Agency to study Milwaukee County foster care

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

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

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

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

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

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

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