UPDATES + ANNOUNCEMENTS
"Wisconsin Partners is based on the premise of building relationships before you need them and strengthening communities by building and leveraging those relationships with multi-sector partners."
– Kelly Hook, WI Early Childhood Association
Jan - Mar 2022
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In October, Anne Katz (Arts Wisconsin), Brad Paul (WISCAP), and Tim Size (RWHC) hosted a conversation on After the Worst of COVID. They shared their reflections on what to keep, what to toss, and how to go about it.
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In December, we worked with Braver Angels to host a workshop on Skills for Bridging the Divide. We have been working on these skills since our inception as an organization - and there is always more to learn and practice. If your organization would like to host a workshop, we would be happy to get you in touch with the Wisconsin Coordinator.
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Wisconsin Partners worked with the Wisconsin Early Childhood Association on a toolkit on Wisconsin Shares, a child care subsidy program that has undergone significant changes in the past year. We encourage health care providers, churches, ADRCs, nonprofits, local government, and creative industries to use the toolkit and reach out for additional support, so that families can get the support they need and deserve. Please contact info@wisconsinpartners.org if you would like more information.
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We continue to be involved in Wisconsin’s Civic Health Initiative, which finalized a report last summer and will move forward on action items for improving volunteering, community engagement, and participation in local government.
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At the statewide level, we are convening Policy and Governmental Affairs staff from member associations on a monthly basis to identify issue alignment, Communications and Outreach staff convene quarterly, and Membership staff meet twice annually to share strategies for member support and engagement.
Rural WI Health Cooperative
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Pressure builds on hospitals as COVID surges – "What each of us chooses to do in the next few weeks really matters"
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RWHC Achieves AHA Gold Recognition – The results of the American Heart Association 2021 Workplace Health Achievement Index were announced in December and RWHC achieved for the second year in a row national Gold recognition for taking significant steps to build a culture of health and well-being for our employees.
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RWHC Staff Satisfaction Remains High – We are very grateful that for the 5th year in a row, over 90% of RWHC staff responding to our annual survey said they we’re extremely satisfied or satisfied with their job. Our journey continues and would recommend “11 Characteristics of an Employer of Choice” at https://www.greatplacetowork.com
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RWHC Leadership Workshops are open to non-members. Info available at https://bit.ly/3eMrZjv
United Way of Wisconsin
Wisconsin Council of Churches
Wisconsin Council of Churches
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The WCC has hired a volunteer coordinator for Afghan Refugees to recruit and train volunteers and groups to work at Fort McCoy and help with resettlement efforts around the state.
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In partnership with the Clergy Emergency League, we are hosting a webinar on "Resilience in the Vineyard: Transforming Clergy Stress and Burn-out" along with other resources to address clergy stress and burnout.
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WCC continues its partnership with Wisconsin Faith Voices for Justice in the nonpartisan Wisconsin Interfaith Voter Engagement Campaign. Our new statewide organizer, Rhonda Lindner will provide organizing, educating, communications, research, and technical support to strengthen faith communities’ involvement in civic engagement as we approach the 2022 elections.
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The WCC Community Health Program continues to facilitate vaccine clinics and testing sites at Wisconsin churches, and with partners in Madison and Milwaukee, is developing COVID-related messaging in African-American, interfaith, and justice-involved communities.
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211 Pop-up Clinic Module & COVID-19 online resource guide: 211 Wisconsin launched a searchable vaccine pop-up-clinic module, which features a way for anyone to add a new event. 211 also manages an online resource guide to efficiently navigate 211 resource-listings pertaining to COVID-19. This guide includes both COVID-19 resources (testing, vaccination sites, public health departments) and resources to support people dealing with the implications of the pandemic.
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Caregiver Outreach: 211 | United Way of Wisconsin, in partnership with AARP Wisconsin, is committed to walk alongside caregivers in their role of providing care. Through this program, caregivers can receive 1:1 phone calls with a dedicated and trained 211 Caregiving Specialist who can offer supportive listening; referrals to resources based on request and needs; follow up calls regarding referrals to discuss any issues or additional needs; and arranged when works best for the caregiver. Call 211 or 877-947-2211.
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Ride United to Vaccine Appointments is a program offering free rides to get vaccinated, and is currently available in Lyft-supported communities in Wisconsin. 211 Wisconsin is partnering with Lyft to provide free or low-cost ride services to and from COVID-19 vaccine appointments, with door-to-door pickups and drop-offs. Call 877-947-2211 or 211, or reach out to Deanna at dschuette@unitedwaywi.org.
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Lifeline: The Public Service Commission and 211 Wisconsin have teamed up to let our consumers know about an opportunity to get some more support through the Lifeline program. The Lifeline program helps to reduce the cost of phone, mobile phone and internet bills for eligible individuals. Call 211 or go to Checklifeline.org.
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21 Week Equity Challenge: In partnership with local United Ways around the state, UWWi hosted a 21 Week Equity Challenge, which wraps-up on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (January 17). Nearly 3,700 people across the state joined us on a journey to deepen understanding of inequity and racism as we work to improve equity and inclusion in our communities. Content from the Challenge will stay online.
Wisconsin Early Childhood Association
NAMI Wisconsin
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Slam Dunk Stigma: NAMI Wisconsin and many affiliates will attend the Milwaukee Bucks vs Chicago Bulls Jan 21st game. We will promote mental health and decreasing stigma. Over 200 members will wear our Slam Dunk Stigma shirts and promoting mental health. Go Bucks!
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NAMI Wisconsin Annual Conference for 2022: NAMI Wisconsin Annual Conference will return to our normal April time frame. We will be hosting our annual conference April 29th and April 30th at the Kalahari in the Wisconsin Dells. Our focus of the conference is youth mental health, and we look forward to gathering and sharing information and resources for mental health.
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NAMI Wisconsin Youth CIT Advanced training. We have received increased funding to provide CIT Advanced training, a 40-hour law enforcement training course that NAMI Wisconsin manages throughout the state. These sessions will be an 8-hour specific topic to increase knowledge and awareness to enhance officers' response. This February we will host an 8-hour youth CIT Advance Training in three communities in combination with a digital and live platform.
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Family Experience Training: NAMI Wisconsin will host our first training for the NAMI Wisconsin Family Experience on January 15 in Madison. This is a presentation program where family members share their story about caring for someone with a mental illness and how it affected not only their loved one but the family. This presentation’s goal is to decrease the stigma of mental illness, provide insight into the disease and advocate for change of the mental health care system.
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Program Trainings: NAMI Wisconsin will host train the trainer sessions for many of our ongoing programs in the first quarter of 2022. We are thrilled to be able to host these training courses online. NAMI Wisconsin Peer Support Group Facilitator Training, NAMI Peer to Peer Training and NAMI Family to Family teacher training will be provided to affiliate leaders who will return to their community to provide these impactful support groups and classes.
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Wisconsin Early Education Shared Services Network (WEESSN): WECA is hiring a number of positions, particularly to support WEESSN’s expansion:
• Bilingual Early Childhood Program Coach - Milwaukee
• Family Child Care Coach - Southwest Region
• WEESSN Community Relations Specialist
Also, be sure to check out WEESSN’s most recent Newsletter that highlights its expansion and progress!
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Raising Wisconsin Launch: As child care access and affordability worsens throughout Wisconsin, we have seen increasing numbers of statewide organizations, employers, communities, and parents who are concerned about the ripple effect created by our state’s weak child care infrastructure. This coalition of partners who want to advocate for and find solutions to address our state’s child care needs has resulted in the formation of Raising Wisconsin. The Wisconsin Infant Toddler Policy Project’s policy agenda will fall under Raising Wisconsin as will other federal, state and local advocacy efforts. Our coalition, including the WITPP State Collaborative Team, is advocating for transformational local, state and federal policy changes and investments that will serve children, families, and educators. We’re excited to launch the official Raising Wisconsin website in January 2022. For questions, contact Jackie Anderson at janderson@wisconsinearlychildhood.org.
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2022 WECA Conference: Save the Date for WECA’s Annual Conference to be held September 28 – October 2, 2022 at the Kalahari Resort in Wisconsin Dells. Please note that we’re continuing to discuss a virtual option due to the evolving pandemic situation.
WISCAP
Feeding Wisconsin
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The 2022 Feeding Wisconsin's Hunger and Health Summit: Reimagined Resiliency, will be held on April 24-26th, 2022 at the Chula Vista Resort in the Wisconsin Dells. We anticipate the attendance of over 300 ending hunger advocates and service providers, health promoters, food and farming advocates, and community builders at our sixth annual Summit. The Call for Session Proposals is open now. Please submit your proposal via our online form by 11:59 pm central on Jan 18, 2022. To learn more about sponsorship level opportunities, please see our full Sponsor and Exhibitor Proposal and visit our sponsor donation page.
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Feeding Wisconsin is the recipient of a $15 million Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection Food Security Initiative grant leveraging American Rescue Plan Act Funds. This grant will reimburse $10 million for food purchases and up to $5 million to invest in storage, distribution, and cover transportation costs. This program will expand our food banks' support of local Wisconsin and Tribal producers while distributing nutritious and culturally meaningful food to our friends and neighbors.
Arts Wisconsin
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Arts Wisconsin will host Creative Wisconsin Day, the annual legislative day for the arts and creativity, on Wednesday, March 9, 2022, at the Overture Center for the Arts in downtown Madison. Creative, civic, and community leaders from throughout Wisconsin will meet to network, learn, and connect with each other and with their elected officials. More info at www.artswisconsin.org.
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WISCAP agencies will exceed $100 million in emergency rent assistance distribution well before the end of January. Including entitlement agencies, we will easily exceed $200 million this month. If you know households that need help here is where to find it.
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WISCAP agencies and partners will be launching the WI Help for Homeowners Program in February. Stay tuned for details related to helping homeowners with mortgage and property tax delinquencies.
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Community Action Agencies are working with a variety of partners to build permanent affordable housing across the state. But the demand is exponentially higher than the supply, there is no network advocating across sectors to support investment in affordable housing, but we are committed to building one. Contact Andy Heidt at aheidt@wiscap.org if you want to get involved.
WI Primary Health Care Association
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WPHCA has affirmed an anti-racism statement and is developing objectives and outcomes for short, medium, and long term action based on the visioning, assessments, and organization developed conducted in 2021 with advising partner nINA Collective.
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WPHCA, in collaboration with United Way Wisconsin, is hosting a statewide collaborative exploring the development of a vendor agnostic Community Information Exchange. The goal would be to support bi-directional closed-loop referrals between health care organizations and other non-profits that support food and nutrition assistance, social services, transportation, housing, or legal services (among others). WISCAP and its members are already engaged. Please contact Ben Williams (bwilliams@wphca.org) if you are interested in learning more or joining this collaborative.
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WPHCA is currently in the process of building our legislative agenda for 2022-2024. This includes more strategic information from our member Community Health Centers as well as analyzing data from different local and statewide sources.
UPCOMING EVENTS
January - Launch of Raising Wisconsin website
Coming soon! Contact janderson@wisconsinearlychildhood.org for more information
Jan 15 - Family Experience Training
NAMI Wisconsin will host a training in Madison on family experiences with mental illness.
Jan 21 - Slam Dunk Stigma
NAMI Wisconsin members will promote mental health awareness at the Bucks v. Bulls game.
Mar 9 - Creative Wisconsin Day, Arts Wisconsin
Aug 30 - Jan 17 - United Way 21-Week Equity Challenge
https://www.unitedwaywi.org/page/equity-challenge
Apr 24 - 26 - Feeding Wisconsin Hunger and Health Summit
More information coming soon at https://www.feedingwi.org/