Shows
Speak Our MindsThe Missing Link: Why Care Guides and Coordination Change EverythingFamilies navigating the youth mental health system often describe it as overwhelming, fragmented, and impossible to decipher — especially in moments of crisis. In this short, high-impact conversation, Dr. Micaela Thordarson explains why care guides and strong care coordination may be the closest thing we have to a “magic wand” in youth mental health care.
2026-01-2806 min
Speak Our MindsAround the Table: Why Talking Openly About Youth Mental Health Matters More Than EverIn this brief but powerful conversation, we sit down with Dr. Martine Lamy from Cincinnati Children's, the nation’s largest hospital based pediatric mental health provider to explore a quiet but profound shift in youth mental health: families are finally talking — openly, honestly, and without shame. From dinner table conversations to everyday check-ins, discussing mental health with young people is becoming more normalized, and that change is saving lives.Dr. Lamy explains why these moments of openness matter so deeply, how they help youth name their struggles earlier, and why family dialogue is one of the strongest prot...
2026-01-2106 min
Speak Our MindsDifferent Doors: What’s Changed in Youth Mental Health Care Since COVIDJust a few years ago, the youth mental health system was overwhelmed — emergency rooms overflowing, waitlists stretching for months, and families left to navigate a broken system alone. In this concise conversation with Dr. Jamie Becker, we take stock of what’s changed since the height of COVID. This episode isn’t about declaring victory — it’s about naming progress, exposing what still isn’t working, and highlighting how a once-in-a-generation disruption has reshaped how we identify risk, connect youth to care, and build systems that are beginning to meet kids where they are.
2026-01-1410 min
Speak Our MindsIt Takes a Village: How Community-Based Care Saves Young LivesIn this short form high impact conversation with Lyndsay Gaffey, we explore why preventing youth suicide can’t happen inside clinic walls alone. Community-based models of care are transforming how trust is built, and care is delivered effectively. Learn how local partnerships remain a critical piece to the care model for young people when and where they need it most.
2026-01-0706 min
Speak Our MindsNo One Can Do This Alone: Community as a Core Strategy in Youth Suicide PreventionIn today’s episode, we’re joined by a provider who’s been on the front lines of youth suicide prevention—and who’s learned, through experience, that the real turning point came from building tight, intentional partnerships with their local community.From schools and families to youth-serving organizations and trusted local leaders, this conversation explores how shared responsibility, local trust, and community coordination can dramatically change outcomes for young people.Because preventing youth suicide isn’t something any one provider, system, or organization can do alone—it truly takes a community.
2025-12-1724 min
Speak Our MindsYou Can't Do It Without A Good ProcessPreventing youth suicide is a big job and as Dr. Nasuh Malas helps us understand, you can't do it without a really effective process. Tune in to this week's episode of our series Voices of Change: Preventing Youth Suicide and learn what hospitals and provider partners need to consider when building effective approaches to preventing youth suicide in their own settings.
2025-12-1038 minSpeak Our MindsA Mother’s Voice: Laura Love on Loss, Hope, and Preventing Youth SuicideIn this powerful episode of Voices of Change: Preventing Youth Suicide, we sit down with mental health advocate, provider, and mom Laura Love as she shares her deeply personal story of loss. Laura opens up about the heartbreak of losing her child and the urgent need for suicide prevention strategies that truly support children and families. Her experience underscores why prevention efforts must be compassionate, accessible, and designed with families at the center. This conversation is both poignant and inspiring—a call to action for all of us to create a world where every young person feels se...
2025-12-0333 minSpeak Our MindsVoices of Change: Preventing Youth SuicideSpeak Our Minds brings together critical voices working to address the youth suicide crisis. Listen as we explore why these efforts are so critical and how they are taking shape in the country's largest Children's Hospitals.
2025-12-0301 min
Within Normal Limits: Navigating Medical RisksA Conversation with Heidi Baskfield About Addressing Youth Mental HealthIn this episode, we talk with Heidi Baskfield, the founder of Speak Our Minds, an organization dedicated to addressing the youth mental health crisis in the United States. Baskfield talks about her journey from political advocacy to health leadership and the committed effort required to transform youth mental health care. Their conversation explores the overwhelming mental health needs of children and the insufficiency of existing resources, which led to the declaration of a state of emergency in Colorado regarding youth mental health. Baskfield outlies four principle aims that Speak Our Minds is focused on: building robust systems of care...
2025-09-2526 min
Credo VoicesS2 E7: Healing Young MindsIn this episode of Credo Voices, we explore the journey of Heidi Baskfield, a youth mental health advocate and the President & CEO of Speak Our Minds. Heidi’s work sheds light on the systemic barriers preventing children from accessing mental health care, addressing the profound impact of policy failures, insurance gaps, and inequities in the healthcare system.Through advocacy, policy reform, and community-driven solutions, Heidi is working to build a functional youth mentalhealth system. Her efforts champion (SDG 3) Good Health and Well-Being and (SDG 10) Reduced Inequalities, ensuring that every child—regardless of background—receives the care they need...
2025-08-1532 min
Speak Our MindsLeading the Charge: Youth Mental Health, Medicaid, and the Future of Children’s HospitalsIn this powerful episode, Matthew Cook, President & CEO of the Children’s Hospital Association, joins hosts Heidi Baskfield and Jason Hopcus for a candid and urgent conversation about the youth mental health crisis and the critical role Medicaid plays in addressing it.Together, they unpack how children’s hospitals across the nation are innovating in real time—launching new models of care, embracing community partnerships, and leading bold advocacy to reimagine what mental health care can and should look like for kids.Cook shares his vision for how the Children’s Hospital Association is aligning its nati...
2025-06-3035 min
Nobody's PerfectHow Learning Health Networks Are Transforming Youth Mental Health with MedicaidEpisode 5: The Power of Learning Health Networks with Dr. Dan Hyman & Dr. Peter Margolis Hosted by Jason Hopcus and Heidi Baskfield of @spkourminds 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, prov...
2025-06-2632 min
Speak Our MindsThe Power of Learning Health Networks with Dr. Dan Hyman & Dr. Peter MargolisHow do we create systems that actually learn from the people they serve? In this eye-opening 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...
2025-06-2632 min
Speak Our MindsAccess Denied: Why Kids Still Can’t Get the Mental Health Care They DeserveIn 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 servicesThe impact of i...
2025-06-1939 minNobody's PerfectAccess Denied: Why Kids Still Can’t Get the Mental Health Care They DeserveIn 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 servicesThe impact of inconsistent state implementation and red tapeWhy provider awar...
2025-06-1939 minNobody's PerfectThe Medicaid Benefit You’ve Never Heard Of: Unlocking EPSDT with Jocelyn GuyerMedicaid’s best-kept secret? EPSDT.In this episode of Nobody’s Perfect, hosts, Jason Hopcus and Heidi Baskfield of Speak Our Minds 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 mattersHow EPSDT ensures medically necessary, individualized care for youthWhy EPSDT isn’t just good policy—it’s cost-effective and underutilizedWhich states are leading the way—and where there's room to growWhat system...
2025-06-1232 min
Speak Our MindsThe Medicaid Benefit You’ve Never Heard Of: Unlocking EPSDT with Jocelyn GuyerIn this episode hosts, Jason Hopcus and Heidi Baskfield 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 mattersHow EPSDT ensures medically necessary, individualized care for youthWhy EPSDT isn’t just good policy—it’s cost-effective and underutilizedWhich states are leading the way—and where there's room to growWhat system changes could unlock EPSDT’s full potentialWhether you're a par...
2025-06-1232 minNobody's PerfectMedicaid Matters: The Most Misunderstood Tool in Youth Mental HealthWe 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...
2025-06-0530 min
Speak Our MindsMedicaid Matters: The Most Misunderstood Tool in Youth Mental HealthIn 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.Y...
2025-06-0530 minNobody's Perfect Uncovered Care: How Medicaid and EPSDT Can Transform Youth Mental HealthAcross six powerful episodes, Heidi Baskfield of Speak Our Minds and Jason Hopcus of Nobody’s Perfect join forces to break open one of the most misunderstood — yet profoundly important — resources for youth mental health: Medicaid, and its hidden gem, EPSDT (Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment).Together, they invite listeners into a dynamic and solution-focused journey to answer one urgent question: If Medicaid and EPSDT are designed to help kids thrive, why are so many still falling through the cracks?In Episode One, Heidi and Jason lay the foundation by introducing themselves, unpacking what M...
2025-05-2929 min
Speak Our MindsThe Truth About Medicaid & Youth Mental Health: The Untold story of EPSDTThe Biggest Story You’ve Never Heard — Medicaid, EPSDT & the Mental Health of Our Youth In this kickoff episode, hosts Jason Hopcus and Heidi Baskfield pull back the curtain on one of the most powerful — and overlooked — tools for supporting youth mental health: Medicaid’s EPSDT benefit. Why is it so critical? Why don’t more people know about it? And how can it be the key to transforming care for millions of kids? This is the start of a bold 6-part journey to uncover the promise, the problems, and the possibilities behind a benefit every child on Med...
2025-05-2929 min
Speak Our MindsStrategic Advice for Long-Lasting Change in our Mental Healthcare System with Mental Health In-Chief Dr. K. Ron-Li LiawAddressing Colorado’s challenges in the children’s system of care and mental health requires innovative thinking and strategic partnerships at the government level. Joining Heidi Baskfield on the Speak Our Minds podcast today is Dr. K. Ron-Li Liaw, Colorado’s first Mental Health-In-Chief for Children’s Hospital Colorado and is also the Division Director of Child and Adolescent Youth Mental Health at the University of Colorado’s Department of Psychiatry. In this episode, Dr. Ron-Li Liaw shares how her groundbreaking role is shaping the design and delivery of mental health care in Colorado. She discusses key steps to create las...
2024-11-2527 min
Speak Our MindsEmpowering Families and Voices with Lived Experience: A Conversation with Christine Beyer, Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Children and FamiliesThe New Jersey Department of Children and Families (DCF) is the state’s first Cabinet-level agency focused exclusively on serving and supporting at-risk children and families. Today, Heidi welcomes Christine Beyer, Commissioner of the NJ DCF, to the podcast. Together with its partners, the NJ DCF works to increase kinship placements, strengthen family connections, prevent maltreatment, and promote family stability. They strive to integrate consumer voices in every program, foster accountability, maximize federal support, provide an inclusive system of care for youth, and prioritize both staff safety and professional satisfaction. Join the conversation as Christine shares insights into her ro...
2024-11-0432 minSpeak Our MindsA Bold Commitment to Youth Mental Health Reform in Colorado with Senator Barbara KirkmeyerHow can a state transform its approach to youth mental health in the face of bureaucratic challenges? In this episode of Speak Our Minds, we spotlight the passionate advocacy of Senator Barbara Kirkmeyer, a fourth-generation Coloradan who has lived in Weld County for over 35 years. From her roots as a county commissioner to her current role in the state senate, Senator Kirkmeyer’s journey is fueled by a deep commitment to improving mental health care for her state's most vulnerable citizens: its youth. She shares her pivotal role in championing Senate Bill 59 and House Bill 1038, both designed to overhaul th...
2024-10-2132 min
Speak Our MindsBuilding Responsive Systems: Empowering Colorado Youth to Navigate Mental Health with Te'Andis Elliot and Quatisha BaileyWe continue our fight for youth mental health and are excited to welcome two special guests to the podcast today: Te’Andis Elliot; a community engagement specialist in youth outreach, and Quatisha Bailey (known as Q); the Executive Director of the independent health and wellness consulting firm, Qs with Q. Join the conversation as we discuss their work in supporting youth mental health, explore common struggles faced by teens, and examine the impact of social pressures and the intersection of sexual abuse and mental health. We also highlight the importance of intentionally providing Black males with time, tools, and su...
2024-10-1442 min
Speak Our MindsProposition KK: An Issue of Domestic Violence with Majority Leader Monica Duran and Elizabeth Newman from CCASAThis week, we interrupt our regularly scheduled programming to address a critical issue: Proposition KK and the rising incidence of domestic violence in the state of Colorado, with many cases tragically ending in fatalities. Joining us are Majority Leader Monica Duran and Elizabeth Newman from the Colorado Coalition Against Sexual Assault (CCASA). Representative Duran shares her personal journey through a life-defining experience with domestic violence, while Elizabeth provides insights into her role at CCASA, the work they do, and their mission. We also examine the impact of domestic violence on children and delve into the data behind this alarming...
2024-10-0737 min
Speak Our MindsCulturally Responsive Care & Education: Reclaiming Our History to Empower the Future with Dr. Terri BissonetteAll too often, discussions about system reform and the youth mental health crisis tend to overlook the specific needs and experiences of Native and Indigenous communities. Today’s episode of Speak Our Minds features Dr. Terri Bissonette, Gnoozhekaaning Anishinaabe, a seasoned educator, independent consultant, and the former Founder and School Leader of the American Indian Academy of Denver (AIAD). Terri shares her insights into the unique needs of Native American students, highlighting the profound impact of intergenerational trauma on their mental health. She also delves into how we can design and reform systems to better support and uplift Native an...
2024-09-3036 min
Speak Our MindsThe Future of Youth Mental Health with Dr. Benjamin MillerWhat’s the most significant barrier facing youth and families when it comes to mental health care? Today, Dr. Benjamin Miller, a leading expert in mental health and adjunct faculty at Stanford School of Medicine, joins us to unpack the pressing challenges and opportunities in reforming the youth mental health system. Drawing on his extensive experience, Dr. Miller sheds light on key issues, such as the ongoing struggle for access to care, the complexities of navigating fragmented systems, and the importance of equity in mental health services. He also delves into the vital role of schools and communities in de...
2024-09-2333 min
Speak Our MindsWhat is Truly at Stake with the Youth Mental Health Crisis with Jamie UlrichThere is still a long way to go to solve the children and youth mental health crisis in Colorado. But there are many hardworking people creating solutions across our state. One such person is the Director of Human Services for Weld County, Jamie Ulrich, and she joins us today to share her journey to direct service, day-to-day problem-solving work, and insights on what is most needed in our state. Unpacking what children and youth are struggling with most, Jamie highlights the need to establish better lower levels of care and step-down placements. She also gets into the weeds with...
2024-09-1636 min
Speak Our MindsLessons from Rosie D. v. Romney with Dr. David KellerWhat can a landmark lawsuit from Massachusetts teach us about improving mental health care for youth in Colorado? Joining us today to unpack this question is Dr. David Keller, Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, Vice Chair of Clinical Strategy and Transformation at Children's Hospital Colorado, and co-chair of the Legislative Committee for the Colorado chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (APP). A key figure in pediatric healthcare, Dr. Keller is also an expert on the Rosie D. v. Romney lawsuit: the foundational Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic and Treatment (EPSDT) case that...
2024-09-0933 min
Speak Our MindsBuilding a Successful System of Care with Senator Dafna Michaelson JenetWhat does a successful system of care look like for the youth of Colorado? During this episode, Senator Dafna Michaelson Jenet is an advocate for youth mental health motivated by her own experience of trying to find the necessary support for her son’s complex needs. Kicking off our conversation, she shares her own story of advocating for a struggling child and how it ignited her passion for youth mental health in Colorado. Led by the hope that other kids will not have to go through the same things as her son, she uses her position to bring about me...
2024-09-0228 min
Speak Our MindsKnowing What to Ask ForWhen you’re first seeking care for your child, how do you know what to ask for? During this episode, we are joined by someone who has navigated many challenging circumstances in her personal fight for youth mental health. Kristin Stark is a mother supporting her daughter, Cecilia, as she navigates a wide variety of needs. Speaking to her really helps us bring to life the reasons behind the lawsuit and the need for mental health support. Kristin shares some of the challenges and trauma she and her daughter faced before meeting an advocate who advised her to get a...
2024-08-2630 min
Speak Our MindsWhy Colorado Must Do Better for Our Kids’ Mental Health with Kim LewisWelcome to Speak Our Minds: The Fight for Youth Mental Health, a podcast that delves into the inspiring journeys of youth mental health advocates who took a stand to transform the system. Together with your host and seasoned public affairs expert, Heidi Baskfield, we’ll explore the landmark class-action lawsuit that held the state of Colorado accountable for failing to provide essential youth mental health services. In each episode, we’ll unpack the intricacies of the lawsuit, guiding you through the legal battles and the monumental settlement that set the foundation for a functioning mental health system. Today, we are...
2024-08-1639 min
Ripple Effect Martial Arts PodcastMartial Arts and Children's Mental HealthHow do we help kids stay strong in mind and body in these challenging times? In this episode we’re talking with Heidi Baskfield and Dr. Bruno Anthony of Colorado’s Partners for Children’s Mental Health, who advise on what you need to know about pressures kids face and how parents, teachers and martial arts instructors can help. Serious, fascinating insight from two fighters on the front for healthier kids!
2021-10-1832 min
Good & GroundedA State of Emergency for Youth Mental Health | Heidi Baskfield of Children's Hospital ColoradoOn May 25th of this year, Children's Hospital Colorado declared a state of emergency for youth mental health. “I don’t know how to effectively articulate how bad this is. And it’s not going to get better any time soon,” said Children’s Hospital Colorado’s Vice President of Population Health and Advocacy, Heidi Baskfield. On this episode of Good & Grounded, Jim Licko & Laura Love talk with Heidi about this ongoing issue, how the pandemic exacerbated the problem, and what’s being done to address things going forward.
2021-07-0817 min
Charting PediatricsCOVID-19 School Re-Entry Guidance with Sean O'Leary, MD and Heidi Baskfield, JD (S3:E59)In this our 16th COVID-19 podcast, we will delve into the return to school guidance that both Children's Hospital Colorado and the American Academy of Pediatrics have released and talk about how pediatricians can be advocates for the safe return to in-person learning in their communities. When schools across the United States halted in-person learning because of COVID-19 this Spring, many of us never predicted that students would remain in a remote learning status for the remainder of the school year. As school districts and teachers worked tirelessly to utilize all resources at their disposal, it became...
2020-07-0133 min