Alumni

Through their project work, participating teams practice key skills that support the community health improvement process. The following is a brief summary of team projects and major accomplishments, organized by community health priorities.

Access to primary and preventive health services

Milwaukee Latino Health Coalition Team shifted their focus to immigration and is working to ensure access to health care among Milwaukee's Latino community.
Milwaukee Region Cancer Care Network Team brought together competing healthcare systems to develop the Colorectal Cancer Screening Collaborative aimed at increasing colorectal cancer screening in Milwaukee and Waukesha Counties.
Healthy Beginnings Dane County Team is working to advance health and social policies and other essential resources demonstrated to prevent premature births and promote healthy birth outcomes.
La Crosse Area Dental Care Advocacy Coalition Team engaged local media and is providing direct training of health care providers to raise community awareness of oral health care needs in La Crosse County.

Alcohol and other substance use and addiction

Fond du Lac Drug Free Communities Task Force Team implemented a county fair wristband policy to decrease underage drinking and is working to create greater awareness of the effects of underage drinking in the community.
Barron County Safe and Stable Families Coalition Team increased utilization of evidence-based school curriculum to reduce substance abuse and is working with youth and parents to implement evidence-based programs.
Wisconsin LGBT Youth Health Initiative Team successfully collected statewide data related to LGBT health issues, and is launching a statewide LGBT youth health coalition focusing on LGBT youth health disparities.

High risk sexual behavior

Milwaukee Partnership for Reducing Adolescent Risky Sexual Behavior Team conducted an educational campaign to reduce unintended pregnancies in Milwaukee by increasing use of free reproductive health care services among women 15-44 years of age. They received grant funding to continue their work.

Mental health and mental disorders

Oneida County Mental Health Inter-Agency Council Team developed a collaborative countywide program to improve access to mental health care.
Lieutenant Governor’s Task Force Team held a major advocacy event bringing more than 600 Wisconsin residents to the State Capitol to educate elected representatives on the need for equal coverage for physical and mental health. They also helped launch Coalition for Fairness, which will continue to educate and advocate on behalf of mental health parity in Wisconsin.

Overweight, obesity, and lack of physical activity

Healthy People Lincoln County Team collected BMI data from all Lincoln County schools. They are using the data to implement school-based and community-wide initiatives to support healthy nutrition and physical activity.
Healthy People Wood County Team implemented a comprehensive health and wellness program in a local elementary school. They are currently expanding community initiatives and resources aimed at improving physical activity and nutrition among Wood County residents.
Milwaukee County Nutrition and Physical Activity Coalition Team increased collaboration and communication among organizations working to improve physical activity and nutrition among residents in the Milwaukee area and are implementing a train-the-trainer program.
Activate Fox Cities Team provides leadership to community action groups working to sustain healthier ways to live in Fox Cities’ communities by developing connected walking trails, point of decision prompts encouraging use of stairs in public and private buildings, community-wide participation in Walk-to-Win program, public policy for redesigning bridges and trails and safe routes to schools.
Healthy People Coulee Region Team engaged community members, including local media to increase the number of children and adults walking or biking to school and work. They are also forming a bicycle advocacy group in the community.
Healthy People Washington County Team planned and implemented worksite farmers’ markets to bring locally grown produce to three worksites, reaching more than 1,200 employees. They are developing a toolkit to facilitate replication of their project at other worksites.
Healthy People Portage County Team implemented a point-of-decision-prompt intervention to improve vending machine food choices among students (more than 1,700) at Stevens Point Area Senior High School. They are currently expanding their initiative to other schools and local businesses.