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Governor's Health Equity Council

Delivering actionable solutions to help Wisconsin become an equitable place to live for all people

On March 19, 2019, Governor Tony Evers issued Executive Order #17, establishing the Governor's Health Equity Council.

The purpose of the council is to address the various factors that exacerbate health disparities by creating a comprehensive plan to achieve long-lasting and equitable health outcomes for all Wisconsinites. The plan will address health disparities based on race, economic status, education level, history of incarceration, and geographic location.

Governor's Health Equity Council Report

The council released its full report “Building a Better Wisconsin: Investing in the Health and Well-being of Wisconsinites" on January 30, 2023. It includes the 20 recommendations adopted by the council. It also has robust data revealing the state of health equity in Wisconsin and an examination of the social determinants of health that contribute to differences in health outcomes documented across the state.

Executive Summary and Proposals, P-03236 – The council released the Executive Summary and Recommendations.

News Release – Governor’s Health Equity Council Releases Final Recommendations – May 22, 2022

Race to Equity – A Baseline Report on the State of Racial Disparities in Dane County

Race in the Heartland, Wisconsin’s Extreme Racial Disparity – uses data from Race in the Heartland, written by Colin
Gordon. Race in the Heartland is a joint project of the Iowa Policy Project, Policy Matters Ohio, COWS, and the Economic
Policy Institute that reviews the racial inequality in the Midwest. It is an update of COWS’ series on the disparities between
white and black Wisconsinites.

Wisconsin Disparities Report: Rural and Urban Populations – Wisconsin Collaborative for Healthcare Quality

Investing in Wisconsin's Future : Closing Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Wisconsin's Public Higher Education Systems – written by Laura Dresser, Matthew Braunginn, and Emanuel Ubert for COWS.

County Health Rankings

Race to Equity website

Minority Health Social Vulnerability Index fact sheet

Structural Funding Inequities Subcommittee

Upcoming Subcommittee meeting:

Date and time to be announced

Past meeting materials

Subcommittee meeting
Jan. 5, 2022, 3 to 4 p.m.
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Subcommittee meeting
Dec. 22, 2021, 3 to 4 p.m.
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Subcommittee meeting
Dec. 8, 2021, 3 to 4 p.m.
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Subcommittee meeting
Dec. 1, 2021, 3 to 4 p.m.
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Public listening session/open meeting
Nov. 23 2021, 1 to 1:30 p.m.
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Public listening session/open meeting
Nov. 12, 2021, 9 to 10 a.m.
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Subcommittee meeting
Nov. 10, 2021, 3 to 4 p.m.
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Subcommittee meeting
Oct. 27, 2021, 3 to 4:30 p.m.
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Subcommittee meeting
Oct. 13, 2021, 3 to 4:30 p.m.
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Subcommittee meeting
Oct. 6, 2021, 3 to 4:30 p.m.
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Subcommittee meeting
Sept. 22, 2021, 3 to 4:30 p.m.
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Subcommittee meeting
Sept 1, 2021, 3 to 4 p.m.
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Subcommittee meeting
Aug, 18, 2021, 3 to 4:30 p.m.
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Subcommittee meeting
Aug, 4, 2021, 3 to 4:30 p.m.
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Subcommittee meeting
July 21, 2021, 3:05 to 4 p.m.
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Investment in Targeted Programming for Under-Resourced Communities Subcommittee

Upcoming meeting:

Date and time to be announced

Past meeting materials

Jan. 4, 2022, 10 to 10:45 a.m.
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Dec. 14, 2021, 10 to 10:30 a.m.
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Dec. 7, 2021, 10 to 10:15 a.m.
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Nov. 23, 2021, 10 to 10:15 a.m.
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Nov. 9, 2021, 10 to 10:45 a.m.
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Nov. 1, 2021, 6 to 7 p.m.
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October 26, 2021, 10 to 10:45 p.m.
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October 14, 2021, 3 to 3:45 p.m.
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Sept. 28, 2021, 10 to 10:45 a.m.
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Sept. 16, 2021, 3 to 3:45 p.m.
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Aug. 31, 2021, 10 to 10:45 a.m.
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Aug. 17, 2021, 10 to 10:45 a.m.
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Aug. 12, 2021, 3 to 3:45 p.m.
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July 21, 2021, 3:05 p.m. to 4 p.m.
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Framing Subcommittee

Upcoming meeting:

Date and time to be announced

Past meeting materials

Jan. 10, 2022, 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.
Meeting materials

Oct. 13, 2021, 3 to 4 p.m.
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Sept. 8, 2021, 3 to 4 p.m.
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Aug. 11, 2021, 3 to 4 p.m.
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July 21, 2021, 3:05 to 4 p.m.
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Serving on the Health Equity Council are:

  • Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes
  • DHS Interim Secretary Karen Timberlake
  • Council Chair: Gina Green-Harris – Director of Center for Community Engagement and Health Partnerships, UW School of Medicine and Public Health
  • Council Vice Chair: Dr. Michelle Robinson – Equity and Systems Change Research and Policy Officer
  • Structural Inequities Subcommittee Co-Chair: Maria Barker – Director of Latinx Programs and Initiatives, Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin
  • Targeted Investment Subcommittee Co-Chair: Micaela Berry-Smith – Executive Director, Harambee Village
  • Framing Subcommittee Co-Chair: Shiva Bidar-Sielaff – Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer, UW Health
  • Sandra Brekke – Senior Consultant, Office of Population Health, Gundersen Health System
  • Stacy Clark – Intersectionality Among Men Program Coordinator, Diverse & Resilient
  • Representation Subcommittee Co-Chair: Dr. Amy DeLong – Family Physician and Medical Director, Ho-Chunk Nation
  • Diane Erickson – Clinic Administrator, Red Cliff Community Health Center
  • Sarah Ferber – Associate Director, Ex-Incarcerated People Organizing
  • Cristy Garcia-Thomas – Chief External Affairs Officer Advocate Aurora Health
  • Joya Headley – Public Health Student, University of Wisconsin-Madison
  • Janel Hines – Senior Director of Grant Programs and Strategic Initiatives, Greater Milwaukee Foundation
  • Framing Subcommittee Co-Chair: Paula Tran Inzeo – Group Director, UW Population Health Institute, Mobilizing Action Toward Community Health
  • Dr. Tito Izard – President and CEO, Milwaukee Health Services, Inc.
  • Structural Inequities Subcommittee Co-Chair: Gale Johnson – Director of Wisconsin Well Woman Program, Department of Health Services
  • Patricia Metropulos, President and CEO, Kathy's House
  • Julie Mitchell, Commercial Medical Director, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield of Wisconsin
  • Isaak Mohamed – Somali Liaison and Community Health Worker, Barron County
  • Wanda Montgomery – Public Member
  • Tia Murray – Owner, Co-Founder, and President, Harambee Village
  • Lilliann Paine – Director of Technical Assistance and Business Development with the National Birth Equity Collaborative (NBEC)
  • William Parke-Sutherland – Health Policy Engagement Coordinator, Kids Forward
  • Lisa Peyton-Caire – Founder and President, The Foundation for Black Women's Wellness
  • Guy (Anahkwet) Reiter – Executive Director, Menikanaehkem, Inc.
  • Cristal Tinajero Rodríguez – Student, Milwaukee Area Technical College
  • Ellen Sexton – Senior Vice President, Head of Specialty Business, Humana
  • Mary Thao –Marshfield Clinic
  • Targeted Investment Subcommittee Co-Chair: Elizabeth Valitchka – Strategic Advisor, Department of Children and Families
  • Jerry Waukau – Tribal Health Director, Menominee Nation
  • Andrea Werner – Senior Vice President, Bellin Health Hospital Center
  • Representation Subcommittee Co-Chair: Dr. Jasmine Zapata – Chief Medical Officer and State Epidemiologist for the Bureau of Community Health Promotion at the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS)

Press release announcing creation of Health Equity Council

University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute 2016 Health of Wisconsin Report Card – the state of Wisconsin has an overall health disparities grade of "D." The Report Card also notes that while Wisconsin's grade for overall health has remained the same since 2007, the health disparities grade has gotten worse since 2010, moving from a C- to a D in 2013 and 2016.

Open Meetings and Public Record Law Training (PDF)

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Disclaimer about advisory council content

This content reflects the views and opinions of the advisory council. It may not reflect the official policy or position of DHS.

Last revised February 14, 2024