Wisconsin Partner Profiles

The mission of Ashland County Public Health is to promote and protect optimal health and safety in Ashland County through education, encouragement, and empowerment.

Email achsd@co.ashland.wi.us.

Children's Health Alliance of Wisconsin is a statewide voice for children's health. They raise awareness, mobilize leaders, impact public health, and implement programs proven to work. The Children's Health Alliance is affiliated with Children's Wisconsin. Their key initiatives are emergency care, environmental health, injury prevention and death review, medical home, and oral health.

The Medical Home Initiative with Children's Health Alliance of Wisconsin promotes children's health and development through its direct support to health care clinicians, public health departments, early childhood professionals and families throughout Wisconsin. They provide training, technical assistance and resources on practices of early screening, identification, care coordination and food security. They increase knowledge, skills and practices that improve cross-sector coordination of care and community support for all children, especially those with special health care needs.

Email gwadhwani@childrenswi.org.

Chippewa County Department of Public Health is an innovative, Level 3 Accredited Health Department whose mission is to "Prevent, Promote and Protect" and vision is to "Make our county the healthiest county to live, learn, work and play."

With Title V funds, we have chosen to focus our efforts on advancing adolescent well-being by collaborating with community coalitions, schools, healthcare, and other partners. We will implement skill-based, gate keeper, risk behavior recognition, peer to peer, social emotional-learning, bullying prevention, or other evidence-based suicide prevention and mental health promotion programs that promote belonging and safety within Chippewa County.

Email health@chippewacountywi.gov.

It is the Mission of the Clark County Health Department to promote health, prevent disease, and protect the residents of the county through partnerships and population-based services.

With Title V funding, the Clark County Health Department has been able to train two staff to become Certified Lactation Consultants, helping increase access for our rural populations. We have also assisted various community partners and schools in supporting their hydroponic gardens.

Coffective supports state and local organizations in coordinating to address systemic barriers and improve maternal and child health outcomes. Our coordination approach helps organizations more effectively create impact by working, learning, and creating together using customized solutions.

With Title V funds, Coffective is providing technical assistance to local and Tribal health departments on identifying, developing, and strengthening community partnerships and providing tools needed to begin addressing needs and barriers to the community's greatest disparities. Local and Tribal health departments are provided guidance and resources that bring community partners together to start building and strengthening their relationships to address breastfeeding and maternal child health needs. Technical assistance leverages existing and new partnerships to work together towards a shared maternal and child health goal that has been identified as the greatest success, barrier, or challenge in their community. Technical assistance includes group and 1:1 to provide the opportunity for peer learning and individual assistance. Lessons learned and successes are packaged and shared for others to replicate.

Email solutions@coffective.com.

De Pere Health Department serves to protect and promote public health through education, policy development, and valued services. Their dedicated and skilled staff either directly assist with or link to essential services in our community that may help with health and quality of life concerns including: disease/injury prevention, car seats, breastfeeding, smoking cessation, mental health/suicide prevention, nutrition, fall prevention, noise concerns, food safety, environmental hazards, disaster recovery, harm reduction, vaccinations, social connectedness, child development, health promotion/education, and so much more.

De Pere Health Department has previously used Title V funds for suicide prevention efforts including active membership with the Brown County Coalition for Suicide Prevention, education about lethal means restriction and mental health resources, distribution of gun locks and medication storage boxes, promotion of Drug Take Back Day/Mental Health Awareness Month/etc., and more. While Depere will continue many of these efforts, they have moved the focus of their Title V funding to social connections work starting in 2024. This focus area is also part of their Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP). They hope to use community table talks, events such as National Night Out, programs such as Bingocize, and social media/marketing to encourage and help facilitate meaningful social connections within their city.

Email deperehealth@deperewi.gov.

Dodge County Public Health focuses on improving health outcome and the quality of life within our community by promoting healthy living and providing greater access to health services for all resident in Dodge County. One way they do this is by offering programs to the community such as, but not limited to: car seat inspection/education, Cribs for Kids, dental fluoride varnish, immunizations for children and adults, home visits for TalkReadPlay, prenatal education, lead prevention and inspection, and breastfeeding support. These programs are offered at minimal to no-cost to Dodge County residents.

Dodge County Public Health is working closely with the Jefferson-Dodge Breastfeeding Coalition and using the Title V funds to address breastfeeding gaps in the community. In 2023, it is working on the following: creating a breastfeeding policy to implement around the community, offer prenatal support groups (including breastfeeding education), and create more breastfeeding support groups in the community. Dodge County Public Health is excited to have four public health nurses available to offer free breastfeeding home visits. This can include prenatal breastfeeding education, breastfeeding support, weight checks, and breastfeeding problem solving.

Email bgehring@co.dodge.wi.us.

Doulaing The Doula offers trauma-informed, evidence-based birth doula trainings that are grounded in accessibility and anti-oppression practices. They seek to develop experienced doula talent into doula trainers who can then further develop doula communities in areas that are currently underserved. Their certification program is based on the natural growth and development of the doula. They offer standards of practice, a code of ethics, a curriculum guide, a certification program, and a six month follow up course. Trainer candidates work directly with the founder of their organization for six months to a year before launching their own seminars.

Funding is being used to reach out and develop doula and educator talent that already exists in communities that experience racial inequities and disparities in birth and infant outcomes. It is shown that doulas make a difference, but trained doulas can be sisters, mothers, cousins, brothers-in-law, or grandparents. The more people who are trained as doulas in a community, the more the conversation about birth changes in that community. People will demand more and interact differently with their health care providers because it is a community movement. By seeding doula trainers who do several workshops a year, and not just training doulas, they hope to see the desired changes more quickly.

Email Doulaing The Doula at amyg@fastmail.com.

The mission of Family Voices of Wisconsin (FVofWI) is to promote comprehensive health care and community support based on family-professional partnerships and family-centered principles that assure the health and well-being of children and youth with special health care needs or disabilities and their families. The role of FVofWI is to educate and promote the inclusion of these principles in the design, implementation, and delivery of support and services throughout Wisconsin.

With Title V funds, FVofWI provides the Wisconsin Family Leadership Institute (WIFLI): Foundations to family members of children with special health care needs or disabilities. Additionally, FVofWI will host one "WiFLI Refresher" available to all past WIFLI participants to support connections and continued learning within the WIFLI network. To round out its Family Leadership offerings through this funding, FVofWI will make available "Speak Up" and "Your Voices Counts" on-demand training sessions to families of CYSHCN.

Email info@fvofwi.org for more information.

Green County Public Health protects and promotes health and prevents diseases and injuries through population-based services and partnerships with community organizations.

With Title V funding, Green County Public Health supports employers and childcare providers to become breastfeeding friendly and listens to community members to determine what they need to achieve the breastfeeding experience they desire.

Email info@greencountywi.org.

Healthy Birth Day, Inc. is the proven stillbirth prevention organization in the U.S. They help improve birth outcomes using the evidence-based Count the Kicks stillbirth prevention program, which educates expectant parents on the importance of tracking their babies' movements in the third trimester of pregnancy and speaking up if they notice a change. Health equity is at the center of their work, with a goal to reduce the racial disparities that persist in birth outcomes. Through their proven program they hope to reduce America's stillbirth by 32% as was done in Iowa, which would save 7,500 babies from preventable stillbirth every year.

With Title V funds, Healthy Birth Day, Inc. will provide Count the Kicks printed educational brochures, posters, app download reminder cards, and other educational offerings available at no out-of-pocket cost to providers in Wisconsin. They will also provide training for health care professionals on how to use the program's free tools and resources to talk with expectant parents about fetal movement monitoring in the third trimester of pregnancy. Their goal is to reduce the state's stillbirth rate by 32% as was done in Iowa, which would save more than 100 Wisconsin babies every year. They will work with maternal health organizations and community organizations to ensure that every expectant parent in the state receives vital information about tracking fetal movement in the third trimester and that they know about the free Count the Kicks app, which is available in 16 languages.

Email info@countthekicks.org.

The Maternal Child Health Division of the Jefferson County Health Department focuses on home visiting prenatally and its TalkReadPlay program for children 0-3 years of age. The division also offers breastfeeding support, including a breastfeeding support group and home visits by certified lactation specialists. As the division continues to grow, it is working to extend its focus on families with children of all ages and their social and emotional health.

Email Health@jeffersoncountywi.gov.

Lafayette County Health Department provides a variety of services including immunizations, lead testing, communicable disease prevention and follow up, chronic disease and injury prevention, water testing, self-monitored blood pressure program, health education and promotion and a behavioral health nursing program in collaboration with our county Human Services department.

With Title V funding, the Lafayette County Health Department has been able to provide training to staff regarding mental health concerns and work to promote mental health for adolescents in our county.

Email publichealth@lafayettecountywi.org.

Lincoln County Health Department's mission is to provide services to residents promoting optimal health and safety through prevention, protection, and intervention.

With Title V funds, LCHD is focusing on connecting and engaging families with the resources they need to attain optimal health. Continued education is provided to staff and partners to achieve this county wide.

Email Lexi.Buntrock@co.lincoln.wi.us.

Ashland Birth Center is a free standing, midwife owned and operated birth center that is dedicated to providing quality pregnancy, labor, delivery and postpartum care for families.

With Title V funds, Ashland Birth Center is working to support health equity throughout the perinatal period and to improve our cultural responsiveness in our communities. Ashland Birth Center is supported by Title V funds to increase our capacity for offering cultural programming, childbirth education classes, and postpartum peer support gatherings, to improve accessibility to doula care (for both doula providers and families wanting a doula), and to support indigenous student midwives in their midwifery path.

Email the Ashland Birth Center at abcmchgrant@gmail.com.

Moms Mental Health Initiative (MMHI) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping moms navigate perinatal mood and anxiety disorders by sharing information, connecting them to resources and providing peer-driven support. They maintain a list of vetted providers with training and experience with perinatal mental health who agree to see moms quickly or make a qualified referral. MMHI also offers peer connection through its online, private group for perinatal people, called Circle of Hope. Moms Mental Health Initiative also provides education on the mom perspective on navigating perinatal mental health conditions through presentations to a variety of community and professional groups, and through social media.

MMHI will expand and diversify its work and partnerships with support from Title V funds. The organization will use the funds to identify community needs and create a toolkit to support patients, as well as grow in-person support group offerings for perinatal people in Southeast Wisconsin. They will also expand education opportunities for local groups and build organizational sustainability to ensure their work continues in the future.

Email info@mmhimke.org.

Title V funds help to support the Great Lakes Breastfeeding webinars through Michigan Breastfeeding Network (MIBFN). MIBFN collaborates with organizations and individuals to bring about actionable, system-level changes that are centered on the diverse experiences of Michigan families with young children. MIBFN advocates, educates, and community-builds alongside families and organizations for the advancement of an equitable, just, and breastfeeding-supportive culture.

The webinars are available on-demand for folks to watch whenever and wherever. They are grounded in access, evidence, equity, and relevance and offer seven types of free continuing education to participants.

Email hello@mibreastfeeding.org.

Our mission is to empower all residents of Oconto County to live healthier through collaboration, education, leadership and prevention.

Oconto county Public Health is using the Title V funds for health equity projects including staff trainings about health equity and supporting partners in creating safe spaces. We have supported our local library in starting a bi-lingual story time and have helped them translate materials into Spanish.

Email thealth@wauwatosa.net.

Prenatal Care Coordination helps pregnant women gain access to medical and other services related to their pregnancy along with providing education regarding prenatal and postpartum topics. Title V funds have helped the Oneida Nation support more women returning to work after maternity leave by creating many lactation rooms in a variety of buildings for staff.

Email ccorne13@oneidanation.org.

The Periscope Project is a perinatal psychiatric access program available to health care providers and professionals caring for pregnant and postpartum women struggling with psychiatric or substance use disorders. The Periscope Project accomplishes this by providing real-time consultation between an eligible provider and perinatal psychiatrist, community resource information and educational materials. The program is offered at no cost to the providers and patients who benefit from the program.

With Title V funds, the Periscope Project will continue to provide services statewide to all health care providers and professionals caring for perinatal women struggling with psychiatric and substance use disorders.

Email theperiscopeproject@mcw.edu.

Pierce County Public Health (PCPH) is a Level III health department founded in 1943 and accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB) in March 2015 and re-accredited in 2021. Its mission is to promote, protect, and improve the lifelong health of individuals and communities in Pierce County through the effective use of data and evidence, community-driven prevention strategies, leadership, advocacy, partnerships, and the promotion of health equity. PCPH fulfills this mission by being involved in numerous community collaborations and coalitions and organizational programming in maternal and child health, communicable diseases, environmental health, chronic disease and injury prevention, and access to care.

With Title V funds, PCPH is currently promoting awareness and education to increase developmental screening in our communities. PCPH is also working to enhance family and youth social connectedness and inclusion.

The Providers and Teens Communicating for Health (PATCH) Program is based in Wisconsin and is committed to improving adolescent health alongside and in true partnership with youth. PATCH serves as a key youth engagement and positive youth development partner to Wisconsin's Title V Program by employing, educating, and empowering youth statewide. PATCH strives to bring youth voice to the forefront of adolescent health conversations while also providing young people the knowledge, skills, and opportunities to become healthy, connected, and thriving adults.

With Title V funds, PATCH has expanded its PATCH Teen Educator Program into all five public health regions to promote open, honest, and medically accurate conversations between adolescents and their health care providers. They have also expanded the statewide PATCH Youth Advocacy Fellowships to more intentionally integrate youth perspective in Wisconsin's adolescent health goals, decisions, initiatives, and practices.

Email staff@patchprogram.org.

Public Health Madison Dane County (PHMDC) is the local health department serving Dane County. We work with the community to enhance, protect, and promote the health of the environment and the well-being of all people.

PHMDC is using Title V funds on several different projects. We will be developing a system to compensate people with lived experience of fetal or infant loss to participate in our Fetal and Infant Mortality Review (FIMR). We will be working on systems and process to improve perinatal mental health and address inequities in maternal and child health. Finally, we will be using the funds to support our Community Advisory Board for our perinatal programs.

Email shughes@publichealthmdc.com.

Star Legacy Foundation promotes research and education to reduce pregnancy and infant loss and improve bereavement care for families when prevention isn't possible. It provides family support services, education for health professionals, and information for families and the community.

With Title V funds, Star Legacy Foundation has developed the Wisconsin Center for Stillbirth and Infant Death. Through this program, any family in Wisconsin who has experienced the death of a baby during pregnancy or infancy is eligible for free family support and centralized access to resources. Our staff offers a support line, multiple support groups, peer support, bereavement materials, and connections to other resources, such as counseling/therapy, financial assistance, funeral/memorial planning, and remembrance activities.

Email info@starlegacyfoundation.org or call 920-561-1600.

Supporting Families Together Association is Wisconsin's statewide member association for organizations and individuals committed to making every early childhood a great one. Our members are Wisconsin's Child Care Resource & Referral Agencies and Family Resource Centers. Supporting Families Together Association provides network-wide services such as training, technical assistance, project management, funding, community engagement, state and national representation, and much more!

Supporting Families Together Association, in collaboration with 4C for Children and the African American Breastfeeding Network, is working to increase the number of childcare programs that are designated as Breastfeeding Friendly in Wisconsin. Using the 10 Steps to Breastfeeding Friendly Child Care Centers Resource Kit as a guide, local breastfeeding coalitions, local health agencies, and Child Care Resource & Referral agencies work with providers to learn about breastfeeding and to help them improve their practices, policies, and childcare environments to better support nursing families. Facilities undergo assessments, create action plans, and receive technical assistance to make needed improvements. Once they meet the 10 Steps, providers are awarded and recognized as "Breastfeeding Friendly”. Supporting Families Together Association’s role in this work is to provide technical assistance and support to local agencies working with providers on Breastfeeding Friendly practices and to ensure that training is available and tracked in The Registry.

Email info@supportingfamiliestogether.org.

Extension embodies the Wisconsin Idea by partnering to develop and connect the research and educational resources of UW–Madison with residents and communities to address local, statewide and national issues. All of UW–Madison Extension's work is guided by the Wisconsin Idea, the university's commitment to public service that is rooted in the principle that education should influence people's lives beyond the boundaries of the classroom. The Health & Well-Being Institute works to create positive change in Wisconsin families through evidence-based programs focused on nutrition, food security, food safety, chronic disease prevention, mental health, and substance misuse. Rooted in both urban and rural communities, we're working together to help solve the state's most pressing well-being needs and to ensure that all Wisconsinites live stronger, healthier lives.

With Title V funds, Extension will leverage its statewide infrastructure, local presence, and connections to research to support local and Tribal health departments. As a technical assistance provider, Extension commits to:

• Foster state and local partnerships between Extension and public health.
• Curate and disseminate resources to support local and Tribal public health departments in adolescent well-being, youth civic engagement, health equity, and youth mental health.
• Provide targeted technical assistance to local and Tribal public health departments, including learning community calls, webinars, and in-person training sessions.

Learn more about the University of Wisconsin–Madison Division of Extension, Health & Well Being Institute or get in touch by email at youthhealth@extension.wisc.edu.

Us 2 is a nonprofit behavioral health organization, located in Appleton, Wisconsin, that provides individual and group mental health counseling to people ages 5 and older. Their mission is to advance health equity by removing barriers and creating an inclusive community where people can reach their full potential.

They are making mental health counseling more accessible to new and expectant parents experiencing perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADS) by building a mental health workforce. Funds are used to hire qualified mental health professionals, develop training curriculum to educate other service providers, and increase community awareness of PMADS.

Email info@us2bhc.org.

Washburn County Public Health is a Level II Health Department, founded in 1936. Our mission is to promote, protect, and improve the lifelong health of individuals and communities in Washburn County through the effective use of data and evidence, community-driven prevention strategies, leadership, advocacy, partnerships, and the promotion of health equity.

Washburn County Public Health is using the Title V funds to provide evidence-based suicide prevention programming and mental health promotion activities within Washburn County.

Email health@co.washburn.wi.us. 

The Wauwatosa Health Department offers one on one lactation and chest feeding support from a certified lactation counselor. We have trained car seat safety technicians offering car seat education and safety checks. The Wauwatosa Health Department also strives to provide a positive, supportive, and calm vaccine experience in a lower stimulus environment with our sensory vaccine clinic.

With Title V funds, the Wauwatosa Health Department has expanded programming in partnership with the Wauwatosa Public Library to provide story time sessions bringing caregivers and children together for hours of fun and learning through play.

Email health@wauwatosa.net.

The Winnebago County Health Department is here to help those in Winnebago County with any concerns regarding their children and overall health. Whether you need educational tools or supportive resources, they want to help support the health of you and your family. Their Parent Resource Hours provide free access to developmental screenings, breastfeeding support, nursing expertise, and more. Car seat checks and vaccinations are available by appointment.

Parent Resource Hours will allow their department to bring back prenatal and postpartum services that were disrupted during COVID. Grant funds will allow the flexibility to provide "catch-up" services to families that have been struggling to find basic needs. By streamlining their service delivery and inter-professional team, families can access more of what they need in one visit rather than multiple trips. The services provided onsite include, but are not limited to developmental screenings, child passenger safety, sleep safety, nursing expertise, breastfeeding support, vaccines, and support navigating health and community resources. To incentivize the participants, basic needs materials can be obtained by participating in their Parent Resource Hours educational topic of the month. Items such as cribs, sleeping layettes, car seats, breastfeeding supplies, diapers and more will be available to take home as the clients discuss their current family status. They will encourage all primary caretakers to participate, including fathers.

Learn more about Parent Resource hours and other family health services of the Winnebago County Health Department or by calling 920-232-3000.

The Wisconsin Coalition Against Sexual Assault (WCASA) is a statewide coalition and membership agency, providing an essential infrastructure for sexual violence services and prevention in Wisconsin. They offer training and technical assistance on diverse topics to improve responses and systems that impact survivors, their families, and communities. They work to raise awareness and build collective action to achieve their mission to create social change to end sexual violence. While focused on sexual violence, their vision is a world without violence, oppression, and racism where all people honor bodily autonomy and social justice.

With Title V funds, WCASA has expanded efforts of supporting community-based organizations beyond sexual assault service providers to those working in maternal and child health. WCASA's role as a technical assistance provider is to support community-based organizations develop and maintain the necessary infrastructure to be successful. WCASA provides technical assistance and training on a wide range of organization development topics, including grant management; internal capacity building; community development; financial management; board development; and other topics, as identified.

Email koreyh@wcasa.org.

Wisconsin Collaborative for Healthcare Quality (WCHQ) is a multi-stakeholder collaborative that includes health systems, medical clinics, and dental practices. WCHQ brings meaning to performance measurement data by creating information that drives improvement in health care quality and affordability and improves health and increases the value of health care for all.

WCHQ is partnering with organizations throughout the state to reduce disparities and gaps associated with maternal health resulting in healthy moms and babies. WCHQ members, community partners, and payers will partner to reduce the gaps identified in at-risk pregnant women and their families. The populations identified at higher risk are Black, Hispanic, Asian/Pacific Islander, American Indian/Indigenous, underserved, rural disadvantaged, and urban disadvantaged. WCHQ will use data on known causes of maternal mortality to identify areas for improvement and work with health systems on best practices to drive improvement.

Email info@wchq.org.

The Wisconsin Women's Health Foundation (WWHF) is a nonprofit organization that provides health services and education for women and families. Its mission is to innovate, impact, and improve women's health in Wisconsin. Its services are available throughout the state, in all 72 counties, and are always free and accessible to anyone who needs them. WWHF services and research initiatives are rooted in evidence-based prevention and concentrate on helping people find critical resources and support needed to improve their health outcomes.

First Breath is Wisconsin's free program to help people make positive changes to their tobacco, alcohol, and substance use during pregnancy and beyond. Health care and social service staff are trained to use the Ask, Advise, and Refer model to connect their patients with First Breath. First Breath health educators provide comprehensive one-on-one services.

Email firstbreath@wwhf.org.

The Wisconsin Women's Health Foundation (WWHF) is a nonprofit organization that provides health services and education for women and families. Our mission is to innovate, impact, and improve women's health in Wisconsin. WWHF services are available throughout the state, in all 72 counties, and are always free and accessible to anyone who needs them. WWHF services and research initiatives are rooted in evidence-based prevention and concentrate on helping people find critical resources and support needed to improve their health outcomes.

The Well Badger Resource Center connects people in Wisconsin with the health and social services they need and deserve. Individuals get help either by working one-on-one with a Certified Resource Specialist, or by the WWHF online, searchable directory of over 7,500 verified health and social services.

Email help@wellbadger.org.