Making Kids Count

Dr. Shannon Moody and guests discuss the state of kinship care in Kentucky and the importance of a kin-first system. Guests include Norma Hatfield, kinship caregiver and President of the Kinship Families Coalition of Kentucky from Hardin County; Dr. Jay Miller, Dean of the College of Social Work at the University of Kentucky and a foster and kinship alum; and Angel Todd, nonprofit professional, entrepreneur, community advocate, and...

Dr. Shannon Moody and guests discuss the recent settlement with Meta, the impact of social media on young people, and what’s next for ensuring Kentucky’s settlement funds are directed to youth programming and services that promote positive experiences and connections. Guests include Aleah Stigall, youth advocate and founder of Disconnect to Connect - Let’s Get Real; Elizabeth Gaines, Founder and CEO of the Childre...

Dr. Shannon Moody is joined by three grantmaking partners in the Bloom Kentucky initiative: Allison Adams, President and CEO of the Foundation for Healthy Kentucky; Kristin Walker Collins, CEO of the Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky; and Sonya Carrico, Director of Policy at Interact for Health. They discuss Bloom Kentucky’s five years of impact in policy change, community engagement, and youth empowerment. Learn more at ky...

leDr. Shannon Moody is joined by KYA’s Senior Policy & Advocacy Director, Alicia Whately, and Data & Research Director, Karena Cash, to discuss their recent presentation to the Interim Joint Committee on Families and Children in Frankfort. They dig into Kentucky’s child well-being trends in the latest national KIDS COUNT Data Book and highlight the big opportunity for communities and the state to get ready for t...

Guest host Mara Powell talks with Dr. Shannon Moody, KYA’s new executive director. They discuss what led Shannon to KYA, her reflections on the challenges and opportunities in child advocacy, and her hopes and vision for the podcast and the organization, especially as KYA embarks on its 50th year in 2027. 

Thank you to Aetna Better Health of Kentucky for supporting the Making Kids Count Podcast. Visit AetnaMedicaidKY.com/...

Guest host Shannon Moody is joined by three community leaders and experts to discuss youth mental health and the impacts of social media. Guests include state Representative Kim Moser of Kenton County, Sarah Kidder, Executive Director of the Kentucky Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs, and Dr. Amy Brausch, a licensed clinical psychologist and scholar with the LifeSkills Center for Child Welfare Education and Research at Western Ken...

Shannon Moody is joined by three statewide child advocacy partners to reflect on themes, wins, and challenges of the 2026 Kentucky General Assembly and the impact on children and families. Guests include Nickie Jones, Executive Director of Family Enrichment Center, Inc. in Bowling Green, Liz McQuillen, Chief Policy Officer at Metro United Way in Louisville, and Shane Noem, President of Roebling Solutions and a Kentucky Youth Advoca...