Kentucky Against Stroke and Heart Disease (KASH)

Our Mission

 

“The mission of KASH committee is to utilize and implement evidence-based prevention strategies in Kentucky by:

  • Promoting and reinforcing healthy behaviors and standardized messaging.
  • Promoting effective community-clinical linkages.
  • Promoting self-measured blood pressure (SMBP) monitoring.

Through continued community education from member organizations of the Kentucky Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Task Force, the goal is to use consistent prevention messages throughout the Commonwealth to decrease the number of heart disease and stroke incidents in Kentucky.”

The Health Literacy subcommittee of KASH aims to develop tools to educate individuals and increase their understanding of their health numbers and what they mean.

The Standardized Messaging subcommittee exists within the Kentucky Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Task Force to create a simplified resource library for use within any healthcare organization or community outreach program.

Committee Chair

Gina Brien Headshot

Gina Brien

Gina Brien is the Assistant Director for the Division of Women’s Health at the Kentucky Department for Public Health (KDPH). She most recently served as the Executive Director for the Appalachian Kentucky Health Care Access Network (AKHCAN) with the mission of increasing the number of Community Health Workers (CHWs) in Kentucky through training and technical assistance. She is a member of the state CHW workgroup, KDPH Asthma Leadership Team, Kentucky Asthma Partnership, and the Board of Directors for the Kentucky Association of Community Health Workers (KYACHW). Gina has over 15 years of public health experience from previously serving as the Health Education Director with the Montgomery County Health Department.