This June, we honor the 50th Anniversary of the 1969 Stonewall Riots which served as a pivotal point in the liberation movement for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, and queer (LGBTQ) rights. Through celebration, education, and advocacy, we recognize the progress made to create a more welcoming world for our LGBTQ community as well as the ongoing needs to create a safer community.
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- In early 2019, the Louisville Metro Public Health and Wellness department (LMPHW) surveyed community members, parents and providers of the LGBTQ community to learn what resources and social services were most needed. Efforts are underway to build a comprehensive website of resources tailored to the specific needs of LGBTQ and non-binary Louisville residents. Respondents shared the importance of providing mental health and inclusive support groups as well as reducing bullying and stigma. The website is due to launch in Fall 2019. Want to learn more? Contact us at healthequity@louisvilleky.gov.
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The Louisville Metro Government LGBTQ Employee Resource group will be participate in the Kentuckiana Pride Parade on Friday June 14th. LMPHW employees will be offering free and confidential HIV testing, sexual and mental health resources, and prizes. To learn more about the 2019 Kentuckiana Pride Festival, including the location, time, and volunteer opportunities, visit https://kypride.com/festival/
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The University of Louisville’s School of Public Health and Information Sciences is looking for African Americans between the ages of 18-29 to participate in a survey to understand the impact of HIV in Louisville. Participants can receive a $20 gift card for completing the survey. To learn more or to sign-up, contact Toya via email at: afyaproject@louisville.edu, by phone at 502-852-1908, or social media at: afyaLou on Facebook or @Afya_Lou on Twitter.
 Healthy Start: Equity in Action!
In April 2019, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Health Resources & Services Administration funded the Healthy Start team with an award of $4.6 million to continue its work in Louisville for the next five years. Since 1998, Healthy Start has served more than 10,000 children and their families through home visits during pregnancy, birth and post-partum
Healthy Start was funded to improve the health outcomes for African American babies, who are most vulnerable to inequitable institutions in our community. In 2014, LMPHW convened Healthy Babies Louisville coalition, a Community Action Network, to broaden the impact of Healthy Start by working on policies and practices known to improve healthy pregnancies, family support, and maternal and infant health. This coalition has representation from community members, healthcare, social services, academia, behavioral health, and more.
Recognizing the important role that men and fathers play in creating a lifetime of well-being for their children, Healthy Babies Louisville formed the Father Engagement Subcommittee, made up of community members, agencies, and programs that provide serving fathers. Most recently, members met with Office of Safe & Healthy Neighborhood’s Youth Implementation Team to develop three avenues to improve father engagement:
- Increase the number of second chance employers that provide paid parental leave;
- Provide support and education for fathers through program options such as 2not1, 4yourchild Project, Kentucky HANDS, and Healthy Start’s 502Fathers Fatherhood Initiative; and
- Create a father-friendly court system that supports father engagement.
In 2018, Healthy Babies Louisville staff joined the Center for Health Equity as part of the departmental realignment. We’re excited to introduce you to this program as we work to build a Louisville where every baby sees their first birthday and beyond. To learn more about Healthy Babies Louisville, check out the website or Facebook page.
 What We’re Reading
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