Go to the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline website.

Go to the Smart911 and Emergency Dispatch Centers page.

Click above images for more information!

See the flyer for more info and to register

Welcome to KCDHH

Support Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children in Kentucky!

Please call your state legislators today and ask them to support Senate Bill 93, which will expand insurance coverage for hearing aids to include all children covered under a policy. No child should go without the help they need just because of gaps in coverage!

While you have them on the phone, tell your representatives to also support House Bill 39, which will increase the number of licensed K-12 interpreters in Kentucky. Too many deaf and hard of hearing students struggle with access to effective communication at school due to a lack of skilled interpreters—this bill will help ensure they get the access they deserve by allowing qualified K-12 educational interpreters to get a Kentucky license.

Gallery of Kentucky Youth Voices:
Sharing Lived Experience Through Art

The Gallery of Kentucky Youth Voices is designed to raise understanding of the benefits of art as means of creative expression for those living with mental health and/or substance use conditions to tell their stories and promote messages of wellbeing. Through art, we can help reduce stigma and encourage greater understanding and support for those on a journey to wellness.

The Gallery of Kentucky Youth Voices will showcase both digital and physical artwork displays during the 2025 Children’s Behavioral Health Acceptance Day event in Frankfort, Kentucky, on May 8, 2025. Selected works of art will be displayed on the Kentucky Department for Behavioral Health, Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities website and will be permanently displayed at the department’s Frankfort office.

Dr. Katie Marks

***Transcript***

Hi, I’m Dr. Katie Marks, Commissioner of the Department for Behavioral Health, Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities.

I’m excited to tell you about an opportunity for youth across the Commonwealth to share their voice through creative expression. Through a Public Awareness Initiative called Gallery of Kentucky Youth Voices, the Kentucky Service Infrastructure and eXpansion grant, also referred to as KY SIX, is inviting youth living with mental health and/or substance use conditions to tell their story of resilience through art.

This initiative is designed to raise awareness of the importance of youth voice across Kentucky’s system of care, reduce stigma, and foster greater understanding and support for youth living with mental health and substance use conditions.

As System of Care champions, we are asking RIACs to serve as the clearing house for this initiative including:

Disseminating information about this opportunity throughout your region during the month of February and encouraging youth participation across all sectors, including youth on the RIACs as well as those in the community;
Soliciting digital artwork submissions; and
Selecting one submission per age category from your region and sending the physical artwork to the Department for Behavioral Health, Developmental, and Intellectual Disabilities.

The Gallery of Kentucky Youth Voices will showcase both digital and physical artwork during the 2025 Children’s Behavioral Health Acceptance Day event in Frankfort, Kentucky on May 8, 2025. Selected physical artwork submitted by RIACs will be permanently displayed in Frankfort at the Kentucky Department for Behavioral Health, Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities office.

Additional information, including the Entry Form with rules and guidelines and consent forms, will be provided to RIAC Leaders in the coming days. If you have any questions please contact Vanessa Brewer, RIAC Program Administrator or Dee Dee Ward, KY SIX Grant Project Director.

By sharing their lived experience through art, we can help reduce stigma and foster greater understanding and support for youth on a journey to wellness.

Click the following link to automatically download the PDF file containing more information and signup:
More information and fillable sign up form

You may also be interested in this helpful reminder sheet.

In Memoriam of Dr. Frank Turk, Sr. and Marlene Turk

A Word From The Daily Moth

Check this box to display a full transcript for the above video.

--BEGIN TRANSCRIPT--

I want to quickly inform you of some sad news about something that recently happened.

Frank Turk, 95 years old, a well known person in the deaf community

and his wife, Marlene Turk who just became 89 years old

along with their dog, Jenny just passed away due to carbon monoxide poisoning.

Frank Turk's son, Frank Jr. told me what happened.

March 12th, they arrived home, went into the kitchen and put down their car key FOB on the kitchen counter.

It turns out that they forgot to turn the car off and left it running overnight.

They went to sleep and the car continued to run all night.

The next morning, Marlene was supposed to get together with friends for a birthday celebration.

The friends noticed that Marlene never showed up. They knew something funny was going on.

One of the friends decided to go check in on the Turks that afternoon and found that the three had passed away.

They were discovered at 5:45 that afternoon.

Frank Turk was heavily involved in the deaf community for many years.

He was involved with Deaf Youth Leadership.

He graduated from Minnesota School for the Deaf, MSAD.

He went to Gallaudet College for his bachelor's degree.

Then he went to University of Maryland.

Then he went to American University for his EDD degree.

He was the co-founder of Youth Leadership Camp, YLC.

He was the president of South Dakota School for the Deaf.

He was the director of North Carolina Division Services for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.

He was the dean of boys at Gallaudet University...

...and many, many more!

Marlene graduated from Iowa School for the Deaf, ISD.

She was also heavily involved in Nebraska School for the Deaf and Nebraska Association of the Deaf,

she busily supported deaf children and deaf people in the Midwest.

Marlene always supported Frank in all of his endeavors.

Both really dedicated their love and their time to the deaf community all over.

Frank Turk also wrote a book, "From Oaks to Acorn."

You can look online for his book!

Frank Jr. wanted me to express his great thanks to the deaf community for your love and support

for Frank Sr. and Marlene, cherished members of this community!

He also told us that he will keep us posted about a future celebration of life.

He'll let us know about the time and location, so that we may connect, one way or another.

We at The Daily Moth wish to express our most heartfelt condolences to all of Frank and Marlene's

friends and family who were deeply affected by their passing.

The both of them were important legacies in the deaf community.

We will always remember their stories which they shared with us all.

Once we get more information and other updates, we will keep you posted.

--END TRANSCRIPT--

Check this box close the above transcript.

See also Gallaudet University's writeup:
"Dr. Frank Robert Turk Sr., ’52 & H-’97, and Marlene Hestness Wagner Turk: An Appreciation".

Also, be sure to read Gallaudet University's informative article:
"Carbon monoxide detectors – A must for every home".

Read this brief, but informative fact sheet, "Facts About Carbon Monoxide".

KCDHH's TAP program currently distributes two signaler kits
for the deaf and hard of hearing which contain carbon monoxide detectors:

Amazon offers some carbon monoxide detectors for deaf and hard of hearing people.
Be sure to read each detector's description to ensure that they are
suitable for the deaf and hard of hearing as many are not.

University Of Louisville Research:
Participants Needed For A Free Speech Language Therapy Research Study

A study examining how children interact with speech-language pathologists.

See the flyer for all the details.

"Moore Safe Nights"
A Virginia Moore Legacy Project

Are you a deaf or hard of hearing person living in Kentucky? Do you feel like you're always out of the loop when bad weather comes to your area? Would you like some peace of mind for when bad weather approaches you while you're sleeping? Apply for a free weather radio for the deaf and hard of hearing using our online application now!

Alternatively, anyone can request a paper copy of the application by contacting our office:

800-372-2907 (V)
502-416-0607 (VP)
kcdhh@ky.gov

Hands & Voices
Off to a Great Start: Family Support Activities Guide

Click above image or scan the QR code to start exploring.

A woman signing the word "interpreter".

Interpreting/CART

Check out information about finding an interpreter or captioner and how to become a captioner in Kentucky.

State - For state agencies only

Private - For doctors, lawyers, churches, and other service providers

Consumer - For individuals who wish to hire their own interpreters/CART providers

A sample of TAP devices.

Equipment

Improve the quality of your daily communications with an amplified, captioned or speech enhanced telephone, TTY, or wireless device at no cost to you. Let us help you get started on the right track toward better communication with friends and loved ones.

Who is eligible

How to apply

Equipment list

Hands signing the word "advocate".

Information & Advocacy

As a deaf or hard of hearing individual or parent of a deaf or hard of hearing child, it's important to know your rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act. We can show you how to advocate for yourself or your loved ones to receive equal treatment under the law.

Advocacy

Workshops and Training

Need help?

Welcome to KCDHH

Support Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children in Kentucky!

Gallery of Kentucky Youth Voices:Sharing Lived Experience Through Art