Advocacy news

Children's invests more than $180 million in community benefits in 2023

Each year, Children's Wisconsin reports our system's investment in community benefit activities. Community benefits are programs, services or activities that meet certain Internal Revenue Service (IRS) guidelines and improve access to health services, enhance public health or provide education. In 2023, Children's invested more than $180 million in community benefit activities, which includes nearly $99 million in uncompensated care through our investment to care for kids covered by Medicaid. Read the 2023 community benefit report. 

Children's hosts CDC and Wisconsin Department of Health Services leaders for roundtable on injury prevention

Leaders from the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS), the Safe States Alliance and many others visited Children's Wisconsin in September for a roundtable discussion on injury and violence prevention efforts. CDC provides grants to DHS to implement the CDC's Comprehensive Suicide Prevention program. In turn, DHS awarded Children's with funding to implement CALM (counseling on access to lethal means). CALM consists of brief counseling strategies to help patients ages 10-19 who are at risk of suicide and their families to reduce access to lethal means and increase safety. Children's is also training care providers on evidence-based ways to have conversations with families to meaningfully reduce suicide risk. Guests also visited Children's emergency department and trauma center to hear about the innovative care, services and research happening related to injury prevention. 

City of Milwaukee Alderman Mark Chambers hosts Back to School Fair

Children's staff and dental residents volunteered at Alderman Mark Chambers' second annual back-to-school fair this summer. They provided 300+ oral hygiene kits and other giveaway items to kids and their families who attended.

Peggy Troy honored with Children's champion advocacy award

Each year, Children's government relations team honors lawmakers and staff who work to advance positive public policy for kids and families. In recognition of her career dedicated to advocacy, Peggy Troy, former president and CEO of Children's Wisconsin, was honored with Children's champion advocacy award. She prioritized advocacy as a core part of our mission, engaged with countless lawmakers and represented a strong voice on behalf of Children's Wisconsin and the kids and families we serve.

Children's patient travels to Washington, DC as part of annual Family Advocacy Day

Each year, Children's Wisconsin participates in Children's Hospital Association's Speak Now for Kids Family Advocacy Day where kids from children's hospitals across the country come together in Washington, DC to meet with members of Congress on important kids' health care issues. This year, 4-year-old Caroline and her parents from Kenosha, Wis. traveled to our nation's capital to share their experience receiving care from nearly a dozen specialties at Children's Wisconsin. They shared how important pediatric specialists are to Caroline and kids across Wisconsin and beyond who rely on their expertise to help children by healthy, well and thriving. Just like she does at Kenosha Clinic, Caroline gave members of Congress and their staff many fist bumps and high fives.

Children's chief medical officer meets with White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention

Dr. Rainer Gedeit, Children's chief medical officer, joined other health system leaders from across the country in Washington, DC this summer at a convening with the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention. Guests included Children's Hospital Association, American Hospital Association, and Northwell CEO Council on Gun Violence Prevention members. The convening brought together health leaders and White House officials to discuss the role of hospitals and health systems in addressing the public health crisis of gun violence.

Good Hope Clinic groundbreaking ceremony

As part of Children's Good Hope Clinic groundbreaking event this summer, our Government Relations team was proud to host local lawmakers to participate in the exciting event, including Alderwoman Larresa Taylor, who represents Good Hope Clinic, City of Milwaukee Health Commissioner Mike Totoraitis and State Representative Dora Drake.

Children's staff advocate in Washington, DC

Children's staff and providers from our child advocacy centers visited Washington, DC this summer as part of the National Children's Alliance to increase funding for our child advocacy centers. Nila Grahl, Manager of Child Advocacy Centers, Southeast Region, Lanya Hibbler, Manager Child Advocacy & Protection Services, Sara Haberlein APNP, Supervisor Medical Services for Child Advocacy & Protection Services, and Season Westphal, Manager of Child Advocacy Centers, Northeast, advocated with Wisconsin members of Congress to increase funding to support the work of our child advocacy centers. Gabe McGaughey, Director Child Well-Being, and David Whelan, Vice President Child Well-Being, joined Children’s Home Society of America, a national organization network of organizations working to advance the well-being of children, families and communities, in Washington, DC for a briefing with the White House Office of Community Engagement. They shared the work of the Institute for Child & Family Well-Being and shared some of the innovative work Children’s is doing to support families through the Strong Families Thriving Children Connected Communities initiative, Home Visiting and Mobility Mentoring which supports families in achieving economic independence.

Children's pediatrician Dr. Jaya Iyer honored with Health Care Worker of the Year Award by Congressman Bryan Steil

Earlier this year, Congressman Bryan Steil recognized Jaya Iyer, MD, pediatrician at Kenosha Pediatrics and medical director of Children's Medical Group South Region, with one of his annual "Health Care Worker of the Year" awards. Each year, Congressman Steil recognizes health care workers who have gone above and beyond. Congressman Steil remarked that Dr. Iyer was selected for this award because of her compassionate patient care and the strong relationships she develops with patients and their families - some of whom are now returning to her as adults with children of their own.

Kenosha County staff visit Children's Wisconsin Kenosha Mental Health Walk-In Clinic

Kenosha County Executive Sam Kerkman, Kenosha County Supervisor John Franco and other Kenosha County staff recently visited the new Kenosha Mental Health Walk-In Clinic. Children’s leaders discussed kids’ mental health care and how this new offering and other Children’s innovations are working to improve kids’ access to care.

 

 

State legislation signed into law to support respiratory therapists on air ambulance helicopter transport

Nora Stottlemyer, Supervisor, Transport Team, Children’s Wisconsin, attended the bill signing for state legislation that she and her colleagues testified in support of in 2023. When a patient’s care or circumstances dictate, we may transport a patient via air travel, known as air ambulance, flown by Flight for Life pilots. This state legislation will now support having respiratory therapists trained and available to serve as legal helicopter crew members. This change will help manage patient needs and increase the number of staff able and at the ready to serve these critically ill patients. Pediatric respiratory therapists bring a unique skill set and expertise to the mobile critical care environment as experts in a child’s lung function and the equipment to sustain a child’s breathing before, during and after transport. 

Children's Wisconsin attends annual Wisconsin Hospital Association Advocacy Day

Children’s Wisconsin participated in the annual Wisconsin Hospital Association (WHA) Advocacy Day in Madison. Children's providers, leaders, staff and volunteers met with state lawmakers to discuss important health care priorities, including improved Medicaid reimbursement for providers, addressing health care workforce needs and post-acute discharge issues. Thanks to all who participated in WHA Advocacy Day to learn about our shared hospital priorities and meet with their lawmakers!

 

Senator Tammy Baldwin hosts roundtables on access to inhalers, Children's shares expertise

Senator Tammy Baldwin recently hosted public roundtables discussing the importance of access to inhalers. Children’s staff, Ashley White, Shirley White and Nick Antos, MD, participated by sharing their valuable perspectives through their work in the Community Health Asthma Management Program (CHAMP) and in caring for children with asthma. Dr. Antos also recently attended the bill signing for state legislation that he shared support for to help schools have asthma management plans and also enable schools to have their own prescriptions for inhalers. This will to support the school community better respond to students and others in respiratory distress.

 

 

 

Children's lends support for additional state funds for child advocacy centers across Wisconsin

Nila Grahl, Southeast Regional Manager Racine, Kenosha & Walworth Child Advocacy Centers, testified before state committees on Children’s child advocacy centers and the funding support needed to close critical gaps. Trained providers at the child advocacy centers (CACs) complete comprehensive, developmentally-sensitive, trauma-informed medical assessments and care for children who are suspected of being abused. Forensic interviewers provide children with a safe space to tell their story by asking non-leading, unbiased questions that meet forensic standards. Importantly, care providers in the CAC are there to answer questions, offer guidance about next steps and provide referrals for ongoing care, counseling and other care the child and family may require.

 

Children's leaders recognized with Wisconsin Hospital Association quality award

The Wisconsin Hospital Association (WHA) recently awarded Children’s Wisconsin with the WHA Excellence in Health Care Quality and Patient Safety Award for our efforts to screen families for food insecurity in our emergency department and ensure families are connected to follow-up resources and support. Even though food insecurity is the initial reason we connect with a family, when a referral specialist connects with them, they often identify additional needs — employment, transportation or mental and behavioral health — and they’re able to connect them to other resources the family never knew existed. By helping families address their social and environmental needs, this multi-disciplinary team in partnership with community resources and organizations supports removing barriers, and ultimately leads to improved health outcomes, better engagement with preventive care services, and happier, healthier families in our community.

 

Wisconsin Lieutenant Governor visits Children's Wisconsin

Wisconsin’s Lieutenant Governor Sara Rodriguez visited with Children’s leaders to discuss the Governor’s Task Force on the Health Care Workforce. Children’s appreciates the opportunity to participate in the Task Force to help bring our perspectives on the pediatric health care workforce to these important discussions.

 

Children's President & CEO visits with members of Congress

Children’s Wisconsin President & CEO Peggy Troy visited Members of Congress to discuss the importance of the Children’s Hospital Graduate Medical Education (CHGME) program. This program supports the training of pediatric providers at free-standing, independent children’s hospitals, like Children’s Wisconsin. CHGME is integral to developing and maintaining training programs that target the unique care needs of children. A robust pediatric workforce is essential to ensuring that every child has access to high quality medical care. She also discussed the importance of funding for Children’s child advocacy centers and additional supports for kids’ mental and behavioral health and pediatric research.

 

 

Testifying in support of healthy foods and obesity prevention and management support for kids and families

Jenny Crouse, Clinical Nutrition Manager, and Ashleigh Spitza, Clinical Dietician, shared their expertise with state lawmakers on the impact of increased funding to support families with matching FoodShare funds to support additional healthy food purchases and the importance of grants to support childhood obesity prevention and management.

 

Children's advocates to promote continuum of care for kids' mental and behavioral heath

Amy Herbst, Vice President Mental & Behavioral Health, testified in support of creating psychiatric residential treatment facilities to care for children with higher levels of care to meet their mental and behavioral health needs. Psychiatric residential treatment facilities are equipped with trained staff to provide the care that children need in safe and secure setting, however none currently exist in Wisconsin. They have comprehensive services including evaluations, therapies and treatments to best support youth on a path towards safety, health and well-being. Having psychiatric residential treatment facilities in Wisconsin will support children in being closer to home, their supportive resources and ease the transition back to their home, school and community. Wisconsin kids should be able to have access to all levels of care they need, including those children who face significant mental and behavioral health challenges.

 

Children's Wisconsin, Children's Health Alliance of Wisconsin and Chorus Community Health Plans pleased to see dental therapy legislation signed into law

Matt Crespin, Executive Director Children’s Health Alliance of Wisconsin, and Jenna Linden, Oral Health Program Leader Children’s Health Alliance of Wisconsin attended the bill signing for several state bills that aim to improve oral health care access across the state. In particular, Children’s was pleased to see dental therapist legislation signed into law which would create a path for licensure for dental therapists to work under a dentist's supervision to provide basic, yet important, restorative treatments, like filling cavities. They are trained to perform a limited number of restorative procedures, beyond the scope of a dental hygienist, which would allow dentists to focus on more complex care and treatment. Improving oral health care access requires a multi-faceted approach and several solutions. By working collaboratively with dentists, dental therapists could help provide much needed oral health care to some of our most vulnerable community members.

Children's experts share importance of home visiting funding and programming for Wisconsin kids and families

Jieneen Metcalf, Family Preservation & Support Manager, Heidi Bartz and Melanie Hobbs, Prevention Supervisors, shared the importance of the Family Foundations Home Visiting program with state lawmakers. They shared the need for funding to provide pregnant women, children and families with voluntary, in-home supports and mentoring through their children’s first years of life. Home visiting is a low cost, sustainable prevention measure which is aimed to reduce child welfare system involvement, keeping children healthy, safe and at home with their parents. It helps reduce the risk of child maltreatment, strengthen family functioning, connection to community resources, and promote healthy child development.

Children's, Chorus Community Health Plans share support for state dental therapy legislation

Mike Boeder, Chief Operating Officer at Chorus Community Health Plans testified before the Assembly Committee on Health, Aging & Long-Term Care to share our support for legislation authorizing dental therapy. Licensed dental therapists working under a dentist's supervision could provide basic, yet important, restorative treatments, like filling cavities. They are trained to perform a limited number of restorative procedures, beyond the scope of a dental hygienist, which would allow dentists to focus on more complex care and treatment. By working collaboratively with dentists, dental therapists could help provide much needed oral health care to some of our most underserved community members. Adequate access to oral health care helps reduce the likelihood of future poor oral health outcomes and keeps health care costs low. 

Addressing teen vaping 

As part of a multi-state settlement agreement to address harms caused by JUUL Labs marketing and sales practices, Wisconsin is expected to receive approximately $14.7 million in funds for prevention and cessation efforts. The Wisconsin Department of Health Services hosted listening sessions earlier this year to obtain community member feedback on use of the funds. Children’s Wisconsin was at the table and shared some of our recommendations including additional support for youth cessation resources and programs, youth education and school-based initiatives — like our e-learning programs — increasing enforcement capacity and multidisciplinary research to better understand the effects of vaping on adolescents. Read the latest update on teen vaping from Lynn D'Andrea, MD, Medical Director of Children's Pulmonary Services.

Children's Wisconsin invests more than $171 million in community benefits

In 2022, Children's invested more than $171 million in community benefits programs, services and activities. This includes $91.2 million in providing high quality care to kids covered by Medicaid. The report reflects Children's investment in core areas identified by the Internal Revenue Service that meet community health needs. While this report reflects solely Children's investment, we can't do this work alone and are grateful to our generous donors, government support and community partners. Read the report and see community benefit stories.

New Emergency Department and Trauma Center opens - County Executive Crowley and Mayor Johnson visit

The new Skywalk Building is now open at the Children’s Wisconsin Milwaukee Hospital, featuring a new Emergency Department and Level I Trauma Center (EDTC) and Skywalk retail pharmacy. The two-story building is located prominently on West Connell Court, near the Craig Yabuki Tower and has a new, dedicated entrance for emergency medical services. Please see our current campus map. The Skywalk Building was funded in part by Ladish Co. Foundation and the Jendusa family, along with capital improvements planned and budgeted for by Children’s Wisconsin, including through the issuance of bond financing. It was designed to improve and expand family access to emergency services by relocating the emergency entrance to t

he front of the Children’s Wisconsin Milwaukee Hospital, and
 expand the services available for patients and families. “The new Skywalk Building supports Children’s Wisconsin’s mission to make a positive and lasting impact on the health and well-being of our patients and their families,” said Amy Drendel, DO, interim section chief, pediatric emergency medicine, Children’s Wisconsin. “With this new, advanced EDTC facility, we can better provide the safest, highest-quality and most equitable care and services.” Learn more.

Children's providers and staff attend Gun Violence Prevention Day of Action

More than 20 Children's providers and staff attended an advocacy event hosted by the Wisconsin Anti-Violence Effort Educational Fund focused on raising awareness and encouraging advocacy on several violence prevention policies. Dr. Mike Levas, pediatric emergency physician and Project Ujima medical director, and Brooke Cheaton, Project Ujima Manager, shared about Children's experience caring for kids and families impacted by violence. Children's emergency department physicians have been advocating on this topic, including through an op-ed in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and a follow-up article.

Congressman Mike Gallagher staff visit Children's Appleton Clinic

As part of Congressman Gallagher's annual August district tour, his staff visited Children's new Appleton Clinic and learned about the variety of specialty services we provide for kids and families in the Northeast region.

Children's participates in Milwaukee Alderman Mark Chambers, Jr. back-to-school fair 

Children's staff, including pediatric dental residents, attended the August back-to-school fair to provide information on oral health and other resources and provide giveaways.

At Every Turn: Night and day

Type 1 diabetes is a life-changing diagnosis. Testing blood sugars, insulin injections, continuous glucose monitors, measuring food and counting carbs — there is a lot to learn. Luckily, Children’s Wisconsin offers comprehensive training to help parents and kids understand their diagnosis and how to manage it. Learn how two brothers, Mason and Reece, navigated their diagnosis and how Children’s Wisconsin helped them thrive in their new everyday lives. 

Children's Wisconsin to receive $4.8 million in state funding to expand dental access

Children’s Wisconsin is excited to announce $4.8 million has been included in the state budget to support expansion of the Children’s Wisconsin Dental Center. In addition to state funding and philanthropic resources (mentioned below), Children’s Wisconsin will also directly invest $3.1 million to cover the total cost of the expansion. Children’s Wisconsin is extremely grateful for the support throughout the budget process. “The need for dental care is great, particularly for kids and families with special medical needs or who are covered by Medicaid,” said Lori Barbeau, DDS, medical director of the Children’s Wisconsin Dental Center. “We are so grateful to have partners in state government who recognized that Wisconsin children deserve better. This expansion will help Children’s care for even more kids who need dental care.” Read more. This advocacy success is possible in part thanks to many patient families who shared their stories.

Kids are waiting for dental care at Children's Wisconsin. That may change soon. 

9-year-old Lici from Racine, Wis. is sassy, giggly and adoring of company. She was born with a rare genetic condition that impacts virtually every aspect of her life. Because of her condition, Lici can't walk or talk or eat on her own. She deals with gastrointestinal issues, and is fed overnight through a tube that carries food to her intestines. Her mother, Amy Gonzales, said she'd grown used to being told by doctors they couldn't take her on as a patient because of her disability, or because she is insured by Medicaid, or both. But their experience finding a dental appointment was different because of one of the few clinics in the state that can provide the specialized care she needs, and has the majority of its patients on Medicaid. At Children's Dental Clinic on their Milwaukee campus, 90% of patients are covered through Medicaid and 35% are kids or adults with disabilities. The dentists at Children's Wisconsin were patient with their daughter's needs. Many parents of children with disabilities attest that Children's is virtually the only place in Wisconsin they can go. But, through a $9.6 million expansion planned for this year, Children's hopes to increase the number of patients it can see, potentially eliminating its 4,000-patient waitlist altogether. A proposal in the state's 2023-2025 capital budget, which the Legislature could take up as early as this week, would give the clinics half of what it needs through taxpayer funds, provided the other half can be raised through private donations. Learn more.

Children's Wisconsin patients attend Children's Hospital Association Family Advocacy Day in Washington, DC

Phoenix from Sister Bay, Wis. and Vince from Mazomanie, Wis. traveled to Washington, DC with Children’s as part of the annual Family Advocacy Day hosted by the Children’s Hospital Association. They met with members of the Wisconsin congressional delegation and made an awesome advocacy duo! Learn more.

Milwaukee County Executive visits Children's to discuss kids' mental & behavioral health care

Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley and Mike Lappen, Milwaukee County Behavioral Health Administrator, visited Children's to discuss the continuum of kids' mental & behavioral health care.

Wisconsin Department of Health Services leaders visit Children's 

Secretary-designee Kirsten Johnson, Medicaid Director Jamie Kuhn, Teresa Steinmetz and Pam Lano visited Children's to learn more about our high quality pediatric specialty, dental and mental & behavioral health care.

June is National Gun Violence Awareness Month

June is National Gun Violence Awareness Month, raising awareness of the issue that has been appropriately labeled a national public health epidemic. Firearm-related injuries became the leading cause of death for children and teens nationwide in 2020. In my 14 years at Children’s Wisconsin, nothing has shocked me quite like the increase in the number of children we have cared for with gunshot wounds. In fact, the number of children we treated due to gunshot wounds each year more than doubled from 2019 to 2022, jumping from 47 to 123. We understand it is not enough to be exceedingly good at treating the immediate result of violence — the physical wound or psychological trauma. It’s our vision for Wisconsin’s kids to be the healthiest in the nation, and to reach that goal we must protect kids from violence before it happens. Read more about our work to support kids and our communities.

Legislation to end charging youth sex trafficking victims with prostitution

Nila Grahl, Racine & Kenosha CAC Manager, testified before the Assembly Criminal Justice & Public Safety Committee on safe harbor legislation to end charging youth victims of sex trafficking with prostitution. Child victims of sex trafficking are indeed victims – these are minors who cannot consent to sex and have been exploited and deserve to be protected. Youth victims of sex trafficking need supportive health care, services and support – not fear of being charged with a crime. This important legislation would better support youth victims of sex trafficking to access the care, services and safety they deserve.

Kids across Wisconsin find the dental care they need at Children's Wisconsin

A visit to the dentist can be challenging for any kid. This is especially true when they are experiencing other health challenges that affect their care. More than 90 percent of patients who receive dental care at Children’s Wisconsin are covered through Medicaid, and 35 percent are kids (or, in some cases, adults) with disabilities. The pediatric dentists and dental residents at Children’s Wisconsin have the skills and training to meet that challenge and make a difference in the lives and health of children. While the Children’s Wisconsin Dental Center is based in Milwaukee, patients and parents across the state have come to rely on us, with reach extending into 57 Wisconsin counties. As a statewide resource, the Dental Center is also proud to serve as Wisconsin’s only pediatric dental residency program, training the next generation of pediatric dentists. Dental disease is one of the most common chronic diseases of childhood and one of the top reasons why kids miss school, yet it is often entirely preventable with good oral health care and regular visits to the dentist. Untreated cavities impact a child’s ability to eat, speak, sleep, socialize and learn, and often result in costly and preventable emergency room visits. Learn more about Children’s dental care.

Support for transporting pediatric patients via air ambulance

Kathy Miller, Executive Director of Critical Care, Respiratory & Transport, Nora Stottlemyer, Supervisor, Transport Team, and Mike Meyer, MD, Chief of Pediatric Critical
 Care testified before the Assembly Committee on Health, Aging & Long-Term Care to discuss air ambulance staffing for pediatric patients. When an infant or child at another hospital or health center needs specialized pediatric care beyond what that facility can offer, their physician will call the Children’s Wisconsin Transport and Provider Consult Center. Having respiratory therapists trained and available to serve as a helicopter crew members would be very helpful in managing patient needs and increase the number of staff able and at the ready to serve these critically ill patients.

State Senators Bradley, Hutton visit Children's Dental Clinic & Operating Room

Senator Julian Bradley and Senator Rob Hutton visited Children's Milwaukee Dental Clinic and Operating Room to learn more about the high quality, compassionate care we provide for kids across Wisconsin. 

100 Children's Wisconsin advocates attend 2023 Wisconsin Hospital Association Advocacy Day

Nearly 100 Children’s advocates, including leaders, providers, staff, patient families and volunteers attended the back-in-person Wisconsin Hospital Association Advocacy Day event in April with other hospital advocates joining from across the state. Children’s Wisconsin advocates met with their lawmakers to discuss important health care policies impacting children and families in our community, including increased Medicaid reimbursement, health care workforce solutions and improving care options after hospital discharge.

Children's Wisconsin staff attend Joint Finance Committee state budget hearings

Pam Fraser, Director of Oral Health Services, testified before the Joint Finance Committee on expanding our main campus Dental Clinic and the importance of oral health care access for kids. Sandy Stetzer, Family Preservation & Support Manager, testified before the Joint Finance Committee on the importance of Family Resource Centers and home visiting.

Extending postpartum coverage for moms covered by Medicaid

Sarah Currie, Executive Director, Perinatal/Neonatal Services, and Jim Slawson, MD, Chief Medical Officer for CCHP testified before the Senate Insurance & Small Business committee about the importance of extending postpartum Medicaid coverage for moms. The health and well-being of a mother from pre-pregnancy to postpartum has implications on a child’s physical, cognitive and social-emotional development. One of the many ways to promote health among children and their moms is to ensure that families have access to timely and appropriate health care services. Having access to the appropriate health care resources at the right time is critically important, not only for a mom and their family, but also to promote appropriate and cost effective health care utilization.

Children's Wisconsin offering community-based lead testing

In partnership with MacCanon Brown Homeless Sanctuary, Children’s Wisconsin tested Milwaukee children for lead-poisoning to ensure their health and safety in our community. The sanctuary typically serves the 53206 ZIP code – where the city's lead crisis is a particularly serious problem. Providing lead testing is one way that we can ensure kid’s health and safety. In addition to on-site testing, Children’s will assist in follow-up monitoring for families with children who tested positive for elevated lead levels. Learn more about this ongoing partnership between Children’s Wisconsin and MacCanon Brown Homeless Sanctuary.

Project Ujima working to break the cycle of violence

At the age of 8 years old, Jason was first admitted to the emergency department (ED) at Children’s Wisconsin due to a chronic illness. His symptoms were treated but he returned to the hospital several more times before finally succumbing to the effects of his condition at just 16 years old. His fatal disease: violence. “Ten years ago, violence wasn't talked about as a public health crisis, but now it is,” says Michael Levas, M.D., M.S., assistant medical director of Project Ujima and associate professor of pediatric emergency medicine at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin in Milwaukee. “We know the epidemiology, who's at risk and that it's communicable—violence begets violence; if you look at it from a public health viewpoint, it’s absolutely a disease.”

Jason’s story—and those of countless other youths like him—inspired the creation of Project Ujima, a program designed to break the cycle of recurring violence among Milwaukee-area youth. Children’s Wisconsin launched the initiative in 1996 using a multi-tiered approach, including hospital-based services, home-based services and community-based services. The primary goal of these programs and services is to provide children with the support systems, coping mechanisms and violence-avoidance techniques to reduce the likelihood of future violence, regardless of what’s happening in their school or neighborhood. An important aspect of that, according to Levas, is helping kids embrace their positive possible selves. “If you’re realistic view is that you're going to be in prison or dead, that makes you behave impulsively because you don't think there's any other option,” Levas says. “What we do is we give these kids hope and show them all the other possibilities—then those impulsive behaviors don't happen as much.” Since 2004, Project Ujima participants have experienced a recidivism rate of less than one percent. Read more.

Milwaukee Business Journal honors Children's Wisconsin's Jacqueline Whelan for work to address social determinants of health

Children’s Wisconsin is proud and honored to announce that Jacqueline Whelan, MN, RN, CNL, director of Care Integration for Children’s Wisconsin Health Management, has been selected as a member of the Milwaukee Business Journal’s “40 under 40” class of 2023. In so many ways, Jacqueline is changing the way Children’s Wisconsin delivers care to the kids and families of Wisconsin. From leveraging technology and addressing the social determinants of health, Jacqueline is dedicated to not only improving how care is provided, but also redefining what is considered care.

When most people think of health, they think of medical care — getting sick and going to the doctor. But the truth is, direct medical care accounts for a small percentage of a person’s overall health. Things like environment, education, economic stability and access to nutritious food — what we call social determinants of health — are far more impactful to one’s wellbeing. Addressing these factors has been the primary focus of Jacqueline’s work at Children’s Wisconsin for more than 12 years. Read about Jacqueline’s work to better understand patients’ missed appointments, address food insecurity, and much more.

Governor Evers visits Children's Wisconsin

Governor Tony Evers stopped by Children’s Wisconsin to tour the Craig Yabuki Mental Health Walk-In Clinic and visit the future home of our Pediatric Psychology Residency Program. These innovative programs are helping us increase access to care and grow the number of pediatric psychologists in Wisconsin. There, he met 7-year-old Zaylyn and his mom, Dominique, who shared their mental health story. Children’s Wisconsin mental health leaders thanked the Governor for some of the state funding that has supported these programs. It’s going to take all of us working together to make sure Wisconsin kids get the mental health support they need. Read more about Zaylyn and the Craig Yabuki Mental Health Walk-In Clinic.

Funds to support Children's Wisconsin Dental Clinic in proposed state budget

Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers is proposing nearly $4.8M in state funding to cover half the cost of expanding Children’s Dental Clinic on our main campus. It would expand from 5,200 square feet to 14,000 square feet and will support expanding the hospital's pediatric dental residency program, which is the only one of its kind in the state. Due to space constraints at the clinic and the high demand for services, it often takes at least six months or longer for a child to establish dental care at Children’s, according to the budget document. Once the project is complete, Children's anticipates a significant increase in visit volumes and the number of patients seen. “Children’s Wisconsin is grateful to see that Governor Evers’ capital budget proposal includes funding for expanding the dental center on the Children’s Wisconsin Milwaukee campus,” the spokesperson said. “If passed, this will help increase access to oral health care for our state’s most vulnerable kids.” Read more.

Children's Wisconsin CEO joins other hospital CEOs in expressing commitment to addressing gun violence

In March, Children’s Wisconsin president and CEO Peggy Troy joined nearly 50 other hospital CEOs in a New York Times ad expressing their commitment and desire to address gun violence all across the country. Sadly, the past two weeks we have seen the harm of gun violence on children in our community. Read more. You can also read more at Becker’s Hospital Review.

Children's Wisconsin opens New Appleton Clinic

Children’s Wisconsin is just weeks away from opening a new clinic in the Fox Valley. The facility will offer more than 20 specialties and eliminate or greatly reduce the need for families in Northeast Wisconsin to drive to the main campus in Milwaukee. The Appleton clinic, 2575 E. Evergreen Drive, is more than 50,000 square feet. Specialties that were offered at the Children’s site at ThedaCare in Neenah will move here, plus more specialties will be added, such as radiology, using the latest technology with the lowest dose of radiation possible. Previously, imaging procedures were outsourced, but now pediatric-trained technologists can do them right here. It’s also the only Children’s Wisconsin clinic to have stress test capabilities. The long-term vision is to add on to the facility and eventually be able to support up to 70,000 visits each year. The clinic will start seeing patients on March 6. Learn more about the Appleton Clinic.

How one mom's fight to protect kids from lead poisoning got her invited to the White House

In 2015, when Deanna Branch’s son Aidan was 2 years old she had a feeling something wasn’t right. He wasn’t developing the way he should and was having behavioral issues. Aidan’s lead levels got so high he needed to be admitted to Children’s Wisconsin Milwaukee Hospital. Twice. But after leaving the hospital, with no other realistic options, the family returned to their rental home, the source of the lead. Because the other sources were never fixed, Deanna and her children were eventually forced to leave. She was now homeless with Aidan and his older brother, Jaidyn. Plus, she spent so much time in the hospital with Aidan that she lost her job, too. Sadly, it is not an unusual scenario for families coping with the effects of lead poisoning.

In 2018, Deanna found Lisa Chowdhury, MD, a Children’s Wisconsin pediatrician at Next Door Pediatrics primary care office. Deanna was incredibly grateful to have found a physician who took Aidan’s illness seriously and would make sure he was getting the testing and care he needed. Thanks in part to Dr. Chowdhury’s care and support, Aidan is now living in a safe home and his lead levels have dropped, but there are long term effects of lead poisoning that will never go away. That’s why Deanna began working with her church, Hephatha Lutheran Church, to start the organization Coalition on Lead Emergency (COLE) whose mission is to create a sustainable, lead-safe environment for Milwaukee children. Children’s Wisconsin is proud to work with COLE as their clinical partner, which means it has a network of pediatricians that parents can be referred to who will support them in lead testing and ensure their children get proper treatment and care. This partnership has been an important component of the efforts by Children’s Wisconsin to bring community stakeholders together in the fight against lead poisoning. Read more. Because of her tireless commitment, Deanna was invited by Vice President Kamala Harris to speak at the White House Lead Pipe Summit in January 2023. She asked leaders to act with a sense of urgency to prioritize removing every single lead service line. Watch her speech here.

Project ADAM - the importance of preparing for sudden cardiac arrest

Millions across the world watched in disbelief as Damar Hamlin went into sudden cardiac arrest and collapsed during an NFL game. While the scene was shocking, the rapid response of medical personnel was amazing — and undoubtedly gave Mr. Hamlin a far better chance at survival. That kind of quick, life-saving action should be available to anyone, anywhere. And with Project ADAM, it can be. Project ADAM is a nationwide initiative that has saved the lives of more than 200 children, adolescents and adults who went into sudden cardiac arrest since its inception here in Wisconsin in 1999. It focuses on raising awareness, ensuring bystanders are prepared, and helps schools, community centers, youth sports groups and more have emergency plans and resources in place. While sudden cardiac arrest is uncommon in young people, it sadly does happen. And it’s exactly that — sudden and unexpected. But, immediate CPR and the availability of an AED can double or triple a person’s chance of survival. So while you can’t predict when one might strike, you can plan your response. That’s where Project ADAM is making a difference. Learn more. News outlets shared information about Project ADAM, including Spectrum 1, ABC 2, NBC 4 and more.