Helen B. Fraser Maternal and Child Health Award

2026 Recipient: Betty Hopkins
Public Health Nurse – Retired
Bell County Health Department

It is a true honor to recognize a public health pioneer whose work transformed maternal and child health not only in Kentucky, but across the entire nation.

On January 15, 1974, the very first WIC clinic in the United States opened in Pineville, Kentucky. That day marked a turning point in public health nutrition. In that small clinic in Bell County, the first WIC voucher in the nation was provided to a family in need. What began there became one of the most successful public health programs in American history.

Research now shows that participation in WIC is associated with fewer infant deaths, fewer premature births, and improved school readiness. But long before the data confirmed its impact, there were dedicated nurses who believed in its mission and worked tirelessly to make it succeed. The success of that first clinic paved the way for WIC programs across the country.

Our honoree was the very first nurse in the nation to provide WIC services to a family. She continued serving Bell County for more than 50 years, working full-time and on contract until 2024. Throughout her career, she cared for hundreds of mothers and children, provided immunizations, offered education and support, and remained deeply committed to her community.

In 2024, she was recognized by the National WIC Association for her pioneering role. True to her character, she spent the morning before that recognition providing immunizations at a community clinic. She represents the very best of public health nursing: dedication, compassion, and lifelong service.

It is our privilege to present the Helen B. Frasier Maternal and Child Health Award to Betty Hopkins.

Shannan Rome, MSW, CSW, CLC
Public Health HANDS Manager
Franklin Co Health Department

Ms. Shannan Rome is described as a true asset to Kentucky Public Health for her exceptional work as the HANDS Manager at the Franklin County Health Department. Her leadership of this home visitation program for new and expecting parents has led to the development of an incredible team that provides excellent service for Franklin County. She exhibits a keen sensitivity to the needs of the community and has developed innovative solutions for HANDS families. She recently instituted HANDS visits in the Franklin County Regional Jail setting. This has become one of the most popular programs at the Regional Jail among inmates who are new parents and has received accolades at the Kentucky Jailers Association Annual Conference. Ms. Rome has provided expert guidance for staff at other health departments and continually works with community partners to provide cribs, car seats and other supplies for HANDS families.

According to Ms. Rome’s health department director, “Shannan makes it known that the HANDS program is a true calling for her. Her passion is infectious, and her improvement ideas are always innovative. Kentucky Public Health is lucky to have a HANDS manager like Shannan Rome!”

Starlene Stucker, RN
HANDS Supervisor
North Central District Health Department

Starlene Stucker has been the face of the North Central District HANDS program for more than 10 years. She received $134,000 in grant funding to help promote and retain families in the program. And she is using those funds in diverse and creative ways to help expand the program. An incentive program that includes a free car seat for families has been added to aide retention. She’s growing community familiarity with the program in variety of ways – including a new video for social media and commercialization efforts, community events to increase visibility of the program, providing educational opportunities and more. In conjunction with the North Central District’s Community Health Team, Starlene is organizing car shows in each of the four counties where she serves to promote HANDS and raise money for the district’s Cribs for Kids program. The first event raised more than $2,000, which will provide more than 30 cribs for children in the district. She relishes the moments she gets to work with moms, dads, and their children. Starlene is always heading out the door for an appointment with a family. And her caring nature carries over into the offices she works in. Star leaves a lasting impression on everyone she works with.

Jan Rogers
Maternal Child Health Coordinator
Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness

The 2022 award goes to someone who focuses on strategic goals and partnerships as well as public health modernization. She has had an enormous positive impact on expanding her departments strategic partnerships around maternal child health and Covid-19 response.

She restarted her organizations MCH collective impact group, the Healthy Babies Louisville (HBL) Coalition, after a one-year hiatus caused by the pandemic, adding over 40 new community partners, bringing the number of partner organizations up to an incredible 135.

She organized and hosted six subcommittees focused on addressing different aspects of MCH health disparities including an Outreach and Communication group, Fetal and Infant Review Board, and Postpartum Support taskforce. She worked with HBL Breastfeeding Task Force to develop and host breastfeeding workshops for Jefferson Co Public Schools Teenage Parent Program (TAPP) for school students, providing them with basic breastfeeding knowledge, self-advocacy skills and help with finding resources and services.

She organized the MCH Advisory Committee, renamed the Parent Empowerment Board, and onboarded 10 community parent participants to advise strategy and engagement for HBL, Title V MCH work, WIC and Healthy Start home visitation. She built a listserv of childcare providers with whom to share member organization events and educational materials and provides MCH education on local radio stations and through public service announcements.

No one was surprised when this person was accepted for the 2021-22 Region IV Public Health Leadership Institute (PHLI), a highly competitive program with 110 applications for just 28 spots.

Trina Miller, RN, BSN
Maternal Mortality Review Committee Nurse Consultant
Kentucky Department for Public Health

Described as diligent and passionate about improving health outcomes for pregnant women using data, in 2017, she began organizing and developing a system of review of maternal deaths to drive prevention efforts. Her work has involved data evaluation to identify maternal morbidities, organizing web-based training related to maternal health during pregnancy, researching educational opportunities to be shared in the community and working with the KY Perinatal Quality Collaborative on activities. Throughout the pandemic she has continued to organize virtual reviews, identify concerns and promote prevention efforts.

Leanne French, MS
Community Health Administrator
Louisville Metro Department of Public Health & Wellness

She is said to be truly gifted at bringing together people and organizations passionate about maternal and child health to create collective impact. She was instrumental in the development of Healthy Babies Louisville, a collaborative which has over 25 partner organizations, working to develop, adopt and improve policies and practices shown to improve equity in birth outcomes. Healthy Babies Louisville is working to reduce preterm birth, low birth weight and infant death.

She leads the LMPHW Early Childhood Root Cause Team, which provides technical assistance and resources to organizations such as Jefferson County Public Schools. She has a leadership role in the organization, representing not only LMPHW, but the health care sector, on Ready for Kindergarten Guiding Team.

Following an extensive process of listening to the community, conducting a Community Health Needs Assessment, and working with partners to create a Community Health Improvement Plan, LMPHW developed the Healthy Louisville 2025 plan. She has embraced the call of Public Health 3.0 to create partnerships for collective impact and has provided a model for how to create and maintain successful and productive partnerships across all sectors of the community. For all these reasons, Leanne French has shown her tireless dedication to the women and children in Kentucky.

We are excited to award Leanne French, Community Health Administrator in the Center for Health Equity at Louisville Metro Public Health & Wellness with the 2020 Helen B. Fraser Award.

• 2019: A. Scott Lockard
• 2018: Doraine F. Bailey
• 2017: Ruth Ann Shepherd, M.D.
• 2016: Fran Hawkins
• 2015: Shawna Thomerson
• 2014: Allison Adams
• 2013: Susan Brown
• 2012: Barbara Ruedel
• 2011: Cheryl Miller
• 2010: Priscilla Purciful
• 2009: Theresa Bushong
• 2008: Cris Sparks, RN
• 2007: Sarah Wilding, RN
• 2006: Sarojini Kanotra
• 2005: Eileen Deren, RN
• 2004: Anita Black, RN
• 2003: Jan Samuels, RN
• 2002: Ann Meador
• 2001: Angela Woosley, RN
• 2000: Steve Davis, MD
• 1999: Arme Peltier, MD
• 1998: Dwala S. Griffin, RN
• 1997: Saundra Toussaint, RN
• 1996: Deborah Stanley, MD
• 1995: Norma Watson, RN
• 1994: Peggy S. Kidd, MPH, RD
• 1993: Robert Fritz
• 1992: Ted Hanekamp, MPH
• 1991: Eunice Johnson, MD
• 1990: Faye Hensley, MS, RN
• 1989: Ellen M. Buchart, RN
• 1988: Mary F. Criswell, RN
• 1987: Louise F.G. Hutchins, MD
• 1986: Elizabeth Owen, RN
• 1985: Clarence P. Marshall
• 1984: Betty J. Lyons, RN
• 1983: Rosemary Morris
• 1982: Rhea Taylor
• 1981: Frances Goodman, RN
• 1980: Doane Fischer, MD
• 1979: Patricia K. Nicol, MD, MPH
• 1978: Billy F. Andrews, MD
• 1977: Astra U. Kidd, MD
• 1976: Margaret Suters, RN
• 1975: Jacqueline Noonan, MD
• 1974: Mildred Neff
• 1973: Jean Tachau