LEXINGTON, Ky. — The University of Kentucky College of Education has launched a new partnership with Picadome Elementary School to support the well-being of families and students through the #IChampionHealth initiative.

The partnership, supported by the Healthy Kentucky Initiative, is hosting monthly Caregiver Cafés that provide opportunities for parents and caregivers to connect with one another and school personnel in informal settings. The sessions, separated by grade level, have drawn strong attendance, with one recent event attracting 75 caregivers and 68 students.

"Based on survey feedback from caregivers and our ongoing partnership with the UK College of Education, we partnered with #IChampionHealth to provide families a space to realize they aren't alone," said Picadome Principal Tiffany Cook. "It is about building a village where every family can connect, share their journey and find a trusted network of support."

The #IChampionHealth initiative, part of the UK PREVENT Alliance based in the UK College of Education, focuses on improving the well-being of youth and families across Kentucky through approaches co-developed with community members and guided by research and real-world results.

Rather than using a prepackaged program, all #IChampionHealth initiatives focus on co-creating unique strategies to address community needs. For Picadome Elementary, staff have designed activities specifically tailored to the school community, including "Sprinkle Your Donut with Gratitude" reflection activities, coloring pages reinforcing #IChampionHealth and Picadome Pride, and family conversation starter worksheets focused on normalizing conversations about feelings, gratitude and storytelling.

"Authentic, collaborative partnerships help create opportunities that truly reflect the needs and interests of the communities they're meant to support," said Melinda Ickes, Ph.D., a professor of health promotion in the Department of Kinesiology and Health Promotion and associate dean for research in the UK College of Education. "It's also central to UK's land-grant mission and helps advance Kentucky through meaningful, sustained engagement with communities."

Program coordinator Jakob Hester emphasized that the Caregiver Cafés are designed to be warm, supportive gatherings with conversation-focused and creative activities to foster stronger connections between schools and families. The group is exploring additional times, formats, and hybrid options moving forward.

For more information on the #IChampionHealth initiative, email ichampionhealth@uky.edu.