dcbs

Wanda Hartley is the longest serving employee at the Cabinet for Health and Family Services. After a diligent and productive career, she is retiring with almost 50 years at the cabinet. Hartley remembers the days of mimeographing, copying letters with a noisy hand-cranked machine and stamping envelopes. Today, we are rebroadcasting our 2020 conversation about her journey from single mother of two with the work incentive program to office support assistant at the Department for Community Based Services in Newport. Hartley says her favorite parts of the job are when there is reunification with families, and when she feels she played a part in helping people get through their problems. Having the opportunity to work with people like Wanda has been the highlight of my career. We wish her a happy retirement with contentment and good health.

Sarah Cooper is executive director at the Office of Legislative and Regulatory Affairs (OLRA) with the Cabinet for Health and Family Services. Her state government career began in Protection and Permanency at the Department for Community Based Services before moving to OLRA as a policy analyst and staff assistant. Today, we discuss her current role in the legislative and regulatory process and what happens within the cabinet when a bill is passed by the legislature.

The Cabinet for Health and Family Services has made great strides in quality improvement initiatives. From working to improve visitation rooms by expanding culturally appropriate toys, books, and music, to improved support for social workers, and increased recognition to community partners. Jessica Bowman, a resource management analyst in the Department for Community Based Services (DCBS), helps advocate for improvements by bringing data to life using data dashboards, infographics and scorecards. Each one of the visualizations gives a voice to community partners, both internally and externally. From surveys and conversations, Bowman identifies ways to help both clients and employees. She has also been a DCBS Kentucky Employees Charitable Campaign chair and is the owner of Little Wildflower Books, children’s books that promote empathy, inspire a love for exploration of the outdoors and give space for conversation around difficult subjects. In this episode we talk about her life, the link between math and music and how creativity spreads joy and brings personal satisfaction.

March is National Social Work Month, and a time to recognize the courage and dedication of Department for Community Based Services  (DCBS) workers and staff. Today’s guest, Monica Gregory, shares her journey from college to DCBS and what makes her job so rewarding. Everyday heroes at DCBS strive to protect the vulnerable, enhance self-sufficiency and improve safety and permanency for individuals and families throughout the state. I would like to thank each one of you for your service and sacrifice on behalf of Kentuckians. 

Ambre Irby grew up on a farm in Bracken County where she learned to work hard. After marrying and moving to Ohio, her husband suffered a catastrophic brain injury following a car accident. One month later, Irby gave birth to a son and moved back to Kentucky to be near family. As a newfound sole provider, she signed up for the Ready to Work (RTW) Program offered by the Department for Community Based Services (DCBS) and Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS). This led to a family support position at DCBS. Having navigated the social service system, Irby provides compassion and first-hand knowledge to DCBS clients. We discuss her journey and the joy she receives from helping others on their path to self-reliance.

On this week's episode of the Worst. Comic. Podcast. EVER!:

• Cullen and John made it out to their respective theaters over the weekend to watch Black Adam on the big screen. There may be mild spoilers but they should not ruin your experience when you do see the film. 
• Andor episode 7 shows just how ruthless the Empire can be. Not that this should come as a surprise, but the Empire was not too happy about the bank heist last episode. So the Empire comes down hard on numerous worlds. By the end of this episode, Andor finds himself convicted and sentenced to prison for six years. Thankfully, we do not have to wait that long for episode 8. 
• Some users of the online DC Universe Infinite, in particular the Ultra plan, have been having some issues with their accounts being deleted. And when we write "some users", we specifically mean John. Thankfully, John's Log-On Crisis has been resolved and he can get back to reading the Dark Crisis books.
• Jerry got his new box of books from DCBS last week. Find out what he is reading, plus a heck of a deal on a trade paperback from AWA. 
• We have our Pick 3 selections, sponsored by our friends at Clint's Comics. 

We would love to hear your comments on the show. Let us know what you’ve been reading or watching this week. Contact us on our website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or by email. We want to hear from you! As always, we are the Worst. Comic. Podcast. EVER! and we hope you enjoy the show.

The Worst. Comic. Podcast. EVER! is proudly sponsored by Clint’s Comics. Clint’s is located at 3941 Main in Kansas City, Missouri, and is open Monday through Saturday. Whether it is new comics, trade paperbacks, action figures, statues, posters, or T-shirts, the friendly and knowledgeable staff can help you find whatever it is that you need. You should also know that Clint’s Comics has the most extensive collection of back issues in the metro area. If you need to find a particular book to finish the run of a title, head on down to Clint’s or check out their website at clintscomics.com. Tell them that the Worst. Comic. Podcast. EVER! sent you.

Former clients are some of our finest employees at the Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS), and today’s guest is no exception. When Tammy Thornsberry applied for Medicaid as a young mother-to-be, her case worker encouraged her to consider a job with the state. A year later, Thornsberry accepted a job at the Department for Community Based Services (DCBS). She became a case worker as a way to pay it forward and the rest is history. Thornsberry says every client has a story and should be treated with the utmost care and consideration. She feels the same way about those she supervises in Adult Medicaid, Medicaid and SNAP in the Northern Bluegrass Service Region. Hopefully, today’s conversation underscores our commitment to the health and well-being of Kentuckians on either side of the desk, inside and outside of the Cabinet.

Before joining the Department for Behavioral Health, Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities (DBHDID), Commissioner Wendy Morris worked for Appalachian Regional Healthcare Inc. in Hazard for over two decades. Following the historic flooding in eastern Kentucky, we traveled to the region to meet with people and find ways that the Cabinet can assist. Today’s discussion is about what we witnessed, how Kentuckians can help flood victims and what it takes to increase emotional resilience.

On this week's episode of the Worst. Comic. Podcast. EVER!:

• We all watched the newest episode of She-Hulk, featuring the introduction of Madisynn with a Y, but not where you think. 
• So there were some interesting conversations this week on social media involving comic book creators. And when we say interesting, we mean entirely horrendous examples of how not to be a good person. Seriously people, just be kind to one another. 
• Did you see all of the announcements from D23 over the weekend? Yes, we will be watching a lot of Disney + in the next year. 
• We have our Pick 3 selections, sponsored by our friends at Clint's Comics in Kansas City. 

We would love to hear your comments on the show. Let us know what you’ve been reading or watching this week. Contact us on our website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or by email. We want to hear from you! As always, we are the Worst. Comic. Podcast. EVER! and we hope you enjoy the show.

The Worst. Comic. Podcast. EVER! is proudly sponsored by Clint’s Comics. Clint’s is located at 3941 Main in Kansas City, Missouri, and is open Monday through Saturday. Whether it is new comics, trade paperbacks, action figures, statues, posters, or T-shirts, the friendly and knowledgeable staff can help you find whatever it is that you need. You should also know that Clint’s Comics has the most extensive collection of back issues in the metro area. If you need to find a particular book to finish the run of a title, head on down to Clint’s or check out their website at clintscomics.com. Tell them that the Worst. Comic. Podcast. EVER! sent you.

Arielle D. Akin is a resource management analyst III in the Integrity Analysis Section within the Program Integrity Branch at the Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS). Over the years, she has acquired a knack for investigative work, particularly related to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits trafficking. Having witnessed firsthand the abuse of SNAP benefits, the self-proclaimed “keyboard warrior” works with her team to identify and alleviate fraud, and recoup benefits for Kentuckians who truly need them. In this episode, Akin shares how she overcame childhood adversity and eventually found her forever family with the help of dedicated social workers in Caldwell County. Akin credits these workers for her personal and professional success, calling them “family” to this day.

As a former Chief Resilience Officer in Louisville, I noticed that trauma was a common thread among Kentucky’s most vulnerable populations. Trauma, an emotional reaction to a distressing experience, affects both mind and body and its symptoms can be short or long-term. However, a person does not need to experience trauma firsthand to be affected. Frontline and other CHFS workers can experience secondary trauma through the traumatic experiences of the people they serve. Today’s guest, Marjorie Shular, MSSW, knows something about the effects of trauma. Her life experience led her to become a front-line social worker, supervisor and now staff assistant who helps recruit social workers for CHFS. In this episode, we discuss trauma, the necessity of self-care and how to enhance resilience during challenging times.

Today’s conversation is about leadership. Not the type of leadership that you study in college or self-help literature. I’m talking about values-centered leadership based on equity, empowerment and program excellence. Along with these shared values, my guest Marta Miranda-Straub brings lived experience to her role as commissioner of the Department for Community Based Services (DCBS) at the Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS). A refugee from Cuba who arrived in the U.S. at age 12, Dr. Miranda-Straub has spent 48 years in organizational and clinical social work practice. We discuss our goals for a diverse and inclusive organization within the largest Cabinet in state government, whose mission is to protect and promote the health and wellbeing of all Kentuckians.

On this week's episode of the Worst. Comic. Podcast. EVER!:

• Well, what seemed like a light topic week turned into a pretty long discussion this week. So wherever you are when you listen to this show, make yourself comfortable.
• Lots of comic talk this episode. We look at the May solicits from Marvel and DC. If we mention any books that sound interesting, make sure to let you LCS know this week to order you a copy. 
• Jerry got some comics this week, with a box of books from DCBS plus a trip down to Clint's Comics. He does a run-through of the pile and notes an interesting change in direction from Marvel Comics. 
• Writer Tony Isabella posted on Facebook this week what he is asking from cons that invite him to a show. We run down the list and offer our thoughts. All in all, we think everything is very reasonable. Well, except for the rider about no blue M&Ms in the green room. 
• Did you watch the preview for Obi-Wan Kenobi premiering in two months? If we weren't already subscribing to Disney+, we would be signing up now for sure to watch this series.
• We look at 52 #29, where it's Thanksgiving in the DC Universe. The JSA breaks up a parade. Sivana uses a chainsaw to slice the turkey. And John Irons appears to dealing with flaky skin in the dry pre-winter air. 
• We have our Pick 3 selections, sponsored by our friends at Clint's Comics in Kansas City. 

We would love to hear your comments on the show. Let us know what you’ve been reading or watching this week. Contact us on our website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or email. We want to hear from you! As always, we are the Worst. Comic. Podcast. EVER! and we hope you enjoy the show.

The Worst. Comic. Podcast. EVER! is proudly sponsored by Clint’s Comics. Clint’s is located at 3941 Main in Kansas City, Missouri, and is open Monday through Saturday. Whether it is new comics, trade paperbacks, action figures, statues, posters, or T-shirts, the friendly and knowledgeable staff can help you find whatever it is that you need. You should also know that Clint’s Comics has the most extensive collection of back issues in the metro area. If you need to find a particular book to finish the run of a title, head on down to Clint’s or check out their website at clintscomics.com. Tell them that the Worst. Comic. Podcast. EVER! sent you.

There are many unsung heroes at the Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS), and I am continually amazed at the tireless work you do to help everyday Kentuckians. Today’s guest, Julie A. Son, is a field services supervisor at the Department for Community Based Services (DCBS) Family Support Services. A lifelong resident of Princeton, she knows what it’s like to be on ‘both sides of the desk’ at the family support office. As a young single mother needing occasional support services, Julie returned to college to eventually become a supervisor over the Lyon and Caldwell County Family Support Offices. So, it wasn’t surprising when Julie and her son Michael risked their own safety, minutes after the devastating tornado hit Western Kentucky, to help dozens of people who were injured and traumatized. Julie’s story of courage, compassion and resilience will make you proud to be a public servant in the great state of Kentucky.

Marnie Mountjoy is the Director of the Division of Aging and Physical Disability at the Department for Aging and Independent Living (DAIL). Her career in state government began at the Department for Community Based Services (DCBS), which she says was a time of personal and professional growth.

From there, she accepted a job at DAIL where she continuously draws on the insight gained at DCBS.

“We do a lot of programs in the Department for Aging around grandparents and caregivers,” she said, “So, I take the knowledge that I learned and use it to this day.”

Since then, Mountjoy has become a fierce advocate for Kentucky’s aging community and network. Her focus is on programs that serve the elderly, caregivers, and those who are physically disabled. Learning from the COVID-19 pandemic, Mountjoy says her goal is to incorporate the lessons from 2020 and build on the successes.

It's another outstanding week in the studios of the Worst. Comic. Podcast. EVER! As if talking about WandaVision, which is the gift that keeps on giving to podcasts everywhere, wasn't enough to talk about, we also have a new trailer for the Justice League moving coming to HBO MAX in March. 

We also have the return of the Milestone Universe at DC Comics. These were some of the best comics of the 1990s, and their return is long overdue. We hope that you are a fan of these titles, as this week's trivia question surrounds the Milestone titles. If you know the answer, reach out to us on our feeds to win the prize pack. If you have won in the last 30 days, we want to spread the comic book wealth around. We still want to hear from you, but we want to let someone else win. 

Jerry got in a new box of comics from DCBS, so we run down his reading pile for the next week or so. 

As always, we have our Pick 3 selections, sponsored by our friends at Clint's Comics. Two books from Marvel versus one book from DC - who picked what this week? Tune in and listen!

We would love to hear your comments on the show. Let us know what you've been reading or watching this week. Contact us on our website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or email. We want to hear from you! As always, we are the Worst. Comic. Podcast. EVER! and we hope you enjoy the show.

The Worst. Comic. Podcast. EVER! is proudly sponsored by Clint's Comics. Clint's is located at 3941 Main in Kansas City, Missouri, and is open Monday through Saturday. Whether it is new comics, trade paperbacks, action figures, statues, posters, or T-shirts, the friendly and knowledgeable staff can help you find whatever it is that you need. You should also know that Clint's Comics has the most extensive collection of back issues in the metro area. If you need to find a particular book to finish the run of a title, head on down to Clint's or check out their website at clintscomics.com. Tell them that the Worst. Comic. Podcast. EVER! sent you.

Secretary Friedlander interviews Wanda Hartley on this week’s podcast. Wanda has served diligently for 562 months at the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, making her the longest tenured employee at CHFS. Following a celebratory lunch with Commissioner Miranda-Straub, they have a captivating discussion about life in small-town Kentucky, the Cincinnati Reds, and the personal satisfaction that comes from a job well done. Wanda takes the listener from the days of mimeograph machines, typewriters, onion skin and carbon paper; to high speed computers and video conferencing. Wanda concludes that the best part of working for CHFS is helping social workers, supervisors, and community partners keep Kentucky’s children safe. 

Marta Miranda-Straub was appointed by Gov. Andy Beshear as the Commissioner of the Department for Community Based Services (DCBS) on July 1, 2020. She brings 47 years of leadership, teaching, writing, and social work practice to this position. In this episode, Miranda-Straub describes how her time in eastern Kentucky shaped her core values, and enabled her to recognize potential in everyone. Secretary Friedlander and Miranda-Strab discuss the importance of a healthy work-life balance for front-line workers in an environment of support and compassion. As the first refugee to lead DCBS, Miranda-Straub believes in listening carefully with empathy and respect through the lens of prevention. Sec. Friedlander and Miranda-Straub agree that there is a silver lining to COVID-19 and we can build back better with a vision and a plan.

In honor of the 227th episode of the Worst. Comic. Podcast. EVER!, we spotlight the legendary career of actress Marla Gibbs, star of the 1980s TV comedy 227.

From IMDb, "Armed with an acid dry wit and a full arsenal of sarcasm and sass, African-American character comedienne Marla Gibbs showed up on 70s TV with a bang in middle age (44). Landing the feisty maid role on the popular ground-breaking CBS comedy, The Jeffersons (1975), eventually led to her very own sitcom, 227 (1985), a decade later and international celebrity. A divorced mother with three children (Angela Elayne Gibbs, Dorian, Joseph) at the time of her initial success, it was a job transfer from Detroit to Los Angeles, while working as a United Airlines reservation clerk, that set up this more-than-welcome surprise and change of destiny."

In addition to our career retrospective of Marla Gibbs, we take time to discuss:

• The first episode of Titans has hit the DC Universe streaming service. We have all watched the first episode, and are ready to share our opinions of what works (or doesn't) for this new take on the Titans legacy.
• With the focus on Titans, DC is introducing a new storyline in the pages of Nightwing that involves an identity change. Is this the best time for Dick to become Ric?
• We have our weekly Pick 3 of new books coming out next Wednesday? This week features one book from Archie Comics, and two books from DC Comics. Can you guess who made the Archie Comics pick?
• What's in the box? The new package of books has arrived from DCBS, and we crack it open to reveal what Jerry and John picked up for the first two weeks of October.
• We finish it up with some teasing talk about artist John Byrne possibly returning to Xavier's Academy for Gifted Youngsters to chronicle the continuing adventures of the X-Men. Color us interested!

We would love to hear your comments on the show. Let us know what you've been reading or watching this week. Contact us on our website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or by email. We want to hear from you! As always, we are the Worst. Comic. Podcast. EVER! and we hope you enjoy the show.

The Worst. Comic. Podcast. EVER! is proudly sponsored by Clint’s Comics. Clint’s is located at 3941 Main in Kansas City, Missouri, and is open Monday through Saturday. Whether it is new comics, trade paperbacks, action figures, statues, posters, or T-shirts, the friendly and knowledgeable staff can help you find whatever it is that you need. You should also know that Clint’s has the most extensive collection of back issues in the metro area. If you need to find a particular book to finish the run of a title, head on down to Clint’s or check out their website at clintscomics.com. Tell them that the Worst. Comic. Podcast. EVER! sent you.

Zone 4 comes at you LIVE once more as Brant, Chris and Lisa discuss some All-New, All-Different Marvel books, some new DC books, I Hate Fairyland, Twilight Children, Star Wars, and more!

Some SPOILERS for this week's episode of The Flash! Sorry about that!

(Original Numbering: Episode #317)

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Video Version:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=celTg5hriq0