Please contact Diane Fleet at 859.233.0657.
Lexington, KY.
BILINGUAL PERSON FOR DIAGNOSTIC CENTER
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Seeking someone fluent in Spanish and English
that would be interested in a full-time position at the
diagnostic center. It would be helpful to have had
experience as a medical reception, in medical scheduling
and/or billing and collections. Benefits include health
insurance, life and disability insurance and 401k
benefits to all full-time employees. Contact:
Debbie Winslow, Lexington Diagnostic Center and OPEN MRI,
1725 Harrodsburg Road, Suite 100, Lexington, KY
40504, 859-278-7226 phone, 859-276-1540 fax.
VISTA
POSITIONS
- Corporation for
National and Community Service Americorps*VISTA
Positions available. The Americorps*VISTA program is a
network of national service organizations that empower
individuals to give back to their communities.
Seeking applicants who are interested in serving at a
local domestic violence program and helping them to
create or enhance their
asset-development/self-sufficiency program and/or to
help provide general capacity building services such as
fund-raising, public relations, and volunteer
recruitment. In exchange for the year of service,
the successful applicants will receive a living
allowance of $9,708, medical benefits, child care (if
eligible), a $100/mo housing allowance (if applicable)
and earn an education award of $4,725 that can be used
for future education or to repay qualified student
loans. Applicants must have a minimum of a high school
diploma/GED. Experience in working with non-profit
agencies and/or marketing background a plus.
Multilingual and Bilingual individuals are encouraged to
apply. Apply online at
https://recruit.cns.gov
or for more information call: Jessica Hancock,
Kentucky Domestic Violence Association, 502-209-5382.
Positions available statewide.
Kentucky
Council on Postsecondary Education
The
Council on Postsecondary Education (CPE) is a non-merit
agency of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. The Council is
the coordinating agency for postsecondary education and
operates the Kentucky Virtual University, the Kentucky
Virtual Library, and Adult Education. CPE is currently
looking to fill the following positions.
WEBMASTER:
The Webmaster oversees the development of CPE and
eLearning web sites as assigned from concept to
usability analysis and through deployment and beyond in
collaboration with the Communications Unit. The
Webmaster provides analysis of site functionality, user
interfaces, performance, structure, stability and plan
for ongoing site evolution.
Salary:
Mid to upper 40’s with full benefits package.
Qualifications: A Bachelor’s Degree and five years
related experience or an equivalent combination of
education and experience is required. A thorough
working knowledge of the latest Web tools and
techniques, project management, problem solving, and
analytical skills, and the technical skill to
program/code websites that meet and exceed current
federal and state requirements for ADA and Section 508
compliance are required. A working knowledge in .NET
framework is desirable. Thorough working knowledge of
W3C standard markup languages such as XHTML; 1.0, HTML
4.x and presentation languages such as CSS 2.x, and
latest Web techniques Proficiency with WebTrends,
Photoshop, Illustrator, Flash, Dreamweaver, MS Visual
InterDev and SourceSafe JavaScript, DOM levels 1 and 2
and DOM scripting, VBScript, CSS, SQL and ASP. Duties:
include, but are not limited to, the following:
Design, implement and maintain interactive CPE and
eLearning Web sites to meet a complex variety of
educational curriculum, programming, usability and
marketing requirements in collaboration with the
Communications Unit. Provide Web design guidelines,
esp. in separation of structure and presentation, and
serve as a consultant for KYAE, KYVU, and other
eLearning Web sites. Create interface for positive user
experience, including navigation systems, help
functionality, interface look and feel, page flow logic,
accessibility, etc. Monitor Web server and application
performance. Responsible for Web project management. Create monthly Web tracking and activity reports for all CPE and eLearning
Web sites, provide summary reports as necessary, making
recommendations for site improvement. Provide
assistance, support, and training to CPE staff for
editing and updating the CPE Web site in Microsoft
Content Management System. Ensure that Web site
design elements are updated based on W3C standards in a
timely fashion.
Design and improve Web site navigation and flow based on
user tasks and needs. Work with the eLearning Web sites
to ensure the synchronization of CPE and eLearning Web
sites. Work with the CPE Web Steering Committee to
continually improve the CPE Web site. Understand
cross-browser, cross-platform and ADA issues as they
relate to graphics and Web design in collaboration with
the Communications Unit. Make recommendations
concerning hardware/software purchases and training
required for staff to publish in diverse media. Provide
training on CPE developed Web services as required.
Manage all domain names associated with all Web sites.
Perform other tasks as assigned. All applicants
must have official work permit if a non-citizen.
Applicants should send a letter, resume, and names and
contact information for at least three references to:
Pat Sawyer, Director for Human Resources, 1024 Capital
Center Dr., Suite 320, Frankfort, KY 40601, Email:
Patricia.Sawyer@ky.gov.
The deadline for receipt of
resumes is July 28, 2006.
Associate, Web Design and Marketing:
The Associate for Web Design and Marketing reports to
the Director of Communications and is primarily
responsible for developing Web graphic design and online
marketing initiatives.
Salary:
Lower $40,000’s with full benefits package.
Qualifications: Bachelor’s Degree and three years
related experience or an equivalent combination of
education and experience is required. Candidates must
be proficient with HTML, Dreamweaver, Photoshop,
Illustrator, Internet and e-mail marketing, usability
testing/analysis, and database management. Superior
project management, organizational, problem solving,
interpersonal and analytical skills are required. A
demonstrated capacity to relate constructively to users,
willing to work with ambiguities and diverse groups
within a dynamic environment is also required. Must be
proactive and able to work independently, prioritize
work effectively and take projects to completion.
Duties: In conjunction with the Communications
Director and Associate, the Associate for Web Design and
Marketing will oversee the graphic design of the CPE Web
site from concept to implementation and beyond. The
Associate will provide analysis of site functionality
and usability, develop graphic user interfaces, provide
internet and e-mail marketing leadership and support,
and plan for ongoing site evolution. Principle duties
and responsibilities include, but are not limited to,
the following: Lead Web design projects and provide
graphic design, site architecture and html programming
for new Web initiatives and upgrades to existing Web
site. Create graphic interface for positive user
experience, including navigation systems, interface look
and feel, site graphic concept, etc. Develop and
execute online marketing initiatives, including
concepting and design, distribution of e-newsletters,
and management of e-mail lists. Act as liaison with CPE
partners to maximize visibility and use of CPE Web site
through links on partner Web sites, publications, and
online promotions. Publish, monitor, and provide
executive summaries of online surveys.
Create monthly Web
tracking and activity reports for CPE Web site; provide
summary reports to senior staff, making recommendations
for site improvement. Distribute regular updates to
Council staff on site traffic. Conduct periodic
usability testing and analysis on CPE Web sites with
target audiences; Improve Web site navigation and flow
based on resulting user tasks and needs. Work with the
CPE Web Steering Committee and Technology Unit to
continually improve the CPE Web site. Ensure
that all Web site content and Web design elements are
updated in a timely fashion.
Understand
cross-browser, cross-platform and ADA issues as they
relate to graphics and web design. Perform other
tasks as assigned. Interested applicants need to send
a cover letter, resume, three professional references,
and a portfolio that demonstrates exceptional design
sense in electronic form to: Pat Sawyer, Director for
Human Resources, 1024 Capital Center Dr., Suite 320,
Frankfort, KY 40601, Email:
Patricia.Sawyer@ky.gov.
The deadline for
receipt of resumes is 4:30 p.m., July 28, 2006.
AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
M/F/D
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BUSINESS |
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Interested in doing business with the Commonwealth? One
must be registered to do so. All potential vendors
seeking a contract with the Commonwealth and/or wanting
to be notified of opportunities to do business with the
Commonwealth should be registered. Registration allows
vendors the opportunity to identify products and
services they wish to offer to the Commonwealth. In
addition, vendor registration makes it easier for
agencies to find your company. Vendors may register and
review current bid opportunities on the eProcurement
website: https://eprocurement.ky.gov/.
A vendor registering for the first time may go to the
New Vendor Registration section on the eProcurement page
and provide the requested information.
ATTENTION NEW CONTRACTORS!
If you are interested in viewing the
Transportation Cabinets' "Notice to Contractors," please
visit their web page at:
http://transportation.ky.gov/contract/.
This is a listing of all upcoming projects to be bid
upon during the upcoming letting. If you have any
questions, please contact the Transportation Cabinet at
502-564-3500
2006 KSU Roundtable on Entrepreneurship Schedule &
Topics
The Governor’s
Office Boards & Commissions would like to recruit more
minorities for state boards and commissions openings.
If you are interested in being appointed to a state
board and commission, please complete one or both of the
following applications:
Boards & Commissions and
University Boards and Postsecondary Education Council
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GRANTS &
SERVICES
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Below
are some of the grants and services offered through
the commonwealth.
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NEWS OF INTEREST |
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Race Is Not a Major Factor in Decisions on Who Is
Admitted to College
The annual report
State of College Admission
from the National Association for College Admission
Counseling finds that only 2.3 percent of all colleges
place considerable importance on the race or ethnic
background of an applicant when making admissions
decisions. Another 15.5 percent of colleges and
universities place “moderate importance” on race in
their decisions. More than three quarters of all
colleges and universities say that race and ethnicity
have “no importance” on who is, or is not, admitted to
their institutions.
Race was more likely to be considered important by
colleges and universities in New England, the Middle
Atlantic states, and the far western states. Small
colleges were more likely than large universities to
consider race an important factor. Nearly 8 percent of
the colleges and universities that accept fewer than 50
percent of all applicants say that race is of
considerable importance in their admissions decisions.
(Source: The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education
Weekly Bulletin, 5/25/06,
http://www.jbhe.com/latest/index.html)
Harvard Maintains Its Level of Black Enrollments and
Increases Its Number of Low-Income Students
Harvard
College announced that African Americans will make
up 9.3 percent of the freshman class that will
enroll next fall. This is identical to the black
percentage of the freshman class in the 2005-06
academic year, which established a record.
In addition, Harvard’s new financial aid program for
low-income students appears to be having a major impact
in increasing the economic diversity of students who
come to Harvard. The new program eliminates the parental
contribution for all families with incomes below $60,000
and reduces the amount of money that has to be paid by
families with incomes in the $60,000 to $80,000 range.
Harvard reports that 85.3 percent of all students
admitted who were eligible for the new financial aid
program accepted the university’s offer of admission.
The university estimates that 25 percent of the students
in the incoming class will be eligible for funds under
the new Harvard Financial Aid Initiative.
(Source:
The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education Weekly
Bulletin, 5/25/06,
http://www.jbhe.com/latest/index.html)
Governor Ernie Fletcher Appoints Judge William McAnulty to Supreme
Court
Frankfort, Ky. – Governor Ernie Fletcher has
appointed Court of Appeals Judge William E. McAnulty
Jr., to the Kentucky Supreme Court. Judge McAnulty
replaces Justice Martin E. Johnstone, who is
retiring effective June 30.
“For the majority of the last three decades, Judge
McAnulty has tirelessly served the Commonwealth,
giving unselfishly of his time and abilities for the
cause of justice. He is the natural choice for
this appointment, and it is well deserved,” said
Governor Ernie Fletcher.
“This is certainly a historic occasion and long
overdue in Kentucky,” said Chief Judge Sara Combs of
the Kentucky Court of Appeals. “It is good to
see Kentucky breaking ground ahead of many of our
sister states in naming the first African-American
to its highest court. Judge McAnulty has been
a great addition to the Kentucky Court of Appeals.
While we hate to see him leave our ranks, we
nevertheless rejoice at the reason for his
departure.”
Judge McAnulty added, “I am most humbled and honored
to have been selected by Governor Fletcher to
succeed Justice Martin Johnstone on the Kentucky
Supreme Court. This is yet another positive step
toward my goal of serving a full term on Kentucky's
highest court.”
Born in Indianapolis in 1947, Judge McAnulty
received his bachelor’s degree from Indiana
University and his master’s and juris doctorate from
the University of Louisville. He is a member of the
Kentucky Bar Association and the Louisville Bar
Association.
In 1975, Judge McAnulty began his judicial career,
serving first in the Jefferson County Juvenile Court
and then in Jefferson District Court. In 1984, he
was elected to the Jefferson Circuit Court, where he
served until 1990. After a brief tenure of private
practice, Judge McAnulty was appointed to the
Circuit Court Bench in 1993, then to the Kentucky
Court of Appeals in November 1998. In 1998, he
served as chief judge of the Jefferson Circuit
Court.
In 2001, Judge McAnulty was appointed by Chief
Justice Joseph Lambert to chair a committee on
racial fairness, studying whether Jefferson Circuit
Court Judges were making sentencing decisions based
on race. That committee culminated with a report
released in 2005 reminding judges to guard against
allowing race to factor into sentencing decisions.
Judge McAnulty and his wife, Kristi W. McAnulty,
have four children – Patrick, Katheryn,
William III and Shannon.
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HEALTH NEWS |
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Uninsured
Submitted by: Kentucky Department for Public
Health
Contact: Letha Berry, R.N., Division of Adult
& Child Health
What connects a 45-year-old black female in Jefferson
County, a 24 year-old-white female in eastern Kentucky
and a 35-year-old Hispanic migrant farm worker in
Fayette County? The common link is poverty.
Studies have shown that poverty plays a key role in the
health status of an individual. Those who live in
poverty have less healthy diets, exercise less, have
lower educational levels and face many hurdles getting
the medical care they need. Kentucky has 576,500
uninsured; many are overweight with chronic health
problems such as diabetes and high blood pressure. To a
large extent, the 576,500 individuals - or 14.3 percent
of our state’s population - represent once working class
people who are now the state’s working poor. Of the
Kentucky uninsured population:
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35 percent do not have a primary health care
provider, which increases the likelihood of poorer
health outcomes;
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13 percent cite the emergency room as their regular
caregiver; and,
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Many uninsured report they lack the necessary
resources to purchase prescribed medications.
The uninsured can face many barriers attempting to
receive needed healthcare. These include cultural,
financial, educational and racial barriers. The
common thread for the majority of the uninsured is
poverty. According to Healthy Kentuckians 2010
data:
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Kentucky ranks second to last (49th) in the number
of adults who complete high school.
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Thirty-five percent of all those living in poverty
are children.
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County poverty rates reach as high as 64 percent.
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Minority and rural underserved populations are at
risk for increased incidence of heart disease,
diabetes and substance abuse.
Many counties find themselves in a dilemma as they try
to provide needed medical services for the uninsured.
This can be due to residents with poor health status,
high poverty rates in the county and an inadequate
number of health care providers in their area.
Kentucky’s uninsured can find some assistance through
free clinics, local health departments, medical centers,
the Kentucky Physicians Care Program or charitable
health care providers who charge on sliding scales.
However, these providers can quickly become overwhelmed
and overburdened, resulting in delays in receiving
needed care that often lead the uninsured to the
emergency room to seek treatment.
Over the past five years, the number of migrant Hispanic
workers has risen sharply in Kentucky. The
documented Hispanic population in Kentucky has grown
from 20,363 in 1990 to 59,939 in 2000, according to the
U.S. Census Bureau (Census 2000). This increase
poses significant challenges to Kentucky as we attempt
to address the needs of a growing Hispanic population.
Fifty-three percent of the uninsured report they lack
the necessary resources to purchase prescribed
medications. While pharmaceutical companies do have
Patient Assistance Programs available for low-income
people, the complicated paperwork and frequent rule
changes leave many individuals with no means of getting
needed medications, according to the University of
Kentucky Center for Rural Health and Kentucky Long-Term
Policy Research and UK Survey Research Center. There are
also free samples that, at times, are available from
physicians and certain medications available through the
Kentucky Physicians Care Program.
As the number of uninsured Kentuckians continues to
increase, the associated cost to the state in dollars
spent on health care will continue to escalate.
The burden of the uninsured will also affect the
population as a whole, causing it to become less
productive and prosperous.
Osteoporosis
Submitted by: Kentucky Department for Pubic
Health
Contact: Teri Wood, PhD, Division of Adult &
Child Health Improvement
When we’re young, strong bones are something we tend to
take for granted. We assume that our internal framework
will remain sturdy and the strength we have as teenagers
will last throughout our lives. The truth is: that’s
just not the case. As we age, our bones do too.
Many Kentuckians will be stricken with osteoporosis, a
disease characterized by low bone mass and structural
deterioration of bone tissue that often leads to broken
bones and further complications. Still, we are fighting
a battle to get the public to take preventive steps
against this disease.
Like many other health issues, it is believed that
nutrition and lifestyle choices are crucial in
sustaining healthy bone mass and avoiding osteoporosis.
However, it’s just as important to understand the nature
of the disease, who is at risk and the impact on the
human body.
Osteoporosis strikes four times more women than men,
and many misconstrue the disease as a condition that
only afflicts women. In truth, it knows no
barriers, striking both sexes and all ethnic groups.
The most common side effects of osteoporosis are fragile
bones and increased susceptibility to fractures,
especially of the hip, spine and wrist. Perhaps
more troubling, is the nature of the condition.
Many refer to osteoporosis as a “silent” disease,
meaning many people don’t know they have it until a
fracture occurs from a minor bump, fall or strain.
It’s crucial to start taking preventive steps now to
keep this from happening to you.
Research has indicated several risk factors for
osteoporosis to avoid when possible. They include
a lack of calcium and Vitamin D in your diet; lack of
physical activity; low hormone levels (estrogen levels
in females and testosterone in males); and advancing
age. Smoking and drinking also weaken bones as do
certain chronic medical conditions and medications.
If you’re a woman, it’s important to understand that 20
percent of bone mass can be lost in the five to seven
years following menopause, making you more susceptible.
Osteoporosis is thought of as a disease more commonly
seen in the older or elderly population, but it can
strike at any age. It has been reported in all
ethnic backgrounds. In the United States, more
than 10 million people already have the disease.
Another 34 million have low bone density, placing them
at risk. Specifically, 52 percent of
Caucasian women over 50 have low bone mass; 52 percent
of Asian women over 50 have low bone mass; 49 percent of
Hispanic women over 50 have low bone mass; and 35
percent of African-American women over 50 have low bone
mass.
In Kentucky, the statistics are just as alarming.
According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation’s
figures for 2002, 128,000 women in this state had
osteoporosis and 342,000 had low bone mass.
Another 37,300 men had the disease and 223,400 had low
bone mass. The foundation’s projections for 2010
don’t look bright. Trends indicate that 152,100 Kentucky
women will have osteoporosis and 407,400 will have low
bone mass. The number of men with the disease is
estimated to be 45,800 with 229,100 experiencing low
bone mass. Overall, 834,000 Kentuckians are
expected to be affected by this disease, which can have
both painful and life-altering consequences,
particularly among those who suffer hip fractures.
In many cases, people who suffer this type of injury die
within 12 months, usually from complications such as
pneumonia or blood clots in the lung. In less
severe cases, resulting bone fractures still produce
severe pain, functional impairment, and reduced quality
of life. Additional research has shown us that
two-thirds of the people who fracture a hip never regain
their pre-fracture level of independence and the 50
percent who survive hip fracture will need long-term
help with activities of daily living and 15 to 25
percent require full-time nursing home care.
Not only does the disease impact the capabilities with
which we live our lives, it is also making a gargantuan
dent in our nation’s wallet, with osteopathic hip
fractures totaling $18 billion in medical costs in 2002.
In Kentucky, 11,483 patients with osteoporosis were
served by Medicaid in 2005, accounting for $209 million
in direct medical expenditures (not including Medicare,
third party or other payer costs for the disease).
We have to act now to start curbing rates of the
disease. Doing so means making an individual
effort to improve our lifestyles. The Kentucky
Department for Public Health strongly advises including
the recommended amount of calcium and Vitamin D in your
daily diet, getting more physical activity like weight
and resistance training, and avoiding smoking and
drinking alcohol. It’s also important to keep in
mind if you think you might be at risk of developing
osteoporosis, that early detection is very important in
preventing fractures and associated morbities.
Specialized tests called “bone mineral density” are now
available and can detect osteoporosis or the rate of
bone loss before a fracture occurs. Treatment is
available. Of course, it’s best to start
early, adopting a healthy diet and regular exercise into
your life as an adolescent or teenager, but it’s never
too late to start living a healthier life. If
you’re not already doing what you need to take care of
your bones, start immediately. It will be more
than worth it in the long run.
Minority Health Disparities:
Learn more
about what the Cabinet for Health & Family Services
is doing.
View the Cabinet for Health & Family Services (CFHS)
Wellness
Website.
CHFS
Focus on Wellness monthly
newsletter
National Women's
Health Indicators Database
National, regional, state and county data are available by gender,
race, ethnicity and age at the National Women's Health Indicators
Database. The website allows users to customize tables, graphs
and maps.
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PEOPLE OF INTEREST |
Edna Griffin
Civil-rights leader
1909 - 2000
Griffin, who
was born in Kentucky, grew up in New Hampshire as the
daughter of a dairy-farm supervisor. She graduated from
Fisk University in 1933, married a doctor, Stanley
Griffin, and became a schoolteacher. The couple moved to
Des Moines in 1947.
On a hot
July day in 1948 when she sat down at a Des Moines lunch
counter, ordered an ice cream soda she was refused
service because she was black. Katz Drug Store in
downtown Des Moines told Griffin the facility was "not
equipped to serve colored people." At the time she
was with her 1-year-old daughter and two friends.
Griffin led sit-ins and picketed the drugstore, and sued
owner Maurice Katz. The Iowa Supreme Court backed her
claim. Katz was found in violation of an 1884 Iowa
statute making it a crime to discriminate in public
accommodations. In a civil case, an all-white jury
awarded Griffin $1.
Later
Griffin founded a chapter of the Iowa Congress for
Racial Equality and organized Iowans for the march on
Washington led by Martin Luther King Jr. in 1963.
At 75, she went to Nebraska and sat "in the middle of
the highway to stop nuclear warheads from being shipped
into the SAC Army base," she said. She was
named to the Iowa Women's Hall of Fame and the Iowa
African-American Hall of Fame. Des Moines Mayor
Preston Daniels declared May 15 as Edna Griffin Day in
1998. Also in 1998, the Flynn Building, where the
Katz Drug Store was once located, was renamed to honor
Griffin.
(Source:
http://desmoinesregister.com/extras/iowans/griffin.html)
 Junius
Groves
“Potato
King”
1859 - 1925
Born a slave in 1859 in Louisville, Kentucky, Groves
walked to Kansas City at the age of 19. He worked at the
meat packing houses in Armourdale and later moved to
Edwardsville. Here he purchased eighty acres of
land and began to raise white potatoes. His
business prospered and he became known as the "Potato
King of the World" by producing at
one point more potatoes than any other farmer in the
world.
At the height of his success he owned more than five
hundred acres of the finest land in the Kaw Valley that
was easily worth $125 to $250 an acre. Moreover,
the Union Pacific Railway built a special railroad track
that led from Groves’ shipping station to its main line.
Groves and his wife Matilda had 11 children, who all
took an interest in the success of the farm, and built a
20 room mansion. In 1913 he founded the
community of Groves Center, selling small tracts of land
to Black families, which contributed to the exoduster
movement.
Mr. Groves once stated that “I think
our success shows that a Negro can and will make his way
in the world if given a chance. If we could start
with but 75 cents and succeed as we have, other people
of our race can do the same thing.”
(Source:
http://www.kshs.org/people/african_americans.htm#g and
http://www.google.com/search?q=%22Junius+Groves%22&hl=en&lr=&rls=RNWE,RNWE:2005-18,RNWE:en&start=10&sa=N)
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