About Us

Our Mission

We strive to better improve the cerebrovascular and cardiovascular health of all Kentuckians. We aim to help the commonwealth we call home.

Our Goals

To utilize evidence-based prevention strategies and integrated Cerebrovascular and Cardiovascular health delivery systems in order to create a secure policy and system for the health of Kentuckians.

Our history

The Kentucky Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Task Force was developed in 2006 to address cardiovascular disease in the Commonwealth. The Task Force is comprised of a diverse group of stakeholders committed to the goal of improving the health of Kentucky citizens. The initial membership included 27 individuals representing 14 agencies; the Task Force currently has 419 members representing 194 diverse agencies.

The Task Force is represented by health systems, emergency medical organizations, community-based and professional organizations, businesses, higher level educational institutes and local and state government agencies. The future direction of Kentucky’s cardiovascular health was developed in a collaborative approach by the Kentucky Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Task Force and the Kentucky Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Program. The goal of the Task Force is to improve Kentucky’s cardiovascular and cerebrovascular health.

Who We Are

The KHDSP Task Force, in partnership with the Kentucky Department for Public Health’s Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Program, are leading the collaborative effort to transform our state’s cardiovascular and cerebrovascular health approaches and practices.

Our purpose, through a network of public and private partners, is to improve the outcome of Kentuckians suffering from heart disease or stroke. The Task Force is represented by health systems, emergency medical organizations, community-based and professional organizations, businesses, higher level educational institutes and local and state government agencies. Disciplines represented in the Task Force include but are not limited to: physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses, health educators, dietitians, diabetes educators, nutritionists, community health workers, health care navigators, social workers, paramedics, emergency medical technicians and lay personnel.

What We Do

We work to identify and eliminate disparities that affect the health outcomes of Kentuckians, provide education about cardiovascular disease and its management, serve as a link between the community and heart disease and stroke care and supportive resources. We utilize cardiovascular data to prioritize coalitions goals and activities, building coalition and increasing diversity of its members and being a catalyst for enhancing activities of other organizations promoting health and well-being of all Kentuckian’s with cardiovascular disease.

We strive to increase public awareness of heart disease and stroke, and related issues, in the community by utilizing collaborative workgroups to turn knowledge into behavioral change and to increase the use of evidenced based guidelines for a change in our health systems.

Overarching Strategies in Kentucky

Conduct Process & Outcome Evaluation

Expand Data Information Exchange & Quality Improvement

Cultivate & Expand Collaboration Partnerships to Enhance Community & Clinical Linkages

Target Healthcare Systems & Providers, Worksites, Schools, Communities, & Disparate Populations

Partner Organizations
Hospitals
Members

Co-Chairs

Our Co-Chairs are the champions of the collaborative cardiovascular and cerebrovascular efforts throughout the Commonwealth. ‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎

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Steering Committee

Our Steering Committee is comprised of volunteers across Kentucky who represent major health partners in various fields all relating to cardiovascular and cerebrovascular health.

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Committees

The KHDSP Task Force has four established committees, each with distinct goals and objectives that support the overall goal of improving the cardiovascular and cerebrovascular health for all Kentuckians. All four committees meet at least twice each year, spring and fall, in breakout sessions during the KHDSP Task Force bi-annual meetings.

Subcommittees

Several Task Force committees have established temporary and permanent subcommittees to fulfill distinct goals and objectives that support the committee’s overall mission of improving the cardiovascular and cerebrovascular health for all Kentuckians.

Strategic Map and Plan

In 2024, the Kentucky Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Task Force released the fifth iteration of the Strategic Plan 2024-2028. This plan outlines objectives and strategies built on the dedication and collaboration among communities and healthcare professionals to address heart disease and stroke in the Commonwealth. The plan delineates the strategies and objectives developed to continue to address prevention and treatment improvements through policy and systems changes to improve the cardiovascular health of Kentucky. The Action Plan serves as the guiding document and foundation for the statewide Kentucky Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Task Force.

Strategic Map and CDC - Interactive Atlas of Heart Disease and Stroke

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