Wisconsin Coverdell Stroke Program: Community Partnership
Stroke prevention begins in the community. It means knowing the signs and symptoms of stroke (BE FAST) so you can quickly call 911 when you or someone around you is potentially experiencing a stroke. Prevention also means taking steps to avoid strokes. This includes eating a healthy diet, getting regular physical activity, and quitting smoking.
Use the acronym BE FAST to recognize the signs of a stroke:
B – Balance: Sudden loss of coordination or balance.
E – Eyes: Sudden change in vision.
F – Face: Sudden weakness on one side or facial droop
A – Arm: Sudden arm or leg weakness or numbness.
S – Speech: Sudden slurred speech, trouble speaking, or trouble understanding speech.
T – Terrible headache: Sudden onset of a terrible headache.
You can do a great deal to prevent your own risk of a stroke, but it takes more to reduce the risk and result of stroke for everyone, everywhere.
Community-based organizations are in a unique position to help. They can spread the word on ways to identify stroke signs, and these groups can educate the public on risk factors.
Coverdell community partnership
The Wisconsin Coverdell Stroke Program invites all community-based organizations, with a health-focused mission, to join in our pursuit of preventing and addressing stroke in our local communities. Our program joins community partners from across Wisconsin to create a larger, collective effort to reduce stroke occurrence and increase access to community-based care post-stroke. This group meets bi-annually to discuss relevant topics.
The benefits of being a Coverdell Community Partner include:
- Free stroke community education materials.
- Networking and community of practice opportunities with other Coverdell Community Partners.
- Technical assistance to answer questions regarding stroke and stroke prevention.
- Invitations to stroke education opportunities.
- Recognition on the state stroke program website.
To join our Coverdell Stroke efforts, complete the Community Partner Agreement, F-03091 (PDF) and email it to the Coverdell team at dhscoverdellstroke@dhs.wisconsin.gov.
- Ascension All Saints Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation
- Ascension All Saints Stroke Support Group
- Aurora BayCare Medical Center Stroke Support Group
- Bayfield County Health Department
- Casa ALBA Melanie
- Community Action for Healthy Living
- City of Menasha Health Department
- De Pere Health Department
- Dunn County Health Department
- Eau Claire City-County Health Department
- The Free Clinic of the Greater Menomonie Area
- Gateway Technical College- HERO Center
- Great Rivers HUB
- Green Lake County Health Department
- Health Connections, Inc.
- La Crosse County Health Department
- Milwaukee Area Health Education Centers
- Milwaukee Consortium for Hmong Health, Inc.
- Milwaukee County Organizations Promoting Prevention
- Northcott Neighborhood House, Inc.
- Oconto County Public Health
- Open Arms Free Clinic, Inc.
- Outagamie County Public Health
- Sheboygan County Health and Human Services
- Wisconsin Institute for Healthy Aging
- Wisconsin Women's Health Foundation
- YMCA of Chippewa Valley - Eau Claire Branch
- YMCA of Metropolitan Milwaukee
- YMCA of Metropolitan Milwaukee - Franklin
- YMCA of Metropolitan Milwaukee - Brown Deer
- YMCA of Northern Rock County
- YMCA of Northern Rock County- Parker Branch
Coverdell Community Partner meetings
Coverdell Community Partners meet for 1.5 hours bi-annually, virtually. The meeting provides members the opportunity to network with fellow community partners as well as ask questions and share best practices. It is a space for partners to engage with one another specifically on stroke prevention and post-stroke care.
Coverdell Community Partners also receive invitations to bi-annual Wisconsin Stroke Coalition meetings and other educational opportunities.
February 22, 2024
Resources for Community Partners
The Wisconsin Coverdell Stroke Program encourages community organizations, hospitals, EMS (emergency medical service) providers, and other patient care areas to promote BE FAST Bella and Risk Factor Rick.
View all of the Coverdell Stroke Program's stroke education materials on the Coverdell Community Education page. All items are available for you to download and print. You can add your logo before printing. Full-sized versions of these materials are organized in accordions by language (English, Spanish, Hmong, Russian, and Somali) on the Coverdell Community Education page.
Want to be featured as the next Coverdell success story? Contact Kyleen Maccoux at Kyleen.Maccoux@dhs.wisconsin.gov about highlighting your organization's achievements in stroke care including quality improvement projects, best practice, or partnerships.
See our Coverdell success stories on the Coverdell Community Stroke Education page.
If you're looking for a stroke support group, or would like to register yours, visit the American Stroke Association's Stroke Support Group Finder.
Videos
- CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) video: A Stroke Can Happen at Any Age
- CDC video: What Happens in the Ambulance During a Stroke?
Stroke awareness
- American Heart Association
- American Stroke Association
- CDC: Division for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention
- CDC: Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity
- CDC: Paul Coverdell National Acute Stroke Program
- CDC: Stroke
- Million Hearts
- National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians
- Wisconsin Coverdell Stroke Program: Publications and Materials
- Wisconsin Department of Health Services—Chronic Disease Prevention Program
- World Stroke Organization
The resources presented on this webpage are a sampling of available materials and do not necessarily constitute an endorsement by the Department of Health Services or the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association.
Contact us for more information
Chandler Hansen
Coverdell Outreach Specialist
Chandler.Hansen@dhs.wisconsin.gov