In the powerful finale of the Nobody’s Perfect x @spkourminds 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

Episode 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, 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

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.

Medicaid’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 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

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.

Across 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 Medicaid really is, and explaining why EPSDT is considered the most comprehensive child health benefit in the country — yet is almost entirely unknown to most Americans. They explore how this series aims to change that, not through abstract policy talk, but by spotlighting real stories, elevating voices of experts and families, and catalyzing system-wide collaboration through a model known as the Learning Health Network.

Each subsequent episode dives deeper, featuring frontline experts, policymakers, caregivers, and change-makers who put a fine point on the issues — and possibilities — behind EPSDT. From demystifying bureaucracy and advocating for policy reform to showcasing community-driven solutions and technological innovations, this series is a call to awareness, action, and ultimately, transformation.

Whether you're a policymaker, provider, parent, or advocate, this series will empower you to understand the system, challenge its shortcomings, and become part of a collective force for better mental health care for every child.

Tune in. Speak up. And help unlock the potential of Medicaid to truly serve our nation’s youth.

What if discipline didn’t mean punishment, but instead, connection? In this episode of Nobody’s Perfect, Jason Hopcus sits down with Zac Hess—educator, Veteran, and Restorative Practices leader—to explore how schools can shift from punitive systems to ones built on empathy, accountability, and healing. With experience ranging from teaching incarcerated youth to leading district-wide change, Zac shares practical strategies and inspiring stories that show how relationships—not rules—are the foundation of safe, inclusive learning environments.

Whether you’re a parent, educator, or student advocate, this conversation offers a powerful look at how we can better support youth and transform school culture—one relationship at a time.

🎧 Tune in now and discover how restorative practices are changing lives and schools for the better.

Vaping among youth is on the rise, but how much do we really know about its impact? In this episode of Nobody’s Perfect, Jason Hopcus is joined by Alissa Huff and Ashley Scollard, Community Health Educators for the Douglas County Health Department, to uncover the hidden dangers of youth vaping.

We dive into why kids start vaping, the role of stress and peer pressure, and how the industry targets youth to get them hooked. We also explore the accessibility and concealment of vaping products, the physical and mental health risks, and why vaping is more than just "flavored smoke." Plus, we discuss prevention efforts, non-punitive approaches to education, and how parents can foster open, judgment-free conversations with their children.

From environmental concerns to resources for cessation, this episode is packed with essential insights for parents, educators, and anyone supporting youth. Tune in to learn how we can work together to combat this growing issue and empower young people to make healthier choices.