Planning Council for Health and Human Services

Warmline Project Report Posted

2011-01-06T14:40:00.003-06:00

Warmline Inc. Services: Valuable On-the-Phone Peer Support for People with Mental Illnesses

Warmline Inc. (Warmline) is a peer-to-peer telephone support line for people with mental illness, which is run and staffed by people who have mental illnesses themselves. Warmline has recently celebrated ten years of providing service to the community. With plenty of anecdotal information about the benefits of their efforts in hand, they received a generous grant from the Faye McBeath Foundation which allowed them to contract with us, the Planning Council for Health and Human Services, to formally document and evaluate their services. The process was an effective collaboration among our evaluation team, Warmline staff, and an advisory committee of Warmline volunteers and board members.

To explore Warmline’s services and value to the community, data were collected from call logs, caller interviews, and interviews with mental health system representatives. The data show that Warmline is a valuable resource in the community for people who seek support anonymously during hours when other services are often not available. It is essential that Warmline is staffed by peers, who reportedly provide unique, non-judgmental empathy and support. To enhance Warmline’s services and reach, the report recommended that the hours of operation and/or the number of active phone lines be increased. The data from this report are intended to provide Warmline with documentation of their efforts, rich information, and recommendations to consider as they move forward.

Interested in finding out more about this innovative service? Our recently released report is available for you here!

Partnership with the Southeast WI Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure

2011-01-06T14:17:00.004-06:00

Have You Had Your Mammogram?

Most women know they should have a clinical breast exam at least every three years starting at age 20 and a yearly mammogram starting at age 40. However, for a variety of reasons, many women do not get this important breast cancer screening. This is important as screening is the key to early detection and diagnosing cancer early when it is most treatable.

In order to discover why women aren’t getting screened and how they can improve screening rates and reduce breast cancer mortality in our community, the Southeast Wisconsin Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure® is partnering with the Planning Council. In December, the Planning Council conducted a series of key informant interviews with health care providers, educators and community stakeholders in Milwaukee, Racine and Waukesha Counties to better understand the breast health care landscape and the barriers women are facing.

African American women in particular have lower rates of breast cancer screening than do white women and higher rates of mortality. To find out what is keeping some local African American women from getting mammograms, in early January, the Planning Council conducted two focus groups with African American women over the age of 40. The information gathered in these focus groups will help Komen Southeast Wisconsin identify gaps and barriers in breast cancer screening in the area. It will also allow the agency to better target its grantmaking, education and advocacy work in upcoming years.

The Southeast Wisconsin Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure was founded in 1999 by a group of dedicated breast cancer survivors, breast health professionals, and other women of vision. In addition to funding breast cancer research, the Affiliate has awarded over $4 million dollars to community organizations and local hospitals to empower medically underserved women in southeastern Wisconsin through education, screening and treatment programs.

To find out more about the Southeast Wisconsin Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure and their services, please go to their website: http://www.komensoutheastwi.org/

Appreciative Inquiry Model: A Positive Approach to Change

2011-01-06T12:14:00.008-06:00

Organizations work best when:
 The "joint is jumping!" -vibrant and fun
 You sense the spirit of the organization is vital and healthy
 People feel pride in their work
 Everyone builds on each other's successes
 There is an infectious, positive can do attitude
 The glow of success is shared
 Positive energy is appreciated and celebrated so it deepens and lasts

In other words, organizations function less desirably missing one or more elements above. The organizational culture has great impact on productivity, employee satisfaction, workplace morale and other aspects. Appreciative Inquiry (AI) amplifies the pockets of excellence to create positive organizational culture.

Just a short list of the many organizations that have benefitted from the AI process includes GTE, Avon, the United Nations, the city of Chicago, multiple school districts and the U.S. Navy.

The differences between AI and the traditional problem solving process are outlined below:

Instead of starting out by identifying root causes of a certain problem, AI encourages the discovery and appreciation of strengths and unique attributes. Appreciating the best of what is lays the ground for envisioning intriguing possibilities in the future, followed by co-determining realistic objectives and practices. The ultimate purpose is to put the propositions into sustained action that will allow positive organizational change to occur. The following diagram depicts key steps in conducting AI.

4D Model

Five processes common to all AI models
1. Choose the positive as the focus of the inquiry
2. Inquire into stories of life-giving forces
3. Locate themes that appear in the stories and select topics for further inquiry
4. Create shared images of the future
5. Find innovative ways to create the future
Five Factors for Success
1. A clearly defined and important purpose
2. A relentless focus on the positive
3. A willingness to commit the time and resources needed to do what is necessary
4. Inclusiveness: all key stakeholders should be involved
5. Trust in, and commitment to the process

To learn more and read about AI in action internationally, check out The AI Commons at http://appreciativeinquiry.case.edu/

Partnership with Meta House

2010-10-28T13:13:00.000-05:00

Meta House is an internationally-recognized treatment program for women struggling with drug and alcohol addiction and their children. Meta House’s services help women stop using alcohol and drugs, and also assist them in tackling a host of other challenges such as past trauma, parenting, poverty, unemployment, poor physical/mental health, etc. Their innovative and holistic treatment programs have been proven successful.

Meta House has three grants from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to provide substance abuse treatment to women and their children. Below is a brief outline of three ongoing programs funded by the grants.

Preserving and Reuniting Families in Recovery (PRFR) provides residential treatment to women with substance use and co-occurring mental health disorders who are pregnant or postpartum and to their children, while also serving children’s fathers, partners, and other family members.

Recovery and Health (R&H) provides outpatient treatment to women with substance use disorders who are at high risk of HIV infection/transmission and to their children.

Housed in Recovery (HIR) provides outpatient treatment and facilitates housing for homeless women and their children in early recovery from substance use and co-occurring mental health disorders.

The Planning Council has developed a long-term partnership with Meta House to help them evaluate the work that they do. We are currently collaborating with them to evaluate the abovementioned programs through pre-post analyses of extensive interview data collected from women at program intake, at discharge, and at six- and 12-month follow-ups.

To know more about Meta House and their services, please go to their website: http://metahouse.org/index.html

Planning Council at the 17th Annual Alzheimer's Memory Walk in Wisconsin

2010-10-27T12:13:00.001-05:00

The nation's largest event to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer care – the Alzheimer’s Association Memory Walk – took place in Milwaukee at Mount Mary College on October 2nd, 2010. Team Planning Council participated to raise awareness and help support research to reduce and eliminate the risk of dementia.

Catie Uggeri, Lonna Kruse and Erin Malcolm represented the Planning Council at the walk, raising a total of $245 from co-workers, family and friends. Catie said, “The experience has helped me recognize people who need services. I am more motivated to raise awareness for seniors. I’m glad that we are part of the effort.”

According to Tom Hlavacek, Executive Director of the event, there were over 2,345 participants in total and so far almost $335,000 has been raised to help achieve the mission, which is to eliminate Alzheimer’s disease through research, provide and enhance care and support for all affected and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health. He extended his gratitude on behalf of the Alzheimer's Association to everyone who supported the walk in Milwaukee County, "Your support will make a difference in many lives, including the 50,000 people living with Alzheimer’s disease in Southeastern Wisconsin."

Want to join the fight against this devastating disease? Check out the Alzheimer’s Association website: http://www.alz.org/index.asp

New Neighbor, New Cooperation, New Development

2010-09-23T12:45:00.009-05:00

The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM) has decided to develop the historic Pabst brewery site into the new home for the new School of Public Health. We at the Planning Council for Health and Human Services are very pleased to welcome them to the neighborhood in the near future. By locating the School of Public Health downtown, UWM hopes to “connect their faculty and students with others dedicated to addressing the public health needs of the state”. Their mission of serving the community aligns with ours. We are interested in and looking forward to possible cooperation with them.

For starters, we are glad to help them spread the word about several interesting speeches that are going to be presented by candidates for the Community Behavioral Health Promotion/Health Disparities faculty positions. The next one is tomorrow (Friday, Sept. 24). Anyone who is interested is welcomed to join Dr. Joshua Garoon in Room 181, UWM Student Union from 9:30 – 10:30 am in the discussion of Health, Everyday Life, and the Art of Poaching: Comparing Community-Based Research Approaches in Rural Zambia and Urban Baltimore.

We have also been informed of future presentation dates (all at 9:30 am):

Oct 8
Oct 18
Oct 22
Oct 28

More details can be found here. We will keep you posted.

Your friends at the Planning Council are planning to attend the talks. We are curious about how the scholarly findings can translate into our projects. Hopefully, we will be able to take away something that might shed light on our work.

Planning Council Supports Mental Health Services for Youth

2010-09-02T12:28:00.004-05:00

Did you know that...

Research predicts that approximately 26,000 children living in Milwaukee currently have an unmet need for mental health treatment?
In 2008, the Planning Council for Health and Human Services, Inc. facilitated an outcome-focused planning process to develop strategies to help students with emergent mental health needs achieve educational and life success?
The Greater Milwaukee Foundation recently awarded $150,000 to the Planning Council to support a coalition in implementing a pilot program to improve youth mental health services?

Milwaukee's Youth Mental Health Initiative (MYMHI) is a pilot program that will allow community providers to deliver services in schools or other convenient locations, raise awareness about mental health among teachers and parents, and develop policy solutions to sustain funding for mental health services for youth over the long-term.

Partners include representatives from Pathfinders, Aurora Family Services, Rogers Memorial Hospital, Sebastian Family Psychology Practice, Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS), the City Health Department, Milwaukee County, Medical College of Wisconsin, and HMOs.

MYMHI will be implemented this fall in four diverse MPS schools (Hopkins Street Elementary School, Audubon Technology and Communications Center, Wedgewood Park International School, and O.W. Holmes Elementary School), and will focus on students who have needs that extend beyond what can be addressed in a traditional school setting, but are not yet at a crisis level.

Planning Council Supports Healthy Infants

2010-07-28T15:12:00.001-05:00

Did you know that…

Milwaukee’s black infant mortality rate—13.85 per 1,000 live births—is higher than the infant mortality rate in 60 other countries, including Jamaica, Ukraine, Costa Rica and Malaysia?

The Milwaukee Lifecourse Initiative for Healthy Families (LIHF) was awarded a $250,000 grant from the Oversight and Advisory Committee of the UW School of Medicine and Public Health, part of a $10 million overall commitment to address infant mortality among African-Americans in Wisconsin?

The Planning Council for Health and Human Services, Inc., and the Women’s Fund of Greater Milwaukee are facilitating an action planning process for the Milwaukee LIHF coalition?

The Milwaukee LIHF coalition includes more than 60 local organizations, and is being co-chaired by Dr. Earnestine Willis of the Medical College of Wisconsin and Dr. Patricia McManus of the Black Health Coalition of Wisconsin. The coalition will work to improve access to maternal and child health resources, strengthen African-American families, and create an action plan specific to Milwaukee. To achieve these goals the coalition will engage a wide variety of stakeholders, including African-American families across the generations, the faith community, funders and the general public. Once the plan is in place, the coalition will present that to the Wisconsin Partnership Program for potential implementation awards.

To learn more about the Milwaukee LIHF project, visit the project website at http://milwaukee-lihf.wikispaces.com/ .

Planning Council Supports Latino Older Adults

2010-06-29T08:56:00.002-05:00

Did you know that…

· The prevalence of depression among elderly Latinos is higher than for the general population of older adults?
· Studies show that Latinos underutilize mental health services in general and often do not receive treatment for depression?
· Centro de la Communidad Unida / United Community Center (UCC) has established the Un Nuevo Amanecer / A New Dawn program, funded by SAMHSA’s Center for Mental Health Services, to provide services to elderly Latinos who are experiencing symptoms of depression?

The Planning Council is currently working in partnership with UCC to evaluate the Un Nuevo Amanecer program. The program uses an evidence-based model to assist participants who have symptoms of serious depression. Midway through the three year grant, 108 elderly Latinos have been served by the program. Preliminary findings comparing program participants’ emotional and physical status when they entered the program to their status six month later indicate that:
· Participants’ level of depression has decreased substantially,
· Participants’ level of physical functioning has increased, and
· Participants have felt more socially connected.

To learn more about Un Nuevo Amanecer program or other services provided by Centro de la Communidad Unida / United Community Center, visit their website at http://www.unitedcc.org.

Planning Council Supports Teen Families

2010-05-26T08:29:00.000-05:00

Did you know that…
• Despite recent declines, the teen pregnancy rate in the U.S. is still much higher than the rates in all other industrialized countries?
• Each year about 750,000 U.S. adolescents age 15 – 19 become pregnant and more than 400,000 give birth?
• Teen childbearing costs this country an estimated $9.1 billion annually? Most of the costs are associated with negative consequences for the children of teen mothers such as the costs of health care, foster care and incarceration.

The Planning Council, in partnership with UW-Milwaukee Center for Urban Initiatives and Research, is currently evaluating a program that aims to reduce the number of repeat teen pregnancies in Milwaukee. The program, called “Supporting Teen Families,” is run by Rosalie Manor Community and Family Services and serves over 100 pregnant and parenting Milwaukee teen mothers annually.

The evaluation is now entering its fifth and final year. Preliminary results have shown that program participants are:
• Learning positive nurturing parental behaviors;
• Improving their relationship with the fathers of the babies and with adult supporters;
• Achieving self-sufficiency goals;
• Learning job strategies;
• Understanding their babies’ developmental needs; and
• Using effective family planning techniques.

To view a poster with more data about Supporting Teen Families, visit our website at http:\\www.planningcouncil.org. To learn more about Supporting Teen Families or other services provided by Rosalie Manor Community and Family Services, visit their website at http://www.rosaliemanor.org.

Primary funding for the initiative is provided by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Adolescent Life, Office of Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention. Local support is currently provided by Windhover Foundation, Catholic Community Foundation, Park Bank, Kiwanis of Wauwatosa, Krause Family Foundation, Women’s Fund, St. William parish and an anonymous foundation donor.

Poster of Rosalie Manor "Supporting Teen Families" Evaluation

2010-05-26T08:28:00.002-05:00

Published April 2010

Download or View it HERE .pdf format.

The Planning Council, in partnership with UW-Milwaukee Center for Urban Initiatives and Research, is currently evaluating a program that aims to reduce the number of repeat teen pregnancies in Milwaukee. The program, called Supporting Teen Families, is run by Rosalie Manor Community and Family Services and serves over 100 pregnant and parenting Milwaukee teen mothers annually. Preliminary program evaluation results were shared via a poster presentation at a recent U.S. Office of Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention conference. Click on the link above to access the poster.

Planning Council 2009 Annual Report

2010-05-04T13:40:00.001-05:00

Published April 2010

Download or View it HERE .pdf format.

Office of the Milwaukee Ombudsman for Child Welfare 2009 Annual Report

2010-05-04T13:35:00.004-05:00

Published April 2010

Download or View it HERE .pdf format.

The Office of the Milwaukee Ombudsman for Child Welfare (Ombudsman Office) is a free, public service that conducts objective, impartial, and independent reviews of case-specific concerns regarding the safety, permanence, and well-being of children and families involved with the Bureau of Milwaukee Child Welfare (Bureau). The 2009 Annual Report provides information on areas for improvement, contacts for services, and review findings. Click on the link above to access the report or click here to view the Executive Summary.

Planning Council Supports Quality Services for Children and Families

2010-05-04T13:33:00.001-05:00

Did you know that…
• From June 2005 through December 2009, the Ombudsman Office received 544 complaints?
• In 2009, 81% of complaint findings affirm the actions of the Bureau?
• 52% of recommendations in 2009 were systemic?

The Office of the Milwaukee Ombudsman for Child Welfare (Ombudsman Office) is a free, public service that conducts objective, impartial, and independent reviews of case-specific concerns regarding the safety, permanence, and well-being of children and families involved with the Bureau of Milwaukee Child Welfare (Bureau). To learn more about areas for improvement, contacts for services, and review findings, visit our website at http:\\www.planningcouncil.org to view the 2009 Annual Report.

The Planning Council has also released its 2009 Annual Report. This can also be found on the Planning Council’s website.

Housing Authority of the City of Milwaukee HOPE VI Evaluation of Scattered Sites I

2010-03-25T15:53:00.002-05:00

Published February 2010
Download or View it HERE .pdf format.

This report evaluates the Housing Authority of the City of Milwaukee's HOPE VI Scattered Sites program, which provides housing and programs that foster self-sufficiency among residents. This report describes activities and outcomes of the supportive services available to Scattered Sites I families in the Midtown Neighborhood in the areas of case management, educational supportive programs and self-sufficiency efforts. The report also estimates employment and earning gains, and describes the impact of Scattered Sites I neighborhoods in the City of Milwaukee.To learn more about the Housing Authority of the City of Milwaukee, visit http://www.hacm.org//.

Housing Authority of the City of Milwaukee HOPE VI Evaluation of Scattered Sites I

2010-03-25T15:51:00.001-05:00

Did you know that…
•The Planning Council provides evaluation services to the Housing Authority of the City of Milwaukee (HACM)?
•An evaluation report prepared by the Planning Council has been released on HACM’s HOPE VI Scattered Sites program, which provides housing and programs that foster self-sufficiency among residents?
•The evaluation found that there was an upward trend in wage-related income from 2004 to 2009, and a downward trend in income support reliance from 2006 to 2009?
•Sixty percent (516 of 871) of referrals to youth services, counseling programs, employment services and resident assistance programs resulted in program enrollments?

All this information and more can be found in “Housing Authority of the City of Milwaukee HOPE VI Evaluation of Scattered Sites I”. This report describes activities and outcomes of the supportive services available to Scattered Sites I families in the Midtown Neighborhood in the areas of case management, educational supportive programs and self-sufficiency efforts. The report also estimates employment and earning gains, and describes the impact of Scattered Sites I neighborhoods in the City of Milwaukee.

To view the report, visit our website at http://www.planningcouncil.org, and click on “Housing Authority of the City of Milwaukee HOPE VI Evaluation of Scattered Sites I”. To learn more about the Housing Authority of the City of Milwaukee, visit http://www.hacm.org/.

A Community Conversation About the Safety of Children in Foster Care - Additional Reports

2010-02-18T18:18:00.003-06:00

In addition to the report "A Community Conversation About the Safety of Children in Foster Care", which was published in May of 2009, companion reports were written.

Click here for more detailed information about best and evidence-based practices that enhance the safety of children in foster care.
Click here for more detailed information about what key informants had to say.
Click here for more detailed information about what caseworkers had to say.
Click here for more detailed information about what biological mothers had to say.
Click here for more detailed information about what foster parents had to say.

Inventory of Free and Community Clinics Providing Medical and Dental Services in Milwaukee County

2010-01-29T09:00:00.002-06:00

Inventory of Free and Community Clinics Providing Medical and Dental Services in Milwaukee County - October 2009 .pdf format. Note: this document is quite large (3.1 MB; 238 pages) and may take some time to download.

The Planning Council developed an inventory of free and community clinics in Milwaukee County for a Work Team that consisted of members from the Milwaukee Free Clinic Collaborative and the Milwaukee Health Care Partnership. The inventory identifies gaps in the delivery system so that plans and strategies can be developed for adding capacity for under-and uninsured residents of Milwaukee County over the next five years. The inventory includes 25 medical clinics, 6 family planning clinics, 4 STD and HIV/AIDS clinics, and 8 dental clinics. For each type of clinic grouping, data is presented at three levels: 1) summary information aggregated across the clinics; 2) aggregate information across clinics by survey questions; and 3) individual profiles of clinics, including contact information and descriptions.

Also included in the inventory is a summary of themes identified by clinic representatives, recommendations for sustaining the inventory, tools and suggestions for tool refinements, maps identifying clinic locations, and a list of other potential free and community clinics.

To learn more about Milwaukee's Free Clinic Collaborative, visit http://www.breadofhealingclinic.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=64Itemid=59. For more information about the Milwaukee Health Care Partnership, click on the following link: http://www.froedtert.com/pdf/MilwaukeeHealthCarePartnership.pdf.

Planning Council Releases Inventory of Free and Community Clinics

2010-01-29T08:56:00.002-06:00

Did you know that…
•Under-and uninsured people in Milwaukee made nearly 219,400 visits in 2008 to area free and community clinics?
•These clinics include 25 medical clinics, 6 family planning clinics, 4 STD and HIV/AIDS clinics, and 8 dental clinics?
•Of the 25 medical clinics, two-thirds are completely free to all users?
•Fourteen of the medical clinics are open ten or fewer hours per week?

All this information and more can be found in the “Inventory of Free and Community Clinics Providing Medical and Dental Services in Milwaukee County”. This comprehensive inventory identifies gaps in the delivery system so that plans and strategies can be developed for adding capacity for under-and uninsured residents of Milwaukee County over the next five years.

To view the inventory, visit our website at www.planningcouncil.org, and click on “Inventory of Free and Community Clinics Providing Medical and Dental Services in Milwaukee County”. To learn more about Milwaukee’s Free Clinic Collaborative, visit http://www.breadofhealingclinic.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=64&Itemid=59. For more information about the Milwaukee Health Care Partnership, click on the following link: http://www.froedtert.com/pdf/MilwaukeeHealthCarePartnership.pdf.

Please note that the information in the inventory is current as of October of 2009. The Madre Angela Dental Clinic is now called St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Dental Clinic and is located at 1730 S. 13th Street, Milwaukee, WI 53204. Some of the clinic’s policies and services have changed. For more information, call the clinic at 414-383-3220.

Planning Council Releases Report on Starting Point of Ozaukee's Parent Survey

2009-12-22T10:30:00.002-06:00

Did you know that…
• In the spring of 2007, Starting Point of Ozaukee launched “Parents who Host Lose the Most: Don’t be a party to teenage drinking”, a public awareness campaign to inform the community about the consequences of providing alcohol to underage youth?
• Approximately 80% of parents who were surveyed viewed underage alcohol use as a “very big” or “somewhat big” problem in Ozaukee County, and approximately 60% perceived it as being “very easy” or “somewhat easy” for underage youth to obtain alcohol in their community?
• Approximately 60% of Ozaukee County parents who were surveyed recalled seeing or hearing about the “Parents who Host Lose the Most” campaign, its name, or its slogan?
• 80% of Ozaukee County parents who were surveyed “strongly” or “somewhat” agreed that the information led them to have a discussion with their child about the dangers of going to parties where alcohol is available to underage youth?

The Ozaukee County parent survey report presents findings from the “Parents who Host Lose the Most” parent awareness survey conducted by the Planning Council and Starting Point during the spring of 2009 in Ozaukee County. The report focuses on survey respondents’ perceptions of issues related to underage alcohol use, sources of exposure to the “Parents who Host Lose the Most” campaign, perceptions of the usefulness of campaign messages, and knowledge about and perceptions of underage drinking laws in Wisconsin. To read the full report, visit our website at http://www.planningcouncil.org, or click on “Starting Point of Ozaukee’s ‘Parents who Host Lose the Most’ Media Campaign: Findings from the 2009 Parent Survey”.

To learn more about Starting Point of Ozaukee, visit http://www.ozaukeecouncil.org/. The “Parents who Host Lose the Most” public awareness campaign was developed by the Ohio-based Drug Free Action Alliance. For more information, visit http://www.drugfreeactionalliance.org/.

Report Wins Clarion Award

2009-10-01T14:59:00.001-05:00

The Planning Council for Health and Human Services, Inc., prepared a report for 2-1-1 @ IMPACT that analyzed five years of call data and included information from callers and community leaders about the significance of the service. 2-1-1 @ IMPACT is a 24-hour central access point for callers who need assistance with family, health, and social services. The report, Realizing Milwaukee's Potential: 2003-2007 Report to the Community, was selected as a winner of a Clarion Award for excellence in communications. Click here to read the award announcement.

http://www.planningcouncil.org/info/0909_news.html

The 2008 Milwaukee Fatherhood Summit: Feedback Results from Summit Participants

2009-09-01T15:05:00.000-05:00

The 2008 Milwaukee Fatherhood Summit: Feedback Results from Summit Participants - September 2009 .pdf format.

The Milwaukee Fatherhood Summit is an annual event sponsored by the Milwaukee Fatherhood Initiative which is intended to bring together the Milwaukee community to generate support for fathers, to provide resources for men, and to address specific issues of fatherhood in the community. This report summarizes demographic characteristics of people who registered for the 2008 summit, participants' overall ratings of the summit, participants' feedback on the major areas addressed by the summit (men's health, community job fair, child support debt reduction assistance, and driver's license recovery assistance), and feedback from the summit's educational workshops.

The Milwaukee Fatherhood Initiative Focus Group Report: Follow-Up with 2008 Summit Attendees

2009-09-01T14:18:00.002-05:00

The Milwaukee Fatherhood Initiative Focus Group Report: Follow-Up with 2008 Summit Attendees - September 2009 .pdf format.

To expand on the feedback received from participants at the 2008 Milwaukee Fatherhood Summit, the Planning Council followed-up with a small subset of summit participants in the spring of 2009. This report summarizes feedback from three focus groups conducted with men who attended the 2008 Fatherhood Summit and who received direct service assistance during the event. The report summarizes participants' expectations prior to attending the summit, perspectives on the impact of the summit on their lives, continuing fatherhood challenges, and suggestions for future summits.

To read about the 2007 Milwaukee Fatherhood Summit, click on the following link http://www.planningcouncil.org/docs/reports/MFI_FatherhoodSummit.pdf.

For more information about the Milwaukee Fatherhood Initiative, click on the following link http://www.milwaukeefatherhood.com/.

Starting Point of Ozaukee's "Parents who Host Lose the Most" Media Campaign: Findings from the 2009 Parent Survey

2009-08-21T14:14:00.001-05:00

Starting Point of Ozaukee's "Parents who Host Lose the Most" Media Campaign: Findings from the 2009 Parent Survey - August 2009 .pdf format.

In the spring of 2007, Starting Point of Ozaukee launched "Parents who Host Lose the Most: Don't be a party to teenage drinking", a public awareness campaign to inform the community about the consequences of providing alcohol to underage youth. This report presents findings from the "Parents who Host Lose the Most" parent awareness survey conducted by the Planning Council and Starting Point during the spring of 2009 in Ozaukee County. The report focuses on survey respondents' perceptions of issues related to underage alcohol use, sources of exposure to the "Parents who Host Lose the Most" campaign, perceptions of the usefulness of campaign messages, and knowledge about and perceptions of underage drinking laws in Wisconsin.

To learn more about Starting Point of Ozaukee, visit www.ozaukeecouncil.org. The "Parents who Host Lose the Most" public awareness campaign was developed by the Ohio-based Drug Free Action Alliance. For more information, visit www.drugfreeactionalliance.org.

Substance Abuse Report Released

2009-08-19T15:29:00.003-05:00

Did you know that… in Southeastern Wisconsin

·In four of the five counties with survey data on student substance use, about one-quarter of 9th graders reported having at least one drink of alcohol in the past 30 days (survey data gathered between 2006 and 2009)?
·Alcohol-related medical conditions and injuries resulted in 5,938 emergency room visits in 2007 among all eight counties in the region?
·There were 11,777 Operating While Intoxicated (OWI) arrests in 2007 among all eight counties in the region?

The Planning Council for Health and Human Services, Inc., recently released “Key Substance Abuse Indicators.” This report was prepared for the Alliance of Wisconsin Youth Southeastern Regional Center, a group of substance abuse practitioners that works to prevent alcohol, tobacco, and other drug abuse and build the capacity of prevention coalitions in Southeastern Wisconsin. This report provides general information about substance use among youth and provides an analysis of information on the consequences of substance abuse in the Southeastern Region and its comprising counties. The report highlights indicators of substance abuse, examines the cross-system impact and burden that results from substance use, and shares information that could lead to focused community planning for substance abuse prevention.

To view the report, click on the following link: http://www.planningcouncil.org/docs/reports/atoda/2009_ATODA_Report_%20Revised.pdf For more information on the Alliance for Wisconsin Youth, please access their website at http://www.allwisyouth.org/.

To learn more about demographic and substance abuse data in Southeastern Wisconsin, click on the following link: http://www.planningcouncil.org/docs/reports/atoda/Demographic_Profiles_Report_080717.pdf This report was prepared for the Alliance in July of 2008.

Child Care, Effort is Multipronged

2009-08-02T09:31:00.002-05:00

http://www.jsonline.com/news/opinion/52220327.html
Your Day
Posted Aug. 2, 2009

CHILD CARE
Effort is multipronged
I was pleased to see the July 26 editorial "Keeping children safe has to be the priority" reminding Milwaukee of the importance of keeping children safe and the recognition of recent accomplishments of the state Department of Children and Families (Reggie Bicha's "Another View" http://www.jsonline.com/news/opinion/51616002.html).

The state budget reflects an increased investment in our most vulnerable population, and the Journal Sentinel's continued attention to the topic will help to bring needed change. The Planning Council for Health and Human Services, author of the study released in May and referred to in the article, is pleased to see fiscal and programmatic changes that address the identified needs.

The press and the bureaucracy play key roles. However, as the source of this study and the community conversation that followed, we also would like to emphasize that assuring child safety will take more than a year and more than the efforts of a state department.

Several other needed strategies have been identified including: shared medical records; concentrated and focused effort on those most susceptible; linking to community resources including family support programs, medical clinics, community organizations, neighborhood centers and the faith-based community; and the candid recognition of the influence of race and poverty in these cases. These will need to be addressed by multiple sources over the long haul to make Milwaukee a leader in keeping children safe.

Kathleen Pritchard, Executive Director
Planning Council for Health and Human Services, Inc.

Moving to Boiler Building at Brewery

2009-07-31T10:26:00.003-05:00

For Immediate Release

July 30, 2009

Planning Council to Move to Boiler Building at Brewery

The Planning Council for Health and Human Services, Inc. announced today that it would be moving its offices to the historic Boiler Building at 1243 North 10th Street at The Brewery and would take occupancy in the early fall. The Council will be taking approximately 4,100 sq. ft. of the 2nd floor of the historically renovated building, which sits at the corner of 10th and McKinley and is adjacent to Zilber Park in the northwest corner of The Brewery Project.

The Council, which provides a wide range of planning, evaluation and research services designed to advance community health and human services, has been active in Milwaukee since 1965.

“This is a wonderful opportunity for us to have our facilities in this wonderful, historic and sustainable neighborhood. This setting is perfect for us to fulfill our mission of engaging the community in health and human services through planning, evaluation and research,” said Kathleen Pritchard, Executive Director.

“With the move of the Planning Council, the historic Boiler Building, the first office building to be historically renovated in The Brewery complex, will only have a portion of its second floor available to rent,” said Max Dermond and Charlie Trainer, spokesmen for the partnership group which owns the building.

In addition to the move in of the Planning Council, The Brewery complex announced that the 880 car parking garage, currently under construction at 9th and Juneau, is on time and is expected to open in November of this year.

The transaction was brokered by Jennifer Green of CB Richard Ellis and Lyle Landowski of Inland Companies.

# # #

Released for the Planning Council for Health and Human Services, Inc. by The Brewery Project LLC. For additional information on the Planning Council, please contact Kathleen Pritchard at 224-0404 x22. For additional information on The Brewery, please contact Mike Mervis at 274-2551. Mr. Trainer can be reached at 224-9456.

http://www.thebrewerymke.com/index.htm

Pabst Complex Lands Office Tenant

2009-07-30T09:43:00.003-05:00

http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/business/52106127.html
Business Blog
Land and Space

Pabst complex lands office tenant
By Tom Daykin of the Journal Sentinel July 30, 2009

The Planning Council for Health and Human Services announced Thursday that it will move its offices to the Boiler Building, 1243 N. 10th St., at the former Pabst brewery.
The council, now at 1442 N. Farwell Ave., will lease 4,100 square feet at the building, which is owned by a group that includes investors Charlie Trainer and Max Dermond. The Boiler Builder was the first remodeled building to open at the former Pabst project, now known as The Brewery.

“This is a wonderful opportunity for us to have our facilities in this wonderful, historic and sustainable neighborhood," said Kathleen Pritchard, council executive director. "This setting is perfect for us to fulfill our mission of engaging the community in health and human services through planning, evaluation and research.”

The transaction was brokered by Jennifer Green, of CB Richard Ellis, and Lyle Landowski, of Inland Cos.

Keeping Children Safe Has to be the Priority

2009-07-24T10:30:00.001-05:00

Editorial: http://www.jsonline.com/news/opinion/51616007.html
Journal Sentinal
Posted July, 24, 2009

Now that the budget has passed, it's time for the state Department of Children and Families to put programs in place to keep children safe and help parents make better decisions.

The budget passed by the Legislature and signed by Gov. Jim Doyle improves the state's ability to respond to instances of child abuse and neglect in Milwaukee County.

But the best way to ensure the safety of children in foster care is to dramatically increase the number of safe and loving foster care homes.

The goal should be to increase the number of safe homes from 690 (at the end of last year) to at least 875 by the end of this year.

This is doable.

It is, in fact, imperative if the state Department of Children and Families' Bureau of Milwaukee Child Welfare is to avoid another tragedy such as the case of Christopher Thomas Jr. Fortunately, the department realizes that increasing the number of safe homes in Milwaukee County has to be part of the conversation.

Had 13-month-old Christopher been placed in a safe home, he would be alive today. Crystal Keith was sentenced to 50 years in prison for fatally beating her nephew and severely abusing his 2-year-old sister.

After baby Christopher's death last year, the department said it would conduct "sweeping changes" to keep children safe.

And, over the past year, the bureau has announced a number of changes contingent upon the passage of the budget.

OK, the budget has passed. It's time to push these changes ahead to keep children safe and to give parents better choices.

The budget approved this month will provide the following:

• $2.3 million over the biennium for 18 additional, initial-assessment staff positions for the bureau. More staff and caseworkers are needed to reduce individual caseloads and to improve the quality of services.

In May, a study showed that foster-care caseworkers in Milwaukee County said they were overworked, undertrained and insufficiently supported by the community.

We believe them and understand the challenges their particular kind of work imposes. Often, the job seems thankless. The importance of effective, experienced caseworkers cannot be overstated.

In the study released in May, the average number of children per caseworker was 21 in Milwaukee County. The Child Welfare League of America recommends that the number be between 12 and 15 children per foster care worker.

High caseloads mean that some clients or children aren't seen or not seen enough. New caseworkers need to be brought in and trained immediately.

• $375,000 to expand the Mobile Urgent Treatment Team for Foster Families. The program provides crisis intervention and support services for youth with high needs placed in foster homes by the bureau.

If done right, the expansion should improve the bureau's performance on stabilizing placement while reducing the need for placements in more expensive group homes and residential care centers.

• $750,000 for nurses to visit homes of children under age 3 in foster care. In the Christopher's case, Keith admitted to authorities that she hid the children's bruises. Nurses are trained to look for patterns of abuse.

• $1.1 million to establish a career ladder structure to keep caseworkers from leaving the field.

Reggie Bicha, secretary of the Department of Children and Families, told the Editorial Board earlier this year that caseworker turnover was too high, with some experts putting the number at between 30% and 50%.

With turnover that high, DCF is always in the hiring and training mode. This conspires against stable and consistent service. Diminishing the churn will keep children safe because caseworkers who stay on the job are, over time, able to build relationships with families.

Moreover, experienced caseworkers will more readily spot problems than those with less experience.

• $59,800 to pay state-employed supervisors and regional managers for work performed after hours. They are ineligible for overtime, and these after-hour duties without extra pay contribute to burnout.

This budget undoubtedly makes strides toward building up the year-old agency. But in other areas, such as child care generally, it's just getting a start. We would like to see the state move quicker toward completing its statewide quality rating system for child-care providers.

The state system is in its initial phase, but it is still a ways from being up and running. It can be an effective tool for parents by giving them the power to determine the safest place to send their children.

If used correctly, systems such as this help parents identify which child-care providers offer quality. In other words, parents would be able to recognize those providing higher-quality care as well as those whose idea of child care is parking children in front of the television set.

Child-care providers are too important in early childhood education. Simply, children in quality centers will be better prepared to start school. Too many children in Milwaukee in particular begin the race already too far behind their peers elsewhere in the state.

The department also must step up its scrutiny of the Wisconsin Shares program.

A Journal Sentinel Watchdog report this year revealed that the state overpaid day-care providers nearly $14 million in recent years, including millions of dollars spent on care that was never delivered.

This not only cheats taxpayers but penalizes children. It's time for the department to make headway.

What would you like to see accomplished over the next several months to keep children in foster care safer? E-mail your opinion to jsedit@journalsentinel.com to be considered for publication as a letter to the editor. Please see letters guidelines.

Key Substance Abuse Indicators

2009-07-13T14:00:00.001-05:00

Key Substance Abuse Indicators - July 2009 .pdf format. Note: Updated on September 1, 2009

This report was prepared for the Alliance of Wisconsin Youth Southeastern Regional Center. The Alliance works to prevent alcohol, tobacco, and other drug abuse and build the capacity of prevention coalitions in Southeastern Wisconsin. This report provides general information about substance use among youth and provides an analysis of information on the consequences of substance abuse in the Southeastern Region and its comprising counties. The report highlights indicators of substance abuse, examines the cross-system impact and burden that results from substance use, and shares information that could lead to focused community planning for substance abuse prevention. Click on the link above to access the report. To learn more about demographic and substance abuse data in Southeastern Wisconsin, click on the report below, titled, "Southeastern Wisconsin Demographic Profiles Report." This report was prepared for the Alliance in July of 2008.

RFP for Telephone System and Voice Mail

2009-07-10T14:18:00.001-05:00

Request for Proposals:
Telephone System and Voice Mail
Due 7/31/09.
Available in Adobe Acrobat .pdf format.
Download it here:
http://www.planningcouncil.org/docs/RFP_Telephone_Voicemail_PlanningCouncil.pdf

Directory of Anti-Violence Efforts in Milwaukee County

2009-06-29T13:38:00.006-05:00

A directory of anti-violence efforts was originally created in 2005. Based on demand, the directory was updated in 2006 and has been updated and expanded in 2009 with support from the Greater Milwaukee Foundation's Fitch Research Fund. The directory includes descriptions and contact information for anti-violence efforts in Milwaukee County, a list of efforts by category, and a sample of twelve evidence-based practices in violence prevention. The directory is intended to encourage communication, coordination, and collaboration among people working to prevent or reduce violence.

To access the directory, follow any of these links:
Directory of Anti-Violence Efforts in Milwaukee County - June 2009
http://planningcouncil.org/docs/reports/Directory_of_Anti-Violence_Efforts.pdf
http://tinyurl.com/mvsq65

If you know of any anti-violence efforts that should be included in this directory, or if information in the directory changes, please contact Lonna Kruse by emailing antiviolence@planningcouncil.org or by calling (414) 224-0404, extension 33.

If you would like printed copies of the directory, they are available for $8.00. To order, please contact Lonna Kruse.

Twenty-first Street School to be named Gwen T. Jackson Early Childhood and Elementary School

2009-06-15T14:07:00.000-05:00

Gwen T. Jackson was a Board Member of the Planning Council for Health and Human Services, Inc.

MPS Press Release: http://mpsportal.milwaukee.k12.wi.us/portal/server.pt/gateway/PTARGS_0_2_54842_0_0_18/090615_Jackson.pdf
Posted June 15, 2009

Twenty-first Street School will be renamed on Tuesday, June 16. It will become the Gwen T. Jackson Early Childhood and Elementary School, and will serve children from six weeks of age through Grade 5. The ceremony will be held at 2121 West Hadley Street at 8:30 a.m. MPS Superintendent William G. Andrekopoulos and numerous City of Milwaukee, Milwaukee County and State officials will participate.

The new name is in honor of longtime community volunteer and early childhood education advocate Gwen T. Jackson. She is a retired human resources vice president who participated extensively in American Red Cross leadership at the chapter, regional and national level. As Chair Emeritus for the American Red Cross in Southeastern Wisconsin, she marked 50 years of Red Cross volunteer service in 2007.

The principles and values that Mrs. Jackson believes in prove her to be the type of leader that students should be proud to emulate. In the late 1950’s Jackson was on the Family Life Committee of the Milwaukee Urban League. Childcare was the predominant issue identified and along with colleague, Edith Finlayson, Gwen began working with the E.B. Phillips Child Care Center.

Jackson began her Red Cross career in 1961, as a volunteer in the Service to Military Families Department of the Greater Milwaukee Chapter of the American Red Cross. By 1988 she had risen to one of the highest volunteer positions in the organization — National Chair of Volunteers. Her leadership accomplishments during her four years in this national-level position were nothing shy of extraordinary. While serving as the National Chair of Volunteers, Gwen coined the phrase, “Paid staff get a paycheck and volunteer staff get a payback.”

Jackson’s lifelong commitment to civic involvement has earned her numerous awards and well-deserved recognitions. She was honored for her 50 years of volunteer leadership with the establishment of the Gwen T. Jackson Leadership Endowment. Some of her additional awards include: Cynthia Wedel Award, an honor that is presented to a Red Cross volunteer whose outstanding efforts might otherwise go unrecognized. The Gwen T. Jackson Community Service Award was established in 1981 and is presented annually to the United Way volunteer who best exemplifies a spirit of volunteerism and dedication to one’s community and fellow man. In addition, Gwen has been dedicated to the YWCA since 1979 where she has served on the Board of Directors and as a member of the Circle of Women. In 1995 the YWCA named a building in the Y-Villages after her, the “Gwen T. Jackson Senior Building”. “I have had a very fulfilling life and I believe it is expected of me to give back to my community,” Jackson said. “It is so much fun and I grow every day from volunteering.”

MPS is Wisconsin’s largest public school district, serving 85,000 students in 213 schools. District achievement is guided by its Working Together, Achieving More strategic plan. For additional information, contact Philip Harris in the MPS Office of Communications and Public Affairs, at (414) 475-8902.

Safety of Children in Foster Care - Report Released

2009-05-29T13:01:00.002-05:00

Did you know that…

As of December 31, 2008, there were 2,638 children in out-of-home care in Milwaukee County?
On that same date in 2008, there were 680 active, licensed foster homes in Milwaukee County?
There were seven children in 2008 in Milwaukee County who were victims of maltreatment in court-ordered kinship care?

The Planning Council has released its report on keeping children safe in foster care in Milwaukee County. This study, which was commissioned by the Greater Milwaukee Foundation’s Bright Futures Milwaukee Fund in memory of long-time child advocate James R. Ryan, was undertaken to engage the community in a discussion about the safety of children in foster care. To learn more about the current status of children in foster care, best practices for keeping foster children safe, and strategies for enhancing the safety of children in foster care in Milwaukee County, visit our website at www.planningcouncil.org and click on the report titled “A Community Conversation About the Safety of Children in Foster Care.” Additional information about best practices and more detailed information on what key informants, caseworkers, foster parents, and biological parents had to say will be coming soon to our website.

Click on the following link to view an article about the foster care study written by Milwaukee Journal Sentinel staff http://www.jsonline.com/news/milwaukee/46266767.html. The following link is an article about the study written by LaToya Dennis of Milwaukee Public Radio http://www.wuwm.com/programs/news/view_news.php?articleid=4613.

Note: If you visited the Planning Council or Ombudsman Website prior to May 8, 2009 to review the Office of the Milwaukee Ombudsman for Child Welfare’s 2008 Annual Report, please be aware that some corrections were made to the report. Please use the following links to access the corrected documents: 2008 Annual Report or 2008 Executive Summary.

Release of Report on Keeping Children Safe in Foster Care

2009-05-22T11:28:00.002-05:00

Date: Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Time: 4:00 PM
Location: Milwaukee Youth Arts Center
(Located at the corner of Martin Luther King Jr. Drive and Walnut Street.)

The Planning Council will release its report on keeping children safe in foster care. The study was commissioned by the Greater Milwaukee Foundation's Bright Futures Milwaukee Fund in memory of long-time child advocate James R. Ryan.

Please join us for a community conversation from 4:00ï¿½5:30 at the Milwaukee Youth Arts Center. Space is limited. Please contact us for an invitation.

2008 Annual Report: Office of the Milwaukee Ombudsman for Child Welfare

2009-04-24T16:44:00.004-05:00

Did you know that…

Milwaukee County is the only county in Wisconsin that has a completely independent office for reviewing complaints relating to child welfare?
The Ombudsman Office’s services are free?

The Office of the Milwaukee Ombudsman for Child Welfare (Ombudsman Office) released its 2008 Annual Report today. The Ombudsman Office is a neutral, independent office that reviews case-specific concerns regarding the safety, permanence, and well-being of children and families involved with the Bureau of Milwaukee Child Welfare. By clicking on the link above you can learn what key areas were identified for improvement, associated recommendations, as well as details on all contacts made to the Ombudsman Office in 2008, or click here to view the Executive Summary.

For more information about the Ombudsman Office, go to http://ombudsmanmilw.org/default.htm.

Milwaukee County Long-Term Care Planning Process Report: Planning Process June 2006-July 2008

2009-02-17T15:28:00.003-06:00

Published September 2008 .pdf format (110KB)
Milwaukee County Long-Term Care Planning Process Report: Planning Process June 2006-July 2008

Milwaukee County Disabilities Services Division currently has a waiting list of about 2,500 people between the ages of 18 to 59 who have disabilities and need long-term care services. The Planning Council assisted the County in planning for a managed long-term care system that would put an end to this lengthy wait for services. This report provides a high level overview of the planning structure, activities, milestones, and results of Milwaukee County's Long-Term Care Planning process for adults with disabilities under age 60. For more information on this planning process, visit our Long-Term Care Planning Website at www.planningcouncil.org/longtermcare.

Please note that the report states that Milwaukee County's plan is expected to be implemented in the first quarter of 2009; however, due to issues with the State budget, implementation has been pushed back. Information regarding implementation will be posted on the Long-Term Care Planning website as it becomes available and is finalized.

Status Report on Older Adults in Milwaukee County With Mental Health and Co-Occurring Disorders

2009-02-16T11:48:00.006-06:00

Is Milwaukee County prepared for the mental health needs of older adults over the next 10 to 15 years? This report contains a diagnostic profile of the county's older adults with mental illness, an inventory of programs serving them, a discussion of barriers to services, and a summary of evidence-based practices. It also contains population projections for older adults in Milwaukee County through 2020.

Published March, 2004
Download the article in .pdf format (961KB)
Status Report on Older Adults in Milwaukee County With Mental Health and Co-Occurring Disorders

Summary of Food Stamp Customer Interviews For Payment Accuracy Initiative

2009-02-16T11:05:00.003-06:00

How do people applying for food stamps feel about the customer service they receive during the application process? This report contains the results of interviews with people who had just completed the food stamp application process at the Marcia P Coggs Human Services Center. People were asked a series of customer service-related questions, including how they were treated, how long they waited, and whether they had problems with the application process.

Published March, 2004
Download the article in .pdf format (304KB)
Summary of Customer Interviews For Payment Accuracy Initiative

Agency to study Milwaukee County foster care

2009-01-16T10:34:00.000-06:00

News article: http://www.jsonline.com/news/milwaukee/37680404.html

By Crocker Stephenson of the Journal Sentinel
Posted: Jan. 15, 2009

The safety of children in Milwaukee County's foster care system is the focus of a study to be conducted by the Planning Council for Health and Human Services Inc., the agency's executive director, Kathleen Pritchard, announced Thursday.

The Nov. 11 beating death of 13-month-old foster child Christopher Thomas has raised questions about the quality and oversight of foster care in Milwaukee County, according to a statement issued by the nonprofit agency, and points to the need to identify programs that are working in other communities.

"We want to know how we can improve the system going forward," Pritchard said.

"The intent is to make sure this doesn't happen again."

The study was commissioned in honor of the late Jim Ryan, a former social worker and a longtime advocate for child welfare, who died in November 2007. Ryan was mayor of Hales Corners for almost 20 years, president and CEO of the Milwaukee Regional Medical Center, as well as president and CEO of Penfield Children's Center.

Funding for the study, expected to be completed in March, has been provided by an anonymous donor through the Greater Milwaukee Foundation's Bright Futures Milwaukee Fund.
Pritchard called the gift "a fitting way to commemorate Jim's commitment to vulnerable children."

- Crocker Stephenson

For complete archived coverage of the story of the death of 13-month-old Christopher L. Thomas Jr., click here.

Board Member Dr. Seth Foldy Appointed as Public Health Administrator

2009-01-02T16:31:00.006-06:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 2, 2009
CONTACT: Seth Boffeli, 608-266-1683

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SERVICES APPOINTS DR. SETH FOLDY AS PUBLIC HEALTH ADMINISTRATOR
Former Milwaukee Health Commissioner Will Serve as State Health Officer

MADISON—Department of Health Services Secretary Karen Timberlake announced today that Dr. Seth Foldy has been selected as the new Administrator of the Division of Public Health. Dr. Foldy previously served as Health Commissioner for the City of Milwaukee from 1998 to 2004. As Administrator of the Division of Public Health, he will also serve as the State Health Officer.

Read the full story here:

http://dhs.wisconsin.gov/News/PressReleases/2009/010209dph.htm Website link.
http://dhs.wisconsin.gov/News/PressReleases/2009/010209dph.pdf Printer Friendly pdf version.

Dr. Seth Foldy is a Board Member of the Planning Council for Health and Human Services, Inc.

Community Planning Month

2008-12-03T14:17:00.001-06:00

Question: What do Wisconsin State Governor Jim Doyle, Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker, and Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett have in common?

Answer: They all value the important role of community planning.

October is National Community Planning Month. To celebrate, the Planning Council for Health and Human Services, Inc. invited Ben Warner, President of the National Association of Planning Councils and Deputy Director of the Jacksonville Community Council, Inc., to discuss the principles and payoffs of good community planning and the role, use, and possibilities of our agency in the Milwaukee community.

Please visit the Community Planning section of the Planning Council’s website to access the following:
· Mr. Warner’s PowerPoint presentation, titled Principles and Payoffs of Effective Community Planning
· Proclamations from the Governor, County Executive, and Mayor
· Some facts about the Milwaukee Community
· An audio brainstorming session with community leaders about what issues are most pressing for the Milwaukee community

While you are on the website, take a survey and let us know what you think are the most important issues for Milwaukee to address through planning.

Realizing Milwaukee's Potential: 2003-2007 Report to the Community

2008-09-30T12:20:00.001-05:00

During the five-year period from 2003 to 2007, 2-1-1 @ IMPACT received over half a million calls. 2-1-1 @ IMPACT is a 24-hour community information and referral service. Who was calling? What were they calling about? Where were they calling from? What does 2-1-1 @ IMPACT mean to the community? These questions are answered in a Fall 2008 report, prepared by the Planning Council for 2-1-1.

Connect to http://www.impactinc.org/LearnMore/AnnualReport.htm to view the report, "Realizing Milwaukee's Potential: 2003-2007 Report to the Community". Look for the section on 2-1-1's website titled, "2-1-1 @ IMPACT Report to the Community (released Fall 2008)".

Download the report in .pdf format (3.1MB)

Realizing Milwaukee's Potential: 2003-2007 Report to the Community

Measuring outcomes of United Way-funded programs: Expectations and reality

2008-09-01T12:14:00.001-05:00

The Planning Council's Executive Director, Kathleen Pritchard, has written an article that appears in the fall 2008 issue of the American Evaluation Association's journal, New Directions for Evaluation. The article is titled "Measuring outcomes of United Way-funded programs: Expectations and reality." It reviews United Way of America's approach to measuring program outcomes, and draws on lessons learned from its application throughout the country.

Published in Fall, 2008
Download the article in .pdf format (142KB)
Measuring outcomes of United Way-funded programs: Expectations and reality

Southeastern Wisconsin Demographic Profiles Report

2008-07-29T12:06:00.002-05:00

The first in a series of reports to provide basic demographic information that will help shape community planning efforts and decisions on alcohol, tobacco, and other drug abuse prevention.
Published July, 2008
Download the report in .pdf format (279KB)
Southeastern Wisconsin Demographic Profiles Report

Alternatives to Suspensions and Expulsions Advisory Group Report

2008-07-21T12:10:00.002-05:00

Prepared for the Milwaukee Public Schools Safe Schools/Healthy Students Initiative. This report summarizes the work of the Alternatives to Suspension and Expulsions Advisory Group activities, an ad hoc committee functioning as a sounding board for the Safe Schools Healthy Students Initiative to generate ideas to improve student achievement.

Published July, 2008.
Download the report in .pdf format (154KB)
Alternatives to Suspensions and Expulsions Advisory Group Report

The 2007 Milwaukee Fatherhood Summit

2008-05-30T12:00:00.001-05:00

Published May, 2008
Feedback Results from Summit Participants.
Download the report
The 2007 Milwaukee Fatherhood Summit .pdf format (843 KB)

Violence Prevention and Reduction Initiatives in Milwaukee County

2008-04-07T11:38:00.004-05:00

Violence Prevention and Reduction Initiatives in Milwaukee County, Section One, Focus Group Report.
Published April, 2008 for the Medical College of Wisconsin Violence Prevention Initiative

Download the report HERE .pdf format (135KB)

Planning Council for Health and Human Services

2008-01-13T11:16:00.000-06:00

Welcome to the Planning Council for Health and Human Services. The Planning Council provides planning, research, and evaluation in the health and human services arena.

If you are looking for best practices...
If you need to know which of your programs are producing good outcomes...
If you need help making sense of data...
If you need help in building a coalition and convening stakeholders...

The Planning Council can help you connect the dots. We bring stakeholders together to address community issues and solve problems. We look to see if best practices are being employed. We help service providers learn which programs are producing good outcomes for their clients and which need improvement. We make sense of data and information. In essence, we "connect the dots" when it comes to health and human services. The Planning Council serves primarily counties in Southeastern Wisconsin.

For mor information please visit our website:
http://planningcouncil.org