By Stephanie Smith, Building Kentucky
WellCare of Kentucky recently hosted its fifth annual Community Health Champions Awards at Churchill Downs. The Community Health Champions Awards honor individuals and organizations throughout the Commonwealth that play a pivotal role in removing barriers, improving outcomes and supporting community well-being.
“I see our Community Health Champions as examples of the best of Kentucky,” said WellCare of Kentucky Plan President Corey Ewing. “Each of these individuals and organizations has worked to ensure that Kentuckians are physically, emotionally and mentally healthy – and they did it in deeply personal ways, giving their time, talent and heart in the process.”
This year’s 12 winners were selected from over 250 nominations from across the state. Those honored represent the eight Kentucky Medicaid regions, three outstanding health care providers and one statewide winner. WellCare awarded a $3,000 grant to each of the regional winners and a $5,000 grant to the statewide winner.
Gov. Andy Beshear attended the event and joined in celebrating this year’s award winners.
“There are so many factors at play keeping our communities healthy,” Gov. Beshear said. “These Community Health Champions give their fellow Kentuckians a lifeline, a helping hand, letting them know that they are not alone when they need it the most. This year’s winners are crucial in supporting the wellbeing of Kentuckians.”
Danelle Slack, vice president of case management at Mayfield-Graves County Long Term Recovery Group (LTRG), received the most prominent overall award.
In December 2021 when the EF-4 tornado ripped through western Kentucky, with over 845 cases in Graves County, Slack made an impact on each of those survivors. She worked with national, regional and local organizations to help develop the Mayfield-Graves County LTRG and drilled down into the case management process to make sure that every survivor had an equitable recovery.
By committing herself to the work of recovering survivors, Slack has led the Mayfield-Graves County LTRG case management by helping 168 families reach their recovery goals. She has helped survivors with housing, aided in the collective effort by many building partners in Graves County to get more than 90 families into new homes.
In the wake of the tornado, for months, Slack sorted clothes in her garage that served as a makeshift warehouse. She continues to go above and beyond by making sure that all survivors placed in their homes receive a welcome home basket.
Regional winners include:
Region 1: Brenda Cooper, West Kentucky Allied Services
Region 2: Jenny Young, Owensboro Health
Region 3: Christy Elliott-Gonzalez, Family Health Centers
Region 4: Tim Allen, Southern Kentucky Patriots
Region 5: Mandy Heacock, Bondurant Middle School Youth Services Center
Region 6: Abel Velez, FIESTA
Region 7: Mike Maynard, Hillcrest-Bruce Mission
Region 8: Mollie Harris, CSW, CHI Saint Joseph
Provider winners include:
Behavioral Health: Trauma Informed Counseling Center
Health Care Provider: The Prescription Pad
Hospital: Crittenden Community Hospital
