WE TALK TODAY WITH THE SECRETARY OF KENTUCKY CABINET FOR HEALTH AND FAMILY SERVICES IN CHARGE OF MANAGING SERVICES AND PROGRAMS AND DEPARTMENTS IN THE AREA OF CHILD CARE AND PROTECTION, SUBSTANCE USE, MEDICAID SERVICES, PIB HEALTH AND SO MUCH MORE.

A CONVERSATION WITH ERIC FRIEDLANDER ABOUT THE UPTICK IN COVID NUMBERS, DRUG ABUSE AND HOW TO IMPROVE THE WORK LOAD AND PAY OF SOCIAL WORKERS AND MORE.

THAT'S HOW NOW ON CONNECTIONS.

>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR CONNECTIONS TODAY.

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU.

I'M RENEE SHAW.

AS HEAD OF THE STATE HEALTH CABINET, ERIC FRIEDLANDER LEADS A 17.5 BILLION-DOLLAR, WITH A B, BUDGET, THE CABINET, TO SERVE KENTUCKIANS AND ITS 93 AGENCIES AND DEPARTMENTS WITH MORE THAN 8,000 EMPLOYEES WHERE SOME OF KENTUCKY'S MOST SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGES ARE ADDRESSED.

WHETHER IT'S SUBSTANCE USE, VACCINATION AND DISEASES OR PROTECTING CHILDREN FROM ABUSE.

KENTUCKY IS FACING A SHORTAGE OF SOCIAL WORKERS.

WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THAT, TRYING TO REVERSE THE RISE IN OPIOID ADDICTION AND MANAGE THE GREATEST GLOBAL PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS IN A CENTURY.

WE HAVE A LOT TO TALK WITH SECRETARY FRIEDLANDER.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH Mr. SECRETARY FOR BEING WITH US.

MY PLEASURE.

THANK YOU.

>> A LOT TO GET OUT.

ALL THE THINGS THAT THIS CABINET DOES, THE LARGEST IN STATE GOVERNMENT AND THE MOST CRUCIAL CHALLENGES FACE P THIS STATE.

YOU ARE TRYING TO HEAD OFF IN SOME WAY.

ONE THING THAT I DID NOT MENTION, IN THAT INTRO WAS THE TORNADOES.

AND NOT JUST THE FIRST ROUND THAT AFFECTED KENTUCKY BUT THE SECOND ROUND THAT CAME RIGHT ON THE HEELS OF THE NEW YEAR.

CAN YOU TALK ABOUT WHAT IS YOUR CABINET'S RESPONSE TO THESE EXTREME UNUSUAL WEATHER EVENTS?

>> THANK YOU FOR THAT.

I'M VERY PROUD OF THE CABINET'S RESPONSE AND STATE GOVERNMENT'S RESPONSE.

WE, AT THE CABINET, HAVE ALL THE ELIGIBILITY PROGRAMS, SNAP, FOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS WE ARE GETTING READY TO ROLL OUT THE DISASTER SNAP PROGRAM.

WE HAVE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PIECES THAT WE PARTNER WITH OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS.

THERE ARE THOSE KINDS OF RESPONSES.

OUR DEPARTMENT OF AGING AND INDEPENDENT LIVING HAS BEEN MAKING SURE THAT WE GET MEDICATIONS TO FOLKS THAT ARE HOME BOUND AND IDENTIFY THE HOME BOUND FOLKS, MAKE SURE WE ARE IN TOUCH WITH THEM.

OUR VOLUNTEERISM PROGRAM HAS BEEN GOING OUT AND BRINGING IN VOLUNTEERS AND HELPING WITH THAT.

OUR FRISKIES HAVE BEEN HELPING COORDINATE SOME OF THE RESPONSES IN THE SCHOOLS AND GOING OUT AND DOING GREAT THINGS AND BY THE WAY, YOU KNOW, HOW WE SIGN UP AND CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES AND ALL OF THAT AND THE PUBLIC HEALTH PIECE OF THE FOLKS WHO HAVE BEEN GIVING AGAIN AND AGAIN ALL THROUGH COVID AND HAVING ANOTHER ANOTHER EMERGENCY RESPONSE ON TOP OF AN EMERGENCY RESPONSE WHO HAVE BEEN COORDINATING THAT RESPONSE ON THE GROUND, WORKING WITH EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS FOLKS.

IT IS A COMPREHENSIVE PIECE.

I TRAVELED TO WESTERN KENTUCKY TO VISIT SOME OF THE SOCIAL WORKERS.

Dr. STACK WENT DOWN TO TALK TO SOME OF THE HEALTH DEPARTMENTS.

COMMISSIONER MORRIS OVER BEHAVIORAL HEALTH HAS TALKED TO THE COMPREHENSIVE CARE CENTER FRIENDS AND IT'S JUST DEVASTATING DOWN THERE AND IN TALKING TO THE FOLKS IN SOCIAL SERVICES, THE REGIONAL ADMINISTRATOR DOWN THERE, I'VE KNOWN FOR YEARS AND SHE WAS VERY EMOTIONAL TALKING TO ME, WE WERE LOOKING AT THEIR OFFICES THAT HAD BEEN BLOWN AWAY.

SOCIAL WORKERS AS WE WERE TALKING TO COULD HARDLY GET OUT A COUPLE OF SENTENCES WITHOUT CRYING.

IT IS PROBABLY THE GREATEST SWATH OF DEVASTATION I'VE EVER SEEN.

>> Renee: HARD TO COMPREHEND AND HAVING GONE THROUGH THE AREA SEPARATELY, IT IS STILL, EVEN AFTER THESE FEW WEEKS, IT'S STILL JUST UNIMAGINABLE.

BUT WE HAVE HAD SOME REDEEMING CASES OF TWO TODDLERS FOUND IN THE BATH TUB AND HEROICKISM OF OFFICIALS DOING THAT WORK AND THE FOLKS THAT YOU MENTIONED IN SOCIAL SERVICES GIVING SACRIFICIAL SERVICE WHEN THEY THEMSELVES STAND IN NEED THEET TIMES ARE CERTAINLY CRITICAL FOR KENTUCKY.

I WANT TO REVISIT THE POINT ABOUT DISASTER SNAP.

THE FOOD STAMP PROGRAM.

WHAT DOES ITER MEAN IN TERMS OF THIS PARTICULAR SITUATION?

>> SO BEGINNING JANUARY 5 FOR A WEEK, SO WE MAY HAVE SOME PROGRAM COME ON AFTER THAT BUT IT ALLOWS FOR FOLKS WHO DON'T NORMALLY GET SNAP TO CLAIM SOME FOOD BENEFIT ASSISTANCE IF THEY HAVE LOST THEIR JOB, LOST WAGES, LOST FOOD DUE TO POWER OUTAGES, REQUEST IF THEY HAVE STORM RELATED COSTS AND EXPENSES, THEY CAN BE ELIGIBLE TO GET ASSISTANCE FROM US IT'S JUST GOING ON LINE SIGNING UP THROUGH THE CONNECT PAGE OR PHONE NUMBER.

EITHER ONE.

WE WANT TO GET FOLKS HELP.

>> Renee: SOME PEOPLE WOULD SAY IT'S VERY DIFFICULT FOR ME TO GET ONLINE, PARTICULARLY IN THE AREAS WHERE THEY MAY STILL BE TRYING TO RESTORE THAT TYPE OF SERVICE.

ARE THERE BUTS ON THE GROUND TO NAVIGATE THAT AS WELL ALL OF OUR OFFICES THAT REMAIN OPEN WILL PROCESS THAT DISASTER SNAP PROGRAM, IN PARTICULAR IN DAWSON SPRINGS, WE HAVE A FACILITY CALLED OUTWOOD WHERE WE ARE SETTING UP AN OFFICE UP THE HILL FROM DAWSON SPRINGS AND IN MAYFIELD, WE ARE WITH THE TUMP AREA DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT OFFICE WHERE WE WILL HAVE FOLKS WHO CAN PROCESS IN PERSON.

>> Renee: HOW LONG WILL THE BENEFITS LAST?

>> FOR A MONTH OR TWO.

THAT'S ALL THEY'RE DESIGNED TO DO, JUST TO HELP WITH RECOVERY.

AND HOPEFULLY MAYBE THERE IS MORE AID COMING THAT THE KENTUCKY STATE LEGISLATURE WHO AT THE TIME WE WERE TAPING THIS ON MONDAY, THEY HAD NOT CONVENED BUT WHEN IT AIRS SUNDAY, THEY WILL HAVE BEEN IN FOR A WEEK'S TIME.

HOPEFULLY THERE WILL BE SOME RELIEF EFFORTS THAT COME FROM THERE AS WELL AS WHAT IS ALREADY COMING FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT A LOT OF ASSISTANCE FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND FOR FOLKS TO SIGN UP WORKING WITH THE KENTUCKY HOUSING CORPORATION HOW TO GET MORE HOUSING.

>> HOW DO YOU EVEN KNOW WHERE TO START?

>>ITE ONE OF THOSE THINGS WE ARE YOU JUST HAVE TO BEGIN.

THERE IS GOING TO BE SUCH A LONG JOURNEY, THIS ISN'T SOMETHING WE GET THROUGH IN A MONTH OR TWO.

THIS IS A LONG-TERM RECOVERY THE AMOUNT OF THE DESTRUCTION AND THE NUMBER OF HOUSES THAT HAVE BEEN LOST, IT'S GOING TO BE A WHILE FOR US TO RECOVER.

AND WE ARE GOING TO BE THERE, RIGHT?

WE ARE GOING TO BE THERE FOR THE LONG-TERM.

WE HAVE TO BE.

>> Renee: ONE OF THE THINGS WHEN WE DID A SPECIAL PROGRAM ABOUT THE AFTERMATH OF THE TORNADOES, AND WE TALKED ABOUT THE FAMILY RESOURCE AND YOUTH SERVICE CENTERS.

FRIS SCS.

THE SCHOOLS HAVE BEEN A PLACE OF REFUGE FOR FOLKS THAT HAVE BEEN DISPLACED AND PROVIDING SHELTER AND FOOD AND ALL KINDS OF SERVICES.

SO WITHOUT THE CENTERS, WHAT WHOLE OF SERVICES WOULD BE THERE?

>> RIGHT.

I HAVE BEEN AT THE CABINET SINCE 1985.

AND WAS BRIEFLY OVER THE FRISKY PROGRAM.

>> Renee: OF COURSE.

[LAUGHTER] EVERY MAJOR DEPARTMENT I THINK YOU HAVE HAD.

MAYBE NOT THE HEAD BUT YOU KNOW IT WELL.

>> RIGHT AND THE PROGRAM DESIGNED TO DO ACTUALLY JUST THIS, TO BRING THOSE SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL SERVICES INTO THE SCHOOL SYSTEM TO HELP WITH LEARN CAN BUT HERE IS A DISASTER WHERE THEY HAVE BEEN CRITICAL FOR COORDINATING RESPONSES IN THE SCHOOLS AND HAVING THE SCHOOLS THERE, THE PHYSICAL PRESENCE THERE BECAUSE REALLY OUR SCHOOLS WERE BY AND LARGE UNDAMAGED, TO BE ABLE TO BE THAT ANCHOR FOR THE COMMUNITY, I THINK, IS REALLY FANTASTIC AND HOW CAN WE CONTINUE TO DO THAT.

>> Renee: IT WAS A BLESSING THAT THOSE SCHOOLS, IF THEY DID SUSTAIN SOME DAMAGE, IT WAS MINOR SO THAT IS WONDERFUL.

>> ON TOP OF THAT, YOU ARE DEAL WITHING WITH A GLOBAL HEALTH PANDEMIC ONCE IN A CENTURY, ALTHOUGH WE SEEM TO BE OUTPACING MAYBE THE SPANISH FLU, WE ARE ON OUR THIRD YEAR NOW AND OF COURSE OVER THE HOLIDAYS AND SPIKE IN NUMBERS, OUR POSITIVITY RATE AT THE TIME WE HAVE SPOKEN IS AS HIGH AS IT HAS EVER BEEN.

>> YES.

>> Renee: WHAT IS THE CONCERN FROM THE CABINET ABOUT THE SUSTAINABILITY OF THE UPTICK AND ARE YOU OPTIMISTIC THAT MAYBE BECAUSE THIS PARTICULAR VARIANT DOESN'T YIELD THE SEVERE ILLNESS AND DEATH AS PREVIOUS ITERATIONS THAT THERE ARE SILVER LININGS AND BRIGHT SPOTS AHEAD.

>> SO HARD TO SAY BECAUSE WE HAVE LOW VACCINATION RATES, PARTICULARLY ACROSS AGE GROUPS, PARTICULARLY IN CHILDREN AND YOU KNOW, THE CONCERN IS THAT NOW WE ARE ACTUALLY, IN KENTUCKY, STARTING TO SEE INCREASE IN HOSPITALIZATIONS STARTING TO SEE INCREASE IN ICU USAGE AND STARTING TO SEE FOLKS WHO ARE FULL ALREADY, AND THIS IS REALLY WHAT WE SEE IS JUST THIS SPIKE.

AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE ARE SEEING IN OTHER COUNTRIES, IT IS AN UNPRECEDENTED INCREASE AND SO CONTINUING TO MASK UP, PLEASE GET VACCINATE UNDERSTAND AND GET YOUR CHILDREN VACCINATED.

>> Renee: AND IF IT'S TIME FOR A BOOSTER.

>> YES.

>> Renee: IS THE DEFINITION OF FULLY VACCINATED TO CHANGE TO INCLUDE THE BOOSTER?

WHEN WE SAY FULLY VACCINATED, WE USED TO SAY THE COMPLETION OF THE SERIES BUT NOW IS THE SERIES GOING TO CONTAIN THE BOOSTER AND MAYBE SUBSEQUENT BOOSTERS?

>> MY CRYSTAL BALL IS NEVER VERY GOOD BUT WHEN I ASK PEOPLE IF THEY'RE VACCINATED AND I'M GOING TO SIT DOWN AND PERHAPS, YOU KNOW, IN THIS KIND OF SITUATION ARE YOU VACCED AND BOOSTED?

I ALWAYS ASK THAT QUESTION.

SO I THINK IT'S AN IMPORTANT QUESTION TO ASK.

WELL, SUSAN DUNLAP IN YOUR OFFICE WAS KIND ENOUGH TO SEND THE INFORMATION ABOUT SOME OF THE NUMBERS AND THESE NUMBERS ARE STILL HOLDING, ICU BEDS FULL LAST WEEK IN KENTUCKY, 92%, WESTERN CACT BAPTIST 93%.

100% ON OUR LADY OF LOURDES IN PA CUBING A-- PADUCAH IN BOWLING GREEN.

IF THIS PARTICULAR ITERATION IS SUPPOSED TO BE LESS SEVERE, WHY IS IT OUR HOSPITALS ARE AT CAPACITY?

IS IT BECAUSE IT'S STRIKE THE YOUNGER CHILDREN MORE SEVERELY WHO ARE NOT VACCINATED?

>> IT REALLY IS THE FOLKS WHO ARE NOT VACCINATED HAVING THE MOST SEVERE OUTCOMES.

EVEN AT CERTAIN POINTS, 90% OF THE FOLKS WHO ARE IN HOSPITAL WHY UNVACCINATED, I THINK WE ARE AROUND 70 OR 80% WHO ARE UNVACCINATED TAKING UP THOSE BEDS IT IS STILL SO VERY IMPORTANT TO GET VACCINATED EVEN IF YOU ARE I WERE TO COME ACROSS AND TEST POSITIVE AT THIS POINT, IF WE ARE VACCINATED AND BOOSTED, THE CHANCES OF US GOING TO THE HOSPITAL EVEN OVER 60 FOR ME ARE MUCH, MUCH LESS.

IT'S STILL IMPORTANT DO THAT.

YOU HEAR FOLKS, THE PERSON WHO IS VACCINATED, THEY GOT OMICRON, RIGHT?

THEY GOT COVID IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO BE MILD AND IT'S IMPORTANT TORE TESTED SO MANY OF US TESTED A LOT DURING THE HOLIDAYS AND WILL CONTINUE AS SETTINGS CHANGE AND WORK CHANGES SO WHAT ARE YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE TESTING AND WE KNOW THAT AT HOME KITS.

WE'VE HEARD A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT THE RELIABILITY OF AT HOME KITS, ACCESSIBILITY OF THEM AND ANTIGEN TESTS VERSE PCR TESTS.

>> I WOULD LEAVE SOME OF THAT TO Dr. STACK.

>> Renee: WE HAVE A REQUEST IN FOR Dr. STACK.

>> VERY GOOD, BUT WHAT I'LL SAY IS THAT AT HOME TESTS REALLY THEY ARE HOPEFUL, I'VE TAKEN A COUPLE OF AT HOME TESTS AND SO AND I TRUSTED THEM.

>> I PARTICULARLY TRUST THE NEGATIVE YOU CAN HAVE A FEW MORE FALSE POSITIVES AND THAT'S THE WAY THE TEST LEANS, WHICH IS PERFECT.

AND SO I DID THAT.

I WENT TO A WALGREEN'S AND GOT RAPID TEST.

IT IS KIND OF THAT SERIES.

AND MAKING SURE THAT PARTICULARLY IF YOU ARE GOING TO BE WITH A GROUP OF FOLKS OR, YOU KNOW, IT'S SO MUCH BETTER TO GET TESTED.

>> Renee: WHAT CAN BE DONE TO INSTILL OR BUILD PUBLIC CONFIDENCE IN THE VACCINATION, PARTICULARLY AMONG THOSE WHO HAVEN'T.

AND WOULD IT BE YOUR POSITION IF PEOPLE HAVEN'T GOTTEN VACCINATED, EVEN A SINGLE SHOT AT THIS POINT, THEY JUST WON'T.

>> NEVER GIVE UP HOPE.

WHEN WHAT CAN WE SAY TO HELP PEOPLE GET VACCINATED 70% OF THE PEOPLE IN THE HOSPITALS ARE UNVACCINATED.

THAT'S JUST TRUE.

I DON'T KNOW HOW TO SAY ANYTHING ELSE.

SOMETIMES IT'S INDIVIDUAL STORIES THAT HELP.

I KNOW FOLKS WHO HAVE LONG COVID, SEVERAL FRIENDS, AND IT IS NOT-- IT IS NOT PLEASANT.

>> Renee: THE EXTENT OF THAT IS YET TO BE TOLD.

>> WE JUST DON'T KNOW.

I GET WORRIED BECAUSE IF YOU LOSE YOUR SENSE OF SENSE OF SMELL AND TASTE, THAT'S YOUR BRAIN.

THAT'S YOUR SENSES, THAT'S SERIOUS.

SO I GET VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THAT.

BUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO SAY.

OUR CHILDREN 5-11 UNDER 3% ARE VACCINATED.

THERE ARE SOME COUNTIES WHERE NO CHILDREN IN THAT AGE GROUP ARE VACCINATED.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY WHEN IT'S YOUR CHILDREN.

SO DON'T GIVE UP HOPE.

>> Renee: THE RETURN TO SCHOOL, WHICH WOULD HAVE HAPPENED AS WE ARE HAVING THIS DISCUSSION, WE WILL SEE IN A FEW WEEKS.

>> WE WILL.

>> Renee: HOW THAT ALL TURNS OUT.

>> AND I HOPE THAT IT'S NOT A PREDICTABLE OUTCOME BUT IT LOOKS LIKE IT.

>> Renee: UNIVERSAL MASKING YOU THINK.

>> YES.

>> Renee: AS THE GOVERNOR HAS SAID.

CAN'T MANDATE IT BUT ENCOURAGE IT.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

FOR A LITTLE SHORT PERIOD OF TIME STARTED FEELING LIKE MAYBE I COULD BE RELAXED AND THEN NO MORE.

THEY SAY UPGRADE YOUR MASK.

Dr. STACK SAID UPGRADE YOUR MASKS.

I NOW HAVE A CLOTH AND PAPER MASK.

N-95 IF YOU CAN FIND THEM ARE IMPORTANT.

I GOT ON A PLANE TO TRAVEL SOMEPLACE AND I WORE AN N-95.

SO IT'S IMPORTANT TO DO THAT.

>> ONE OF THE OTHER DILEMMAS THIS STATE IS FACING AND NOT JUST THE STATE BUT THE NATION, TOO WHEN WE LOOK AT THE OVERDOSE DEATHS FROM OPIOID ADDICTION.

WE HAVE BEEN BATTLING SUBSTANCE USE ISSUE FOR A LONG, LONG TIME.

BEFORE 1985 BEFORE YOU CAME ON BUT WE KNOW THE LATEST OVERDOSE FATALITY REPORT THAT CAME OUT IN 2021, EVALUATES THE PREVIOUS YEAR MORE THAN 1900 KENTUCKIANS DIED FROM OVERDOSE IN 2020.

A 49% INCREASE FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR.

OF COURSE YOU KNOW, THE OFFICE OF DRUG CONTROL POLICY SAYS COVID-19 WAS A MAJOR CONTRIBUTING FACTOR, NOT LESS-- LESS ACCESS TO SERVICES, SENSE OF ISOLATION, ALL OF THESE THINGS DRIVING UP ADDICTION NUMBERS AND THEN MORE IMPORTANTLY, FATALITY OVERDOSE NUMBERS.

HOW DO YOU GET BACK ON COURSE BECAUSE WE WERE DOING FAIRLY WELL BEFORE THE PANDEMIC?

>> I THINK THERE ARE LOTS OF PEOPLE NATIONALLY WHO ARE INTERESTED IN HELPING HELPING KENTUCKY.

RECENTLY THE BLOOMBERG FOUNDATION IS GOING TO HELP US.

ALREADY SEVERAL NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS, THE PEW, ARE ALL COMING IN TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE.

WE WERE MAKING GOD PROGRESS REALLY A LOT OF PARTNERSHIP AND COLLABORATION.

AND YES, COVID IS PART OF IT ABSOLUTELY.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT DRIVE PEOPLE TO HOPELESSNESS AND THEN MISUSE SUBSTANCES, ISOLATION, ECONOMIC UNCERTAINTY, YOU KNOW, THAT KIND OF LONELINESS AND YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN NEXT.

THAT UNCERTAINTY.

THAT'S LIKE A PERFECT STORM MOST OF THE OVERDOSE.

FENTANYL IS A PART OF THAT AND THAT IS A HUGE PROBLEM NATIONWIDE.

BUT ALSO A HUGE PROBLEM HERE.

>> Renee: BRINGS UP ANOTHER, WHAT YOU CALL THEM CO-OCCURRING ISSUES AND THAT IS THE MENTAL HEALTH COMPONENT, RIGHT?

THAT THESE THINGS ARE OFTEN WORKING IN TANDEM AND EXACERBATING THE ISSUE ONE MORE SO THAN THE OTHER WITH THE SUBSTANCE USE NUMBERS, WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO, SECRETARY FRIEDLANDER WHEN IT COMES TO BEEFING UP OUR MENTAL HEALTH BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES TO MEET THESE CHALLENGES?

WE HAVE TAKEN OFF ALL OF THE PRIOR AUTHORIZATIONS.

PEOPLE SAY WE CAN'T GET THE AUTHORIZATION.

WE TOOK THEM ALL OFF FOR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, FOR SUBSTANCE USE.

WE'VE EXPANDED TELEHEALTH.

A LOT OF PROVIDERS HAVE BEEN VERY CREATIVE IN A GOOD WAY.

FOR HOW TO DO THAT, OBVIOUSLY THERE IS MORE THAT WE CAN DO, BUT WE HAVE TO PAY ATTENTION.

IT'S LIKE ONE OF THESE THINGS, YOU KNOW, WE NOW UNDERSTAND HOW IMPORTANT CHILD CARE IS URBAN COUNTIES RIGHT?

SO WITHIN THIS WE HAVE LEARNED HOW IMPORTANT THE SERVICES THAT WE ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE TO FOLKS WHO NEED SUBSTANCE USE HELP, WHO NEED BEHAVIORAL HELP.

AND OFTEN TIMES, WITH ACUTE EVENT.

IT'S SIX MONTHS AFTER THAT YOU SEE THIS.

WE DON'T KNOW, WHEN YOU HAVE A SOCIETAL EVENT, WHAT THIS IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE DOWN THE ROAD AND WE HAVE TO PAY ATTENTION AND MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE FUNDING AND BEING AS CREATIVE AS POSSIBLE FOR GIVING AS MANY SERVICES BECAUSE WHEN SOMEBODY IS READY, I'VE SEEN THIS-- I DID SOME HOMELESSNESS WORK IN LOUISVILLE.

WHEN SOMEBODY IS READY TO GO INTO TREATMENT, YOU HAVE TO HAVE SOMETHING AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY MIGHT NOT BE THERE TOMORROW.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

AND THAT PERSON HAS TO GET THERE ON THEIR OWN TIME HESITATION COULD HAVE FATAL CONSEQUENCES.

CHILD CARE.

IT'S A NATIONWIDE CRISIS.

A BOOK WAS WRITTEN ABOUT AMERICA'S CHILD CARE CRISIS.

A GREAT READ.

THE DILEMMA THAT PARENTS AND PROVIDERS ARE IN AND WORKERS THEMSELVES ARE IN AND THEN FROM THE CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES END MY GOODNESS.

A PANDEMIC, PARTICULARLY MAYBE IF YOU HAVE BEEN DISPLACED BY TORNADIC WEATHER AND WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE WORLD.

WHEN WE HAVE SPOKEN BEFORE ABOUT THIS, YOU MENTION THE GLUT IS ONE OF THE DRIVING FORCES FOR THESE CHILD PROTECTIVE CASES AND THE SOCIAL WORKER ISSUE THAT WE ARE SEEING.

HOW DO YOU DEFINE NEGLECT.

>> THAT IS AN IMPORTANT QUESTION BECAUSE IN KENTUCKY OUR DEFINITION OF NEGLECT IS VERY BROAD AND IT INCLUDES SOME KIND OF ECONOMIC NEGLECT WHICH IS REALLY JUST POVERTY, SO IT'S HOW TO TEASE ALL THAT APART.

>> Renee: WHICH IS IS NOT NECESSARILY INTENTIONAL.

>> CORRECT.

SO HOW WE ARE ABLE TO RESPOND TO SOME OF THAT, WHY SOME OF THE PROGRAMS ARE SO IMPORTANT, THE CHILD CARE PIECE, THE TANF PIECE, THE MEDICAID PIECE, ALL OF THE PIECES ARE IMPORTANT TO SUPPORTING FAMILIES AND MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN THEIR LIVES SO THAT WE CAN START TO BACK OFF THE PREVENTION SERVICES, RIGHT?

WE TALK ABOUT THAT, REPRESENTATIVE MEADE HAS BEEN GREAT ABOUT THAT.

WE HAVE SEEN ACTUALLY A DECLINE IN OUT OF HOME CARE, MEANING THAT KINSHIP AND FOSTER CARE, WE HAVE SEEN A DECLINE IN THE NUMBERS, THROUGHOUT COVID, WHICH SOME OF THAT IS BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE A NORMAL REPORTING SOURCES BUT SOME OF THAT, WE BELIEVE IS BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO SOME PREVENTION IN TANDEM WITH THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY UNDERSTANDING HOW IMPORTANT IT IS AND THE GOVERNOR UNDERSTANDING HOW IMPORTANT IT IS, IT HAS BEEN REALLY IMPORTANT TO DO.

AND HIS SUPPORT, REALLY, THROUGHOUT HIS TIME IN OFFICE FOR SOCIAL WORKERS AND THAT RESPONSE HAS BEEN VERY CRITICAL.

>> WE KNOW THAT SOCIAL WORKERS HAVE BEEN VERY VOCAL THE LAST FEW MONTHS ABOUT THEIR CONDITIONS AND WE HAVE DONE A WHOLE PROGRAM ON KENTUCKY TONIGHT ABOUT THE PROGRAM THAT RECEIVED A LOT OF FEEDBACK AND WE KNOW THAT ONE OF THE BIG ISSUES IS PAY ENTRY LEVEL WAGE FOR A SOCIAL WORKER JUST OVER $32,000 A YEAR AND IT CAN GO UP.

YOU KNOW, YOU THINK ABOUT THAT AND YOU THINK ABOUT WHAT SOMEBODY COULD MAKE IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR AT A FAST FOOD PLACE OR RETAILER, IT DOES OUTPACE WHAT COULD BE OFFERED IN THE SOCIAL SERVICES REALM.

HOW DO YOU COMPETE AND WE HAD A REALLY GOOD DISCUSSION ABOUT CASE LOAD VERSE CASE WAIT.

MAYBE WE NEED TO RETUNE OUR VERNACULAR WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE CASE WAIT THAT THESE SOCIAL WORKERS ARE ENDURING RIGHT NOW.

THE CASE WEIGHT.

PAINT US A PICTURE OF WHAT THEY'RE FACING AND HOW LITTLE THEY'RE COMPENSATED FOR.

>> WE HAVE DONNA THAN INCREASE.

-- WE HAVE DONE AN INCREASE.

IT STILL ISN'T ENOUGH.

SOCIAL WORKERS GO INTO FOLKS HOME, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SITUATIONS.

DANGEROUS SITUATIONS AND WE ASK THEM TO DO THAT.

AND THEY DO THAT BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE IN COMMUNITY AND THEY BELIEVE IN THE WORK THAT THEY DO.

BUT AFTER A WHILE, THAT CALLING, THAT DAHLING THAT REALLY IS A SOCIAL WORKER HAS OR AT THIS POINT, ANY GOVERNMENT WORKER BECAUSE THE PAY IS BAD ALL ACROSS-- BELIEVE ME, WE DID THE SOCIAL WORKER INCREASE AND FAMILY SUPPORT WORKER INCREASE AND THEN I HEARD FROM EVERYBODY ELSE BUT HAVE YOU TO START SOMEWHERE, AND THESE ARE THE FOLKS THAT ARE FRONT LINE FOR PREVENTION.

I CALL THEM EVERYDAY HEROES THAT WE DON'T NECESSARILY CELEBRATE BUT HERE ARE THE FOLKS THAT ARE PUTTING THEMSELVES ON THE LINE TO HAVE AND IMPACT ON CHILDREN AND FAMILIES LIVES THAT GO ACROSS GENERATIONS.

THEY'RE VITAL WORKERS AND I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU REWARD THEM ENOUGH?

HOW DO YOU REWARD TEACHERS ENOUGH?

WE DEPEND IT BEING A CALLING BECAUSE THE COMPENSATION IS NOT WHAT IT SHOULD BE AND WE DO THAT SO MUCH TO THE FOLKS WHO ARE DOING PUBLIC SERVICE.

I MAY BE PASSIONATE ABOUT THAT.

THESE ARE IMPORTANT JOBS, ALL OF THE WORKERS SAY THEY'RE ESSENTIAL BRUT NOT VALUED?

WE DO THAT TOO MUCH.

>> Renee: HOW MANY SOCIAL WORKERS HAVE LEFT THE SPACE IN THE LAST YEAR OR SO?

>> WE ESTIMATE THAT AROUND 470 OR SO IN THE SOCIAL WORK SIDE OF IT.

FAMILY SUPPORT SIDE ANOTHER 320.

WE ARE DOWN STARTING TO GET CLOSE TO 800 WORKERS IN A YEAR AND THAT IS-- WE LOSE FOLKS-- >> Renee: THAT'S NOT RETIREMENT.

THAT IS QUIT.

>> THAT IS QUIT, ALL OF IT ALL TOGETHER.

AND YOU NO KNOW DURING THE PANDEMIC, THE GREAT RESIGNATION ACROSS INDUSTRIES.

IT HAS BEEN ALSO IN DHS.

>> Renee: THIS IS A BUDGET SESSION AND WE HAVE SOME CASH AND A LOT OF PEOPLE WANT THEIR HANDS ON IT BUT IF THE CABINET HAS ANY SAY SO, WHAT WOULD WOULD YOU PETITION THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO SUPPORT?

>> WELL OBVIOUSLY, THE SUPPORT OF SOCIAL WORKERS, THE SUPPORT OF WORKERS IN GENERAL.

I THINK THAT IS CRITICAL TO MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE THE SERVICES AND SUPPORT THAT WE NEED.

CASE LOADS, RIGHT?

WE HAVE INCREASED LIKE 10 IN THE LAST YEAR.

IN JEFFERSON COUNTY, THAT'S LIKE IN THE 30S.

AND IN JEFFERSON COUNTY, IT'S OVER 60.

>> Renee: FOR ONE SOCIAL WORKER.

THAT'S AN IMPOSSIBLE NUMBER.

>> Renee: TELL US THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN CASE LOAD AND CASE WEIGHT.

>> CASE LOAD IS THE NUMBER OF CASE THAT A WORKER HAS BUT WHAT WE HAVE SEEN OVER THE PAST DECADE, EACH ONE OF THOSE CASES IS MORE COMPLEX.

THERE IS MORE TRAUMA.

IT IS MORE SERIOUS AND SO I CASE WEIGHT REALLY TRIES TO PUT THOSE FACTORS IN PLACE.

>> Renee: A LOT OF PEOPLE INVOLVED PARTICULARLY IN ONE PARTICULAR SITUATION.

>> COURTS, POLICE, D CVS, YOU KNOW, ALL SORTS OF DIFFERENT AGENCIES INVOLVED.

AND THAT GETS WHEN YOU ARE TRYING TO MOACIAL THAT-- NEGOTIATE THAT, THAT GETS COMPLEX.

THE SOCIAL WORKERS WHO STARTED TO CRY IN MAYSVILLE, THEIR OFFICES WERE DESTROYED AND THEY DIDN'T HAVE ACCESS TO THEIR FILES SO ACTIVE CASES THEY WERE WORKING ON, THEY DIDN'T HAVE.

>> THEY'RE GOING TO TRY TO PIECE IT TOGETHER.

WE HAVE SOME PIECE THAT ARE ELECTRONIC BUT NOT A FULL FILE.

THEY'RE GOING HAVE TO, FROM THEIR MEMORIES, COME UP AND INTERVIEW AND TRY TO PIECE TOGETHER THE FILES.

THAT'S WHY IT WAS DEVASTATING TO THEM I KEEP THINKING ABOUT IN THAT SITUATION THERE IS A CHILD THAT WAS ALREADY IN DANGER AND PERHAPS DISPLACED, THEIR PARENTS MAY NOT HAVE A JOB, I MEAN THE DANGER TO THAT CHILD NOW, ISN'T IT GREATER THAN EVER?

>> THE SAME THING WITH SUBZ.

WHAT ARE THOSE THINGS THAT DRIVE SUBSTANCE USE.

EXTREME POVERTY, LACK OF ECONOMIC CERTAINTY, ALL THAT LOSS THAT HAS OCCURRED WITH A HOME BEING DONE AND WHAT IS THE SUPPORT THAT THAT PERSON HAS, ALL THE SAME THINGS DRIVE THAT HOW DO WE AS A CABINET AS COMMUNITY HEALTH PARTNERS SUPPORT-- THAT'S WHY PREVENTION IS SO IMPORTANT.

HOW DO WE GET IN THERE AND PROVIDE THE SUPPORT.

TINY PIECE, BUT THE FEDERAL ASSISTANCE, HOW DO WE PROVIDE THE HOUSING ASSISTANCE, HOW DO WE MAKE SURE PEOPLE CAN ACCESS THAT?

SOME OF THAT CAN'T BE DONE.

WE HAVE TO BE ON SITE AND THAT'S WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO.

>> Renee: THIS HAS BEEN A VERY FAST CONVERSATION.

AND I COULD TALK TO YOU FOR A WHOLE OTHER HOUR, SECRETARY FRIEDLANDER ABOUT ALL THESE ISSUES AND I THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO THIS STATE SINCE 1985 AND I'M SURE WELL BEFORE THAT.

PLEASURE TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU.

>> THANK YOU, HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU.

>> Renee: YOU CAN STAY IN TOUCH WITH WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE LEGISLATURE.

WE HAVE A NIGHTLY PROGRAM 11:00 P.M. EACH NIGHT THAT GIVES YOU A RECAP OF THOSE HAPPENINGS.

KENTUCKY TONIGHT EVERY MONDAY NIGHT AT 8 EASTERN WILL KEEP YOU IN THE KNOW.

FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER, FACEBOOK, PODCASTS.

WE ARE CONNECTED.

WE WANT TO KEEP YOU THERE AS WELL.