2014-15 Rural Community Grant Recipients
Rescue Divas EMS Summer Camp for Girls
Bayfield-Ashland Counties EMS Partnership
Memorial Medical Center Ashland, Indianhead Technical College, Northwest Wisconsin CEP, Bayfield-Ashland County EMS Council and Northwest Wisconsin Workforce Investment Board implemented a program to create an EMS workforce “pipeline.” They sponsored a week long summer camp for middle school girls interested in learning about a career in emergency medical services. Participants earned certification in First Aid, CPR, and AED use, participated in hands-on activities that focus on skills needed in EMS careers and got behind the scenes views of EMS, including Life Link Helicopter, U.S. Coast Guard, and High Ropes Rescues. Additional information: Summary & Description; Slideshow
Mental Health Improvement: The Roadmap Project – Year 2
Clark County Mental Health Task Force
In their second year of Community Grant funding, the Clark County Mental Health Task Force (Memorial Medical Center-Neillsville, UW Extension, and Clark County Community Services, Public Health Department, Sheriff’s Department, Social Services and Combined Services Team) implemented a plan they developed in year 1 to address the shortage of mental health care in the County. Year 2 focused on raising awareness of and providing basic education in mental health care and pursued efforts to reduce the stigma associated with mental health needs.
Door County Dental Initiative
Door County Oral Health Coalition
For several years the Door County Oral Health Coalition (Door County Medical Center Foundation, Ministry Door County Medical Center- Dental Clinic, and the Door County Oral Health Coalition) has operated a dental clinic through the Medical Center focusing on children. The Coalition has identified oral health care as a high need in the County; there were no dentists accepting adult patients on medical assistance (Medicaid/BadgerCare). Community grant funding allowed the coalition to expand the clinic to accept adult patients for the first time in the County.
Comprehensive Approach to Diabetes
Grant County Health Care Task Force
The Task Force (Grant Regional Health Center, Grant County Health Department, Aging and Disability Resource Center and Lancaster Lions Club) used year 1 planning funds to review information, assistance and programs available to diabetic and pre-diabetic patients in central Grant County. This program was a response to a Community Health Needs Assessment that discovered diabetes was the condition that had the greatest impact on quality of life in the area. The public identified diabetes as a health issue in need of additional resources and more public education.
Southwest SART (Sexual Assault Resource Team)
SART of Southwest Wisconsin
Southwest SART’s goal was to provide key stakeholders with the resources and knowledge to increase the conviction rate and improve care for victims of sexual assault. Stakeholders include Southwest Health, Family Advocates, University of Wisconsin Platteville and Platteville Police Department. This was in response to a high rate of sexual assaults in Grant County. The project trained nurses as Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANE) and engaged in an awareness campaign.
Planning for Healthier Lifestyles in Polk County
Polk United – Healthier Together
The Polk County coalition (Amery Regional Medical Center, Osceola Medical Center, St. Croix Regional Medical Center, UW-Extension and Polk County Health Department, Sherriff’s Department and Human Services Department) used year 1 planning funds to examine methods to reduce underage drinking in the County. Activities included an assessment of perspectives on youth access and drinking practices and developing an implementation plan for alcohol age compliance checks.
Reducing the Risk of Chronic Disease and its Complications in Rusk County
Rural Health Network of Rusk County
Rusk County Memorial Hospital, Indianhead Community Action Agency, Rusk County Community Foundation, Rusk County Public Health and Health & Human Services partnered with other community organizations to undertake a planning project aimed at identifying the need for diabetes education and the need for a dialysis unit in the County. The coalition used this information to develop information campaigns and feasibility studies to address diabetes and its impact.
Workwell Workplace Wellness Operation Overhaul
Your Better Life Coalition
Columbus Community Hospital and local business partners Columbus Chemical Industries, Didion Milling and Schumann Printers formed a coalition to implement worksite wellness programs for their employees. CCH identified gender disparities in chronic health conditions through their Community Health Needs Assessment. The Workwell program was a male targeted health and wellness program to address and reduce this disparity.
Healthy Oregon
Oregon Area Wellness Coalition
The Oregon Area Wellness Coalition (Stoughton Hospital, Oregon Area Chamber of Commerce, Oregon School District, Oregon Area Fire and EMS, Oregon Police Department and various other local organizations) received funding to implement the Healthy Oregon program, in response to a Community Health Needs Assessment that found that 23% of County adolescents were either overweight or obese and 84% of Oregon high school students ate less than four servings of fruit and vegetables daily. The project engaged children, families and community members in the School District to eat healthier and increase physical activity.
