Kentucky.gov

Below you will find a list of recent press releases.  Click on the title to view the full text of the press release.

To view more headlines or archived press releases, use the green navigation options on the left.

• Food Code Changes Take Effect in May
  Thursday, February 04, 2010
  The Kentucky Department for Public Health (DPH) continues to work with the state’s food industry to bring proprietors up-to-date on newly adopted food safety regulations that take effect in May. DPH is in the process of conducting regional trainings for local health departments to educate food inspectors about changes to the code. The Kentucky Association of Milk, Food and Environmental Sanitarians also will host industry training on the new food code at its annual meeting on Feb. 16.
• Kentucky Awarded $2 Million for e-Health Project
  Friday, January 29, 2010
  Kentucky has received more than $2 million to plan an incentive program for Medicaid health care providers to implement electronic health record systems in their practices. The money, part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), was awarded by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
• Kentucky to Take Part in National Drug Use Survey
  Thursday, January 28, 2010
  A federal agency that monitors substance abuse and prevention will conduct a survey in Kentucky and other states over the course of 2010 to gather information on the prevalence of drug use in American society.
• Public Health Launches Child Care Health Consultation Helpline
  Monday, January 25, 2010
  The Kentucky Department for Public Health has launched a toll-free helpline to assist child care providers and other child care consultants across the state.
• H1N1 Influenza (Swine Flu) Public Hotline Closing
  Friday, January 22, 2010
  FRANKFORT, Ky. (Jan. 22, 2010) – The Kentucky Department for Public Health (DPH) announced that the toll-free influenza hotline created to answer questions about H1N1 (swine flu) and seasonal flu is closing due to decreased call volume. Kentuckians are encouraged to contact their local health department or visit the Health Alerts Web site at http://healthalerts.ky.gov for up-to-date information about swine flu and where to receive the swine flu vaccine.
• Volunteer Commission Names New Executive Committee
  Friday, January 22, 2010
  The Kentucky Commission on Community Volunteerism and Service (KCCVS) has named its new executive committee. KCCVS is a statewide, bipartisan group comprised of at least 15 members, appointed by the governor, with diverse service and volunteerism backgrounds. The members select the commission’s executive officers.
• National Report Gives Kentucky High Marks for Outcomes in Child Welfare and Public Assistance; Council of State Governments study indicates children in foster care are safe
  Friday, January 22, 2010
  Kentucky’s human services programs were ranked among the best in a recently released series of national reports. The Lexington-based Council of State Governments (CSG), in partnership with the Urban Institute, has released the first reports from its State Comparative Performance Measurement Project. These studies focus on performance measures for child welfare including foster care and adoptions, food stamps and public assistance, known as the Kentucky Transitional Assistance Program (K-TAP).
• Radon Awareness Should Last Year-Round
  Thursday, January 21, 2010
  Gov. Steve Beshear has officially proclaimed January Radon Awareness Month across the state, and the Cabinet for Health and Family Services Radon Program and other agencies are urging Kentuckians to learn more about the dangers of radon, particularly in the home.
• Kentuckians Urged to Get H1N1 Flu Vaccination During National Influenza Vaccination Week
  Tuesday, January 12, 2010
  FRANKFORT, Ky. (Jan. 12, 2010) – Governor Steve Beshear has proclaimed National Influenza Vaccination Week (NIVW) in Kentucky Jan. 10-16. The Kentucky Department for Public Health (DPH) is encouraging Kentuckians to get vaccinated against H1N1 influenza (swine flu) during the observance.
• Health and Family Services Names New Inspector General
  Tuesday, January 05, 2010
  Mary R. Begley, ombudsman of the Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS), has been named as the Cabinet’s Inspector General.
• Take Steps to Avoid Hypothermia This Winter
  Tuesday, January 05, 2010
  With low temperatures, icy conditions and power outages around the state, many Kentuckians could be exposed to harsh winter elements. To prepare for these conditions, Kentucky Department for Public Health (DPH) officials are emphasizing the importance of limiting exposure to the cold and taking other necessary steps to prevent hypothermia.
• Federal, State Officials Visit Kentucky to Celebrate WIC Project; Pilot Project Successfully Tests Electronic Benefit System for Nutrition Program
  Friday, December 18, 2009
  Federal and state officials, including United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Deputy Under Secretary Janey Thornton, visited Glasgow and Bowling Green today to recognize the ongoing efforts of the Kentucky Department for Public Health (DPH) and the Barren River District Health Department in establishing an improved system for the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program.
• Kentucky Scores Eight out of 10 Key Indicators in National Emergency Health Preparedness Report
  Friday, December 18, 2009
  A new report released by the Trust for America’s Health (TFAH) ranks Kentucky as achieving a score of eight out of 10 criteria used to measure states’ preparedness to respond to public health emergencies and acts of bioterrorism.
• State Child Support Office Receives $156,000 Grant
  Monday, December 14, 2009
  A federal grant will allow the state agency responsible for child support enforcement to provide better Web-based educational information to clients.
• Survey to Assess H1N1 (Swine Flu) Vaccine Availability to Kentuckians
  Friday, December 11, 2009
  FRANKFORT, Ky. (Dec. 11, 2009) – The Kentucky Department for Public Health (DPH) is asking that Kentucky residents take a new online survey about availability and related issues involving the H1N1 (swine flu) vaccine.
• New Regulation Requires Certification for Personal Services Agencies
  Thursday, December 10, 2009
  Personal services agencies must now obtain certification from the Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS), as the result of a recent state regulation.
• Fewer Kentucky Vendors Are Selling Tobacco Products to Minors
  Wednesday, December 02, 2009
  Kentucky vendors have reached record-level compliance with a state law preventing tobacco sales to minors, according to a recently released survey from the Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS).
• Public Health Marks World AIDS Day
  Tuesday, December 01, 2009
  The Kentucky Department for Public Health is recognizing Dec. 1 as World AIDS Day, an observance set aside on the same day each year to raise HIV and AIDS awareness, increase HIV education and fight HIV stigma and discrimination. This year’s World AIDS Day theme is Universal Access and Human Rights. The theme’s focus is ensuring access to HIV prevention services, medication and timely, effective HIV treatment and care services to infected people.
• State Announces Top-Performing Child Support Contractors
  Monday, November 30, 2009
  The Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS) has announced the state’s 20 top-performing child support contracting officials and one that made significant improvement during the past year. The winners were announced earlier this month in Louisville at the Child Support Conference, which was sponsored by the CHFS Child Support Enforcement Program (CSE).
• State Health Department Announces New Mobile Medical Pharmacy Unit
  Tuesday, November 24, 2009
  The Kentucky Department for Public Health (DPH) and the Kentucky Pharmacists Association (KPhA) announced today that a new mobile pharmacy unit has been acquired to provide pharmaceutical services in support of disasters and emergencies.