FOCUS News from and about the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services September 2018 Johnson family ready to work for foster system Chris and Alicia Johnson know all about what it’s like Check out an interview with Chris and Alicia Johson to be a part of a special team. Th e Johnsons, the newest from the Kentucky State Fair Special Advisors in the Offi ce of Faith and Community on the CHFS Facebook page Based Initiatives, are the parents of 10 children, rang- https://bit.ly/2R215XW ing in age from 24 years old to eight. Th ey have fostered more than 40 children in their tecting our state’s most vulnerable children by helping home, welcoming medically frail children, sibling advance statewide foster care and adoption reform. groups, and children who were close to aging out of Th ey will work closely with the Department for Com- the foster care system, later adopting seven. munity Based Services to support the department’s “God’s call on our lives to be foster and adoptive ongoing adoption and foster care initiatives, including parents has provided blessings for our family that the transformative eff orts required under House Bill 1. are greater than we could have ever imagined,” noted “We have jumped in full throttle and we’re really Chris. “Alicia and I are excited to now be able to devote enjoying getting to know the staff at the Cabinet as well a greater level of attention toward challenging others as DCBS and the Governor’s Offi ce,” Chris Johnson to join us in this pursuit of being used to help change said at the CHFS booth at the Kentucky State Fair in lives and toward supporting those who have answered late August. “We’re really excited to be a part of this this call and who are on the front lines of protecting team.” and nurturing children and families.” Chris Johnson is the former Lead Pastor of Liberty In their current position, the Johnsons will support Baptist Church in Clermont, Florida, serving the the Governor’s and First Lady’s commitment to pro- See FOSTER on Page 6 2 FOCUS Understanding disappointment avoids future mistakes PEAK doesn’t meet expectations: questions to fi nd out where mis- PERFORMANCE • Why did this happen? takes happened or where you or a Anya Armes Weber • Could I have done anything to teammate could have performed prevent it? better. It’s normal to be disappointed • Are there fl aws in my approach Th ough you may not want to when a project doesn’t turn out the that I need to correct? dwell on your outcomes, evaluation way you’d hoped and planned. You • Was I working out of my com is key to change. can use a failure to your advantage. fort zone? With some consideration of your Human resources consultant Vic- • How can I improve myself as a results, you may avoid the same tor Parachin suggests you ask these result of this experience? pitfalls in your next assignment. questions next time an outcome Take the initiative to answer these Worksite Wellness: Suicide Prevention Week Get ready to take on fl u season Cold and fl u season is here, and the Centers for Disease Control and Preven- tion off ers these workplace tips for keep- ing healthy. • Get a fl u shot. Th e Kentucky Employ- ees’ Health Plan covers fl u shots, and you can get one at an onsite clinic, area health fair or your local provider. • Routinely clean frequently touched objects and surfaces, including door- knobs, keyboards, and phones, to help remove germs. • Make sure your offi ce has an adequate supply of tissues, soap, paper towels and alcohol-based hand sanitizer. • Train others on how to do your job so they can cover for you in case you or a family member gets sick and you have to stay home. • If you begin to feel sick while at work, go home as soon as possible. Seek and follow prescribed medical treatment. The Newsletter of CHFS 3 Tips for winning the fi scal war against yourself Hey, you, state employee. I local Goodwill, Salvation see you there contemplating the Dollars and Army, or thrift store. Even splurge at the soda machine versus Sense if you wind up paying retail, a free fi ll-up at the water fountain. always shop around for the You’ve also been spotted count- By Beth best deal – and search for a Fisher ing down to payday so you can coupon code if you are shop- meet up with a friend for a lunch, ping online. or feverishly dreading winter, not you need and use it. Pro-tip • Get a library card. All the because of the cold – but the utility from my Aunt Elaine: Buy books you could ever read bills. meat when on sale. You can – for free. Need I say more? If any of these scenarios sound fi x a big roast with veggies How about this: Th e peaceful familiar, or if you just fi nd yourself over the weekend, then use solitude of the library might occasionally muttering, “Gosh, I left over roast to serve with also provide some stress wish I made more money,” con- homemade or even packaged relief and boost your mental gratulations! You didn’t win the noodles. Add some steamed health. lottery - but it sounds like you are veggies and have a quick easy Before I go any further, I should ready to wage fi scal war. meal. explain I am no fi scal genius. Many of you might be wondering • Stop wasting paper towels Like most of us, I do aspire to do what this odd term has to do with and use real towels to clean better with my personal fi nances you, the Cabinet, and or me spying spills and messes. Microfi ber and love sharing things I’ve learned on people at the soda machine (I cloths (which can be pur- along the way and hearing from don’t). chased at a variety of dis- my friends and colleagues. Fiscal War was once a regular count stores for about $1), are Goodness knows if we are any- column in the Focus where CHFS great for cleaning, especially thing in state government it is staff shared money save tips and for dusting furniture or pol- resourceful. tricks for a variety of occasions. ishing delicate services like Let us put those resources to Here are a few examples from the stainless steel or porcelain good use and take our money sav- Fiscal War Hall of Fame; stovetops. ing to the next level! • Eat out less by packing your • Need a new piece of cloth- lunch (now easier than ever ing, furniture or supplies for Got a money saving tip? Email thanks to our still under your household? Start at the Fiscal War columnist Beth Fisher at construction cafeteria). Eat- bottom and work your way [email protected] with informa- ing out is lots of fun, but do up, price-wise. Ask friends tion, stories and all your money- it less and then splurge when and relatives if they have any saving expertise. Be sure to include you can! hand-me-downs to spare. If your name, title, and a description • Plan your meals, buy what that doesn’t work, check the of your responsibilities at CHFS. Open Enrollment Begins SOON Health insurance Open Enrollment begins on Monday, October 8 and ends at midnight on Friday, October 26. Open Enrollment is mandatory. All members must enroll or waive coverage. 4 FOCUS A decorated cemetery - but not for humans DID YOU Hamburg Place Horse Cemetery one of the KNOW? nation’s oldest cemeteries dedicated to racehorses Barbara Fox Amid the hustle and bustle of ing horses that had subtle diff er- refi ning business. He contracted busy shops and parking lots at ences in gait and performance. pneumonia while staying at the Hamburg Place and Pavilion in Utilizing this form of undeveloped Pennsylvania Hotel in New York Lexington sits a secluded piece of talent, he trained them to be win- City and died on November 3, 1929 land holding the history and graves ners and soon amassed a small at the age of 72, leaving the farm to of a once sprawling and successful fortune. his sons Joseph and John Edward horse farm. He bred winners of fi ve Kentucky Jr. Hamburg Place originated in Derby races – Old Rosebud, Sir His remains were returned to 1898 with the purchase of 235 acres Barton, Paul Jones, Zev and Flying Kentucky and was buried in Cav- along Winchester Pike by John Ebony; fi ve of the Belmont Stakes alry Cemetery in Lexington. Th e Edward Madden, a successful thor- – Th e Finn, Grey Lag, Zev and farm served as a thoroughbred oughbred horse trainer and owner. Joe Madden; and his most famous training center and was used Madden named the property aft er horse Sir Barton, was the fi rst mostly for raising polo ponies. he sold his horse named Hamburg Triple Crown winner. Madden established the original Place to pay for the purchase of the He sold most of his horses in Hamburg Place horse cemetery land and farm. 1926 and opened an offi ce in New in 1908 on a small hill directly off Madden was adept for recogniz- York, investing heavily in the corn Winchester Pike. The Newsletter of CHFS 5 In 1996 approximately 100 acres of the farm were developed into Hamburg Place and Pavilion shopping centers and residential communities.