Why Are More Kids Dying by Suicide Than Cancer? A Wake-Up Call for America

Why Are More Kids Dying by Suicide Than Cancer? A Wake-Up Call for America

In the powerful finale of the Nobody’s Perfect x @spkourminds [https://studio.youtube.com/channel/UCU9We7GFtk3sGtDhwS-rMZw] 6-part series, we sit down with Matt Cook, President & CEO of the Children’s Hospital Association (CHA), the national voice for over 200 children's hospitals across the country. With decades of leadership and front-line experience, Matt brings a bold vision for tackling the youth mental health crisis at scale. We dive deep into: - State funding opportunities: How governors and legislatures can tap into Medicaid and block grants to expand mental health services for kids. - Maximizing Medicaid/EPSDT: Policy strategies to ensure every eligible child benefits from the Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment program. - Policy priorities: Which legislative changes—from tele-health parity to reimbursement reform—could truly turn the tide. - Innovation in care: The potential of tele-health, real-time data sharing, and digital tools to reach more youth earlier. - Advocacy playbook: Concrete steps listeners can take—from contacting state reps to joining advocacy coalitions—to drive EPSDT improvements. Finally, we explore the hopeful future of youth mental health: what it could look like if we invest wisely, innovate boldly, and commit to equity. This episode is both a wake‑up call and a rallying cry—it’s a roadmap for change. #youthmentalhealth #mentalhealthawareness #epsdt #medicaidmatters #childrenshospitals #nobodysperfect #speakourminds #healthcareinnovation #suicideprevention

How Learning Health Networks Are Transforming Youth Mental Health with Medicaid

Episode 5: The Power of Learning Health Networks with Dr. Dan Hyman & Dr. Peter Margolis Hosted by Jason Hopcus and Heidi Baskfield of @spkourminds [https://studio.youtube.com/channel/UCU9We7GFtk3sGtDhwS-rMZw] How do we create systems that actually learn from the people they serve? In this powerful episode, we explore how Learning Health Networks (LHNs) are transforming the landscape of youth mental healthcare through connection, data, and collaboration. Jason and Heidi sit down with two national leaders in the field—Dr. Dan Hyman and Dr. Peter Margolis—to unpack the promise of LHNs in improving Medicaid-funded care. From breaking down traditional silos to uniting families, providers, and policymakers, this episode offers a clear roadmap for what’s possible when we treat healthcare like a shared mission. What you’ll learn: - What a Learning Health Network is—and why it matters now more than ever - Real-world examples of LHNs driving measurable change - How state and federal funding can be used to scale solutions that work - What it takes to build a Learning Health Network for youth mental health from the ground up This is more than a conversation—it’s a call to action. 🎙️ Listen now to learn how LHNs can help us build a smarter, more connected future for youth mental health. #medicaidmatters #LearningHealthNetworks #youthmentalhealth #speakourminds #nobodysperfect #JasonHopcus #mentalhealthinnovation

Access Denied: Why Kids Still Can’t Get the Mental Health Care They Deserve

In this eye-opening episode of the Nobody’s Perfect podcast, host Jason Hopcus and co-host Heidi Baskfield of Speak Our Minds are joined by pediatric mental health expert Dr. Sandy Fritsch to explore the deep systemic failures preventing children from receiving the mental health care they’re entitled to through EPSDT (Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment). Despite federal mandates, countless kids across the country are still slipping through the cracks. Together, they unpack: * The most common barriers to accessing EPSDT-covered mental health services * The impact of inconsistent state implementation and red tape * Why provider awareness is often lacking—and how to fix it * How social determinants of health further limit care * What families, providers, and advocates can do to fight for better outcomes Dr. Fritsch brings clinical expertise, while Heidi speaks as a passionate policy advocate. The result is a must-listen conversation that blends heart, systems knowledge, and real tools for change. If you’re a parent, clinician, policymaker, or anyone committed to youth mental health, this episode is a crucial listen. 🎧 Tune in, share widely, and help us speak the truth: Nobody’s Perfect—but every child deserves the care they were promised.

The Medicaid Benefit You’ve Never Heard Of: Unlocking EPSDT with Jocelyn Guyer

Medicaid’s best-kept secret? EPSDT. In this episode of Nobody’s Perfect, hosts, Jason Hopcus and Heidi Baskfield of Speak Our Minds [https://speakourminds.org] join policy powerhouse Jocelyn Guyer to break down one of the most powerful—but least understood—tools in youth mental health: the Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment (EPSDT) benefit. We unpack: * What “Early,” “Periodic,” “Screening,” “Diagnostic,” and “Treatment” really mean—and why each word matters * How EPSDT ensures medically necessary, individualized care for youth * Why EPSDT isn’t just good policy—it’s cost-effective and underutilized * Which states are leading the way—and where there's room to grow * What system changes could unlock EPSDT’s full potential Whether you're a parent, policymaker, educator, or provider, this episode will change how you see Medicaid—and the future of youth mental health care. 🎧 Tune in now and share with someone who needs to hear it. #MedicaidMatters #EPSDT #YouthMentalHealth #NobodysPerfectPodcast

Medicaid Matters: The Most Misunderstood Tool in Youth Mental Health

We LOVE Medicaid—and by the end of this episode, you just might too. In Episode 2 of our special 6-part series on youth mental health, we sit down with Aimee Ossman, Vice President of Policy at the Children’s Hospital Association, to explore how Medicaid—often misunderstood and undervalued—is actually one of the most powerful tools we have to support young people’s well-being. This episode unpacks what Medicaid really is (hint: not just "insurance for poor kids"), how it ensures access to essential mental health care for nearly 40 million children, and what’s at stake if we don’t protect and improve this lifeline. You’ll learn: * Why Medicaid is misunderstood—and why that matters * What makes it different from traditional insurance * How it opens the door to behavioral health services without needing a diagnosis * What would happen if Medicaid weren’t there for kids * How states play a critical role in ensuring equitable access * What changes could make Medicaid work even better for youth mental health Hosted by Jason C. Hopcus (Nobody’s Perfect Community) and Heidi Baskfield (Speak Our Minds), this honest and hopeful episode is a must-listen for anyone working to build a better future for our youth.