Initiatives & Programs

Child Fatality Review in KY and the KY AAP

According to the most recent CDR report in Kentucky, unsafe sleep continues to be a large contributor and area focus of child fatalities; the 2022 the Kentucky infant mortality rates overall was an average of 5.77 deaths per 1,000 with African American rates of 11.5 per 1,000. Although the work of the state CDR Team is exemplary, there remains a communication gap between PCP’s and the CDR Team, not only concerning data sharing, but also about obtaining answers and closure for parents who have lost a child. Educating PCP’s on the CDR Team processes (and data produced) along with implementation of efforts to engage PCP’s locally is the objective of this recent KY AAP grant project. In addition, engaging PCP’s in the work of the CDR Team will attempt to augment community advocacy prevention efforts regarding SIDS and safe sleep. The project aims to educate and engage infant health providers in the Commonwealth by expanding the knowledge, communication and engagement between the CDR Team and providers, utilizing 3 main components:

Education: Increasing the number of pediatricians educated about the role of CDR Review and data produced in Kentucky via a live statewide educational session
Information/Data Sharing, through the development and distribution of a “Decade of CDR Data” report shared with infant health providers in the Commonwealth.
PCP Engagement, increasing engagement of local pediatricians, in partnership with the state CDR Team, through improved linkages and community advocacy focused on prevention of SIDS and promotion of safe sleep utilizing NCFRP resources.

Digital Communication Grant to KY AAP

To support the KY AAP and their members in their efforts to educate families and caregivers about the importance of establishing healthy digital habits for their families, the AAP Digital Parenting Tools for Today’s Connected Families program (supported by AT&T) has awarded Kentucky Chapter a grant to educate both pediatricians and families and caregivers about the importance of establishing healthy digital habits for children and adolescents. This program aims to strengthen family awareness and use of the AAP Family Media Plan, AT&T PhoneReady Quiz, and the healthy digital habits toolkit materials through two chapter-led presentations to parents/caregivers of children and adolescents and pediatricians. Adolescent medicine specialist, Dr. Mandakini Sadhir, UK Chair of Adolescent Medicine is the speaker in both webinars.

Suicide Prevention Work Continues

The KY AAP Chapter has been awarded several grants to continue its work on suicide prevention. Most recently, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) have partnered to further youth community suicide prevention efforts of the Suicide Prevention work at the state level. The KY AAP Chapter’s activities will expand to focus on education and advocacy strategies described in the Blueprint for Youth Suicide Prevention. Together, the Chapter and the AAP provide leadership and subject matter expertise in order to engage community members, and support AAP and AFSP chapter activities related to youth suicide prevention. For more information, contact the KY AAP’s Chapter Suicide Prevention Ambassador, Dr. Pat Purcell

Family First Program

Recently, AAP national released Reimagining Child Welfare, an expansive set of federal policy recommendations designed to build upon the foundation of the reforms generated by the AAP-supported Family First Prevention Services Act (Family First) and to address the continued harmful legacy of systemic racism in child welfare policy.

As states begin working to fully implement Family First starting in October 2021, extensive opportunities for enacting needed policy reforms at all levels of government will arise. The KY AAP received a grant to develop an innovative chapter-directed project designed to inform and support meaningful child welfare policy reforms. The 3 goals the chapter hopes to achieve with this proposed project include:

To help pediatricians learn more about Family First legislation and share information on state implementation and other resources
To Help connect and support relative and kin family’s parents to resources in local communities
To promote positive messages around Family First implementation in Kentucky with media, legislators and on social media using #FamilyFirstAct and #FamilyFirstActKY

Project Firstline

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) was awarded funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) through Project Firstline to serve as the National Pediatric COVID-19 Training Center. Project Firstline is a collaboration between the CDC and a diverse group of national organizations, academic health centers, and public health partners. The goal of Project Firstline is to educate all 6 million US health care workers with the foundational understanding of infection prevention and control (IPC) to protect the nation from infectious disease threats, such as COVID-19.

Through this project, the AAP collaborated with chapters in the United States, including the KY AAP. Grants were provided to aid efforts to provide education and training on infection prevention and control (IPC) using Project Firstline curriculum.

Pediatricians Increase Uptake in Vaccinations

The Kentucky AAP lead an AAP funded initiative to increase uptake in pediatric vaccines. Data was gathered by a needs assessment initiative to identify and support the immunization program needs of pediatricians in the state. The Chapter worked initially with AAP to develop a needs assessment tool and disseminated this in survey form to more than 950 members. Following that survey the results were summarized and a pediatric Task Force/Focus Group reviewed the results of the assessment. They discussed ways to implement a state plan of action with the goal of building capacity to elevate immunization coverage levels for vaccine preventable diseases in the Commonwealth. Their recommendation was to focus on getting families back to the office with routine well visits using EMR reminder systems, simultaneously capturing patients for immunizations. Then, the Chapter developed an electronic flip book, Immunization Reminder and Recall Systems -7 Tips for Your Practice. The flip book contained AAP and other national resources about using reminder and recall systems and was distributed to all Chapter members and is posted to our Pediatric Resource section of our Members Only section of the kyaap.org website.

KY AAP – Part of the Solution–National Gun Violence Awareness Day

The KY AAP has entered into a partnership with a local non-profit organization, Whitney/Strong. Both organizations have similar goals, to reduce gun violence. During the current pandemic and corresponding shelter-in-place guidance, there is an increase in risk for the experience of gun violence and family violence. Whitney/Strong has donated 5,000+ gun safe locks to the KY AAP for distribution into our state’s pediatric offices.

Note: This project was completed in November 2021.

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2 grant funded programs have recently been completed: 1 focusing on Bullying Prevention and 1 on Increasing HPV Rates.

Program 1- Bullying Prevention:

Tap, Temper and Transform: “Ambassatricians” partner with Kentucky teens to reshape their digital landscape, reduce bullying and improve school safety

This project was a learning opportunity and local collaborative “Amabassatrician” partnership between teens, local schools and pediatricians, a first of its kind in Kentucky! The program model has the future potential to be reproduced nationally in order to foster a reduction in teen bullying and increase in safe school environments.

The KY AAP trained pediatricians on the most updated information regarding the current teen digital landscape. The project built a new and collaborative partnership between teens, pediatricians, and schools (going virtual due to COVID-19). Because pediatricians are the most trusted experts regarding the delivery of health information for youth and families, this project capitalized on this influence, pairing pediatrician knowledge and expertise with real world scenarios offered by teens. The Chapter led this effort by facilitating pediatrician and school partnerships and creating an innovative training concluding with an “Ambassatrician” certificate for pediatrician participants.

The following activity was integral to the project:

Completion of a 60 minute online webinar, Getting Teens Talking. This training guided pediatricians through current information on teen digital landscapes while also providing effective strategies for hosting a virtual community teen Roundtable discussion.

Upon completion of the webinar, pediatricians received an “Ambassatrician” certificate for posting in clinical offices. Pediatricians who evolunteered to host a virtual Roundtable discussion completed e this webinar training. (Webinar is no longer active.)

*5 Teen Round Table discussions were conducted virtually in May of 2021 and led by Pediatricians who participated in the Ambassatrician grant program. There was a genuine back and forth dialogue between pediatrician facilitators and teen participants. Each session covered similar material. However, the teens varied in how they articulated the current state of their digital landscapes. They had some amazing and interesting things to share and demonstrated real maturity and responsibility around this subject. Some shared their own experience or knowledge of cyberbullying. Summaries of the Round Table sessions are available for KY AAP Members to view on our website by choosing ‘Membership’ from the main menu, then under ‘Professional Resources’ choose ‘Teen Roundtable Discussions’ (member login required).

Roundtable Planning and Event Materials:

Getting Teens Talking, Copy of Presentation Slides for Pediatricians
Roundtable Resources for Pediatrician Roundtable Moderators
Roundtable Resources for Teen Panelists and Parents

Progam 2- HPV Vaccine

Improving HPV Rates in Scott, Harrison and Nicholas Counties

The focus of this grant project work was to establish a process in identified school districts to effectively track immunizations utilizing a Kentucky public school portal system called Infinite Campus and gather real time data for vaccinations, raise awareness about HPV vaccination and, train providers to using motivational interviewing techniques to address vaccine hesitancy among caregivers.

The Kentucky AAP Chapter collaborated with the University of Kentucky Department of Pediatrics Division of Adolescent Medicine clinic for this pilot project “Rowing Together with OARS” UK Adolescent Medicine Clinic will form active partnerships with local health departments of Harrison, Nicholas and Scott counties as well as school district in these counties. As part of the project, several workshops were conducted to raise awareness among school nurses and staff about importance of HPV vaccination, current dose recommendation and how to record HPV vaccination in the school portal system.

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Recently Completed Program: E-Cigarette Webinar & Warning in 9 Label Challenge

Round 1 Warning in 9 Label Winners!
Melissa Hansford, MD, FAAP
Lauren Blackwell, DO, FAAP
Patricia Purcell, MD, FAAP
David Katz, MD, FAAP
Heather Felton, MD, FAAP
Stephanie Lynch, MD, FAAP
Jeffrey Grill, MD, FAAP

REQUEST FREE E-CIG WARNING POSTER SETS HERE
*A set includes each of the 7 posters shown above (8.5 x 8.5)

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THE KY AAP OPIOID PREVENTION PROJECT

The KY AAP in partnership with the Department for Public Health is piloting a new educational and awareness program focusing on prevention activities for pediatricians.

This Educational Program is Funded by the Kentucky Opioid Response Effort – a Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) grant awarded to the Department for Behavioral Health, Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities with the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services. A Special Thank You to Our CME Partnering Organization, Norton Healthcare.

The Mighty 3M’s: Message, Manage and Minimize!
Preventing Opioid Abuse in the Primary Care Setting

The Chapter recently completed this program. The enduring materials are no longer accessible. However, the following helpful resources are available to you:

– Search for a drug disposal location near you
– Find an authorized local collector. Contact the DEA Office of Diversion Control’s Registration Call Center at (800) 882-9539
– View the FDA guide “How to Dispose of Unused Medicines”
– View the FDA “Disposal of Unused Medicines: What You Should Know”

Fast Facts:

More than 70 percent of people misusing opioid analgesics are getting them from family and friends–sharing opioids is illegal and may be deadly.
Families need to be reminded to store medicines out of reach from children and to never share prescription(s) with anyone.
Physicians should recommend families use pharmacy and law enforcement “take back” resources whenever possible.
Physicians need to educate families about treatment resources available in Kentucky.

2017 AAP HP2020 Grant Awarded to the Kentucky Chapter

In an effort to address the rising e-cigarette use (among both youth and young adults) the Chapter has been awarded a grant to address e-cigarette prevention through pediatrician education, including a FDA WARNING in 9 Label Challenge, integrated into the education curriculum and resulting in an Instagram ad/office poster campaign.

The program will consist of two components. Part 1 educating pediatricians, using resources from the AAP Julius Richmond Tobacco Center, about the composition, marketing, regulation and health effects relative to e-cigarettes and, to understand the preventative strategies and techniques to use with patients and families within the office setting. Part 2 applying that knowledge toward a fun Warning Label Challenge. Using the 9-word format of the current generic FDA mandated label (This product contains nicotine. Nicotine is an addictive chemical), and creatively modifying the warning language to reflect the real dangers of e-cigarette use (i.e.WARNING: Fun Flavors Help Capture Youth As Lifelong Tobacco Users). The top 10 Warning Challenge Label entries will be featured in future marketing campaigns targeted toward youth in the Commonwealth.

No Hit Zone

Through a new partnership between the Kentucky Chapter of the AAP, the Kosair Children’s Hospital Child Abuse Task Force and the UofL Department of Pediatrics, the KY AAP and its child abuse and neglect leaders are now offering access to materials, training and support to any physician office, clinic or hospital interested in becoming a No Hit Zone.

We invite you to learn more about what it means to be a No Hit Zone, a program originally created by Lolita McDavid, M.D., professor of pediatrics at Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital, in 2005 and implemented at Kosair Children’s Hospital in October 2012. Put simply, a No Hit Zone is an environment in which “no adult shall hit another adult, no adult shall hit a child, no child shall hit an adult and no child shall hit another child.”

No Hit Zone Toolkit elements:

KY AAP Letter – explaining the partnership and project with invitation to all KYAAP Chapter members to participate.
Access to the No Hit Zone Powerpoint which can be presented to practices live if desired.
Brochure Art – please see order form link and note the front insert “your practice name here”
Poster Art – please see order form link
Order Form for practices to order personalized materials. Please print out the form and mail in. KY AAP members can order 250 brochures 10 small and 2 large posters for $275.