Innovate, impact, and improve women's health in wisconsin.

Health , Public Health

The perinatal programs include first breath, first breath families, and my baby & me. The first breath program provides pregnant women with the resources to help them quit smoking so their baby's first breath will be a healthy breath. This program is a statewide program that had 157 sites during 2017. Sites currently include local public health departments, private healthcare providers, federally-funded community health centers, and tribal health clinics. There was a total of 1,221 women served during 2017, bringing the total number of women served to over 20,400 clients since 2000. First breath families is focused on helping women quit smoking during pregnancy and stay quit postpartum, promoting smoke-free environments for women, children, and families. The my baby & me program is a fetal alcohol spectrum disorders prevention program that helps women achieve alcohol-free pregnancies through screenings, education, phone counseling and text message support. Healthcare providers use the my baby & me screening process to educate and identify pregnant women with alcohol-related questions or concerns. Women who need additional support are referred to the organization for phone counseling and education. My baby & me provides consistent messaging and evidence-based information about the often-confusing issue of alcohol use during pregnancy. Over 2,000 pregnant women are screened annually for their risk of having an alcohol exposed pregnancy. Since 2006, this program has been integrated into 80 sites statewide. the wisconsin women's health foundation provides women's health services and education for women and families. We have six statewide programs in all 72 wisconsin counties, serving over 7,000 women each year. The organization services and research initiatives are rooted in evidenced-based prevention of the diseases and conditions that most impact wisconsin women's health (cancer, diabetes prevention, dementia, domestic violence, heart health, mental health, oral health and alcohol and smoking cessation for pregnant women). Grapevine partners with volunteer nurses who conduct educational sessions with women in their communities. The nurses bring health education and resources to rural and underserved women throughout wisconsin and connect women to the health resources within their own community. The goal of grapevine is to educate women about disease prevention and healthy lifestyle changes. Everywoman's journal teaches women to use journaling as a tool for stress reduction and self-care at workshops statewide. Women also receive information about numerous mental health issues. The organization also holds annual events, which may include workshops, exhibits, lectures, health screenings, and educational materials. All programming in this category works to connect individuals to local health resources. We publish a newsletter twice a year and email monthly newsletters which feature articles on a variety of health topics, program updates and success stories, grants and award recognition, and donor recognition. The organization also works with the wisconsin well woman program/wisewoman programs on education, screening, and connecting women with resources in the areas of breast and cervical cancer and cardiovascular disease. administer the kohl's southeast wisconsin breast health assistance fund under the direction of the southeast wisconsin affiliate of susan g. Komen for the cure. This "community safety net" fund provides financial assistance to uninsured and underinsured men and women of any age in southeast wisconsin who are at or below 400% of the federal poverty level. Funds cover breast health screening services; and for people with breast cancer, access to treatment services. the wisconsin women's health foundation provides scholarships and grants to researchers, women faculty scholars, and other community non-profits.