Print Friendly VersionBreaking Away Spring 2008
Inside this Issue
Assistive Technology Resource Fair & Medical Equipment Recycling Drive
Director’s Corner
Community Collaboration
Transition Corner
Wheelchair Recycling Program
Focus on New Staff
Independent Living Staff Honored for their Advocacy Efforts
Marian Ecklund-20 years and counting
Self-Directed Supports Waiver
Get Out to Vote!
Peer Support is Alive and Well
Youth Leadership Summit Brought to you by IndependenceFirst WI Facets Summer 2008
NCIL Side Trip
Looking for a Mental Health Care Provider?
2008 U.S. Bank Championship Golf Tournament Info
Governor Doyle Awards $447,142 to 32 Organizations to Sign Up Kids for BadgerCare Plus
About Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation
Disability Rights Wisconsin Launches Redesigned, Accessible Web Site
IndependenceFirst Board of Directors
IndependenceFirst Announces New Office Lease and Location
IndependenceFirst is pleased to announce that after a 3 year search for an ideal office location and lease with-option-to-buy, an agreement has been signed with 544 South 1st Street, LLC for the redevelopment of the former Karp Bakery Warehouse at 544 South 1st Street. “Our Facilities Committee considered dozens of locations with a specific criteria for a 40,000 square foot configurable office, ample free parking, convenience to bus routes and a flexible developer who was interested in working with us to promote the highest caliber of accessibility at a location that employs and serves people with disabilities in our community” says Scott Luber, Director of Administration at IndependenceFirst and Facilities Committee Chair.
IndependenceFirst currently is located near to their new planned location at 600 W. Virginia St., in the Walker’s Point neighborhood, and the organization presently occupies 30,000 square feet in the Tannery Complex on the south end of the 6th St. bridge. “The new location affords us the space we need to grow and a unique address on First Street, which will be a helpful aid in finding the new IndependenceFirst office for our consumers, donors and volunteers.” The offices at IndependenceFirst are expected to move in the Fall of 2008.
“We plan on our offices serving as a model of accessibility to other businesses who are interested in replicating the concepts and for use in their planning, as people with age-related or other disabilities will be a new workforce option and a customer base that may not yet be fully appreciated in Milwaukee,” Luber states. “Accessibility is one of the things our organization is all about and we truly walk (or roll) the talk.” Over 50% of the IndependenceFirst's onsite staff, management and Board of Directors are people with disabilities.
IndependenceFirst was represented in the transaction by Kevin Armstrong and Steve White of CB Richard Ellis. Kevin Armstrong stated, “We are excited that IndependenceFirst has settled on this location – an ideal marriage of cost-effectiveness, functionality, prominence and accessibility. It is a great feeling to have helped such a worthwhile organization address their real estate needs.”
IndependenceFirst has an internal staff of almost 90 people and has experienced growth in the Personal Assistance Service Program, which employs nearly 1,200 personal care workers in people’s homes. The nonprofit organization’s 20+ programs serve thousands of people with disabilities, their families and the community at large each year. IndependenceFirst prides itself as being the FIRST resource on accessibility, independent living and the Americans with Disabilities Act for Metro Milwaukee.
For more info contact Scott Luber at 414-226-8303 V/Relay sluber@independencefirst.org
Assistive Technology Resource Fair & Medical Equipment Recycling Drive
Join us for a two-day resource fair highlighting the wide variety of assistive devices (AT) that can make your life easier!
Assistive Technology Resource Fair & Medical Equipment Recycling Drive
State Fair Expo Center
May 16-17, 2008
Highlights
• Local and regional Assistive Technology Vendors; informative Workshops on a range of AT devices, “suggest an invention”
•Used Mobility Equipment Drive (e.g. walkers, tub benches, wheelchairs,
canes, etc.) for the Wheelchair Recycling Program
• Used Hearing Aid & Glasses Drive for the Lions Club
• Cell Phone Recycling Drive: MMDI Access to benefit domestic violence agencies
May 16 Workshops
Sessions Run Concurrently
10am
• Seating and Mobility Session
• Digital Technology – Cognitive and Literacy devices Session
11am
• Adaptive Transportation Session
• Wisconsin’s Assistive Technology Resources Session
1pm
• WisLoan and Telework Session
• Wisconsin Relay Service Session
2pm
• Work Smart – Solutions for the Workplace Session
• Resources for Hearing Loss Info Session
3pm
• Live Smart – Solutions for Daily Living Session
• Resources for Vision Loss Info Session
Event Sponsors
IndependenceFirst, Post Polio Resource Group, Assistive Technology Resource Fair
Recycling Sponsors
Wheelchair Recycling Program, Lions Club and MMDI Access.
For more information on this event, contact Cindi Pichler at IndependenceFirst, 414-291-7520 V/TTY or cpichler@independencefirst.org
Director’s Corner
By Lee Schulz, Executive Director
As spring arrives, I expect that we will all see more of our friends and neighbors with disabilities out and about in the community. It’s true that cold weather and snow tend to keep people inside and near home, however I think it’s doubly true for individuals with disabilities. Vans do not warm up as fast, not all sidewalks and curb cuts are snow and ice free, creating huge mobility problems. So take time to reacquaint yourselves with your neighbors, get out and participate in your community.
Independencefirst's Wheelchair Sports and Adaptive Recreation activities will be changing over from winter to spring and summer activities. Contact Kathy Mohar to find out what is planned.
We are told that with seasonal change, it is a good time to look around our homes to evaluate if we have items no longer useful and/or if there is something needed that we do not have. I think this is a great time to assess our current needs for adaptive equipment to increase our independence. Do you have canes, walkers, wheelchairs, hearing aides or other devices that are gathering dust? Or, perhaps you are in need of such a device but have not gotten around to obtaining it. The Wheelchair Recycling Program (WRP) may be your answer, whether donating or obtaining adaptive equipment. See additional information in this newsletter.
Finally, we are looking forward to seeing all of you at our POWER LUNCH. This year’s event features former Milwaukee Brewer and Major League pitcher, Jim Abbott.
Mr. Abbott had an exceptional pitching career despite being born with only one hand. We hope you will support this event happening on May 9th at the Midwest Airlines Center.
Community Collaboration
By Leslie Myers, Domestic Violence Specialist
In October 2007 IndependenceFirst was awarded a 3-year Department of Justice Office of Violence Against Women “Education and Technical Assistance Grant to End Violence Against Women with Disabilities” grant in the amount of $750,000. We traveled to St. Louis to learn more about what this grant would involve and learned that this grant would focus on systems change. Even though our original proposal was for a statewide project, we decided that we would have a greater impact if we changed our target area to the Metro-Milwaukee area. IndependenceFirst had originally included collaboration with the Task Force on Family Violence, but the meeting in November opened up a dialogue that would lead to us adding two additional partners: Milwaukee County Disability Services Division and the City of Milwaukee Office on Violence Prevention. This grant is highly structured so our group will spend the first phase of the project building our collaboration and developing a collaborative charter. Once that is complete, we will move into performing a needs assessment within the Metro-Milwaukee area. This strategic plan will then be implemented in years two and three.
At the end of January the Office on Violence Against Women and Vera Institute of Justice came to Milwaukee and spent 2 days helping our project get off the ground
Project Name
Metro-Milwaukee DART Initiative: A Community Collaborative Effort Serving Survivors With Disabilities From Crisis to Healing (MMDI:ACCESS)
Vision Statement
“Milwaukee area residents with disabilities who experience domestic and sexual violence and/or abuse will gain access to a network of interdisciplinary service providers who will assist them on their journey from crisis to healing in a timely and comprehensive manner that embodies choice, safety, and justice with the full support of the community.
Mission Statement
MMDI:ACCESS will build an interdisciplinary service network that offers Milwaukee area residents with disabilities, a seamless, comprehensive and timely response to their experience of domestic and sexual violence and/or abuse. This response will exemplify choice, safety, dignity and justice to empower survivors. MMDI:ACCESS will foster a culture of change within this service network and the collaborating agencies by equipping itself with the tools needed to strengthen its relationships, improve communication and break down barriers that exist for survivors with disabilities.
Transition Corner
By Julie Alexander, Lead Coordinator
LoAnne is a 60 year old woman who entered a Nursing Home in January of 2004. She had lost her husband and was having difficulties dealing with this loss. She also had problems related to her disabilities. She was having more medical complications.
In May of 2004 she began to feel better and she decided that she no longer wanted to be in a nursing home. She called IndependenceFirst and asked for assistance.
IndependenceFirst began to work with LoAnne and we started dealing with several barriers. We had to locate appropriate housing, and find funding to provide personal care, and supportive services out in the community. We helped LoAnne work with her family so that they could understand that she wanted to live out in the community rather than in a nursing home.
LoAnne was concerned about living in her own apartment by herself because she felt that she needed family and others around her to provide her with adequate support. She has brittle diabetes which was hard to control at times. She wanted to find an assisted living option that would provide the needed support. She also was not quite sure what County she would like to live in. She had a brother in Milwaukee County who was very supportive and we contacted Milwaukee County to look for options. Before options were found, this brother passed away and LoAnne decided that she would like to live in Racine County near her sister.
We contacted Racine County and they had decided not to participate in the State of Wisconsin’s Money Follows the Person funding program for nursing home transition. We contacted the state and our contact indicated that they are trying to work with Racine County to change their decision but there is nothing they can do at this moment. LoAnne then decided that she would like to live in Kenosha County because she would be nearer to her sister. Her sister is her only living relative.
We contacted Kenosha County and they completed an assessment and started looking for housing options but were having difficulties finding housing options because of LoAnne’s disability needs. The nursing home and LoAnne worked on getting her on a fixed schedule for insulin administration rather than a sliding schedule. This helped get rid of one of the barriers that Kenosha had related to her transition, but they still had concerns and were giving LoAnne, the nursing home and IndependenceFirst the runaround. We had also contacted Society’s Assets, the Independent Living Center covering Racine and Kenosha Counties, and they and a staff member there were trying to help as well. Finally, Kenosha County said that they could not find anything and could not work with LoAnne.
LoAnne then tried to find housing and support working with Milwaukee County. Milwaukee County and the State decided to try and work with Racine County so that LoAnne could finally move to the County that she wanted to live in and be near her sister.
Things finally broke and Racine County said LoAnne could get funding to move there. Society’s Assets, IndependenceFirst, the State of Wisconsin and Milwaukee County worked together to make this transition take place. LoAnne was finally able to move in November of 2007 to an assisted living complex in Racine County. She stayed there for a very short while and then decided to move to her sister’s house. She’s living at her sister’s right now and she is receiving support from Racine County and personal care from Society’s Assets. LoAnne knows that this has been a very long process but she is happy to be on her own again in the community and near family.
Are you in need of medical equipment and can’t afford it or get it covered by insurance? The Wheelchair Recycling Program (WRP) may be able to help. WRP refurbishes donated equipment to "like new" condition and sells it at a low cost to consumers in need.
The Wheelchair Recycling Program was established in 1988 in Madison, Wisconsin, as an all-volunteer effort to send used home health care equipment overseas. It soon became apparent that there were serious needs here in Wisconsin. Today WRP has two office locations, one in Milwaukee and the other in Madison, and now offers its equipment statewide with the help of local Independent Living Centers like IndependenceFirst. Equipment includes many types of mobility devices such as wheelchairs, walkers, scooters, etc. For more information or to view an on-line list of equipment, you can check out our website at www.wrp.org
Milwaukee office:
2711 W. Wells Street
Milwaukee Wisconsin 53208
Wheelchair Recycling Program
Equipment Drive!
May 16-17
State Fair Park Expo Center
Bring your used canes, walkers,
toilet benches, wheelchairs, etc.
to donate to the
Wheelchair Recycling Program.
Items will be refurbished and made available
to low income people
with disabilities.
Focus on New Staff
Theresa Peterman
PCW/HR Coordinator
I am very excited to be working as the PCW/HR Coordinator for IF. I have been very fortunate to have taken the last year off from the working world. This enabled me to spend time traveling with family and friends, plus updating my home. I am looking forward to a summer full of fun.
Independent Living Staff Honored for their Advocacy Efforts
By Deb Langham, Program Director, Independent Living Services
Autumn
On February 5th, Autumn Manz received the 2008 Independent Living Advocate Award from the Wisconsin Coalition of Independent Living Centers during the Legislative Visit Days festivities. Autumn was recognized for her work on the proposed budget cuts to the transportation system for Milwaukee County. Autumn organized groups from the County that were affected by the cuts, including Goodwill, Make It Work Milwaukee, People Can’t Wait, the Badger Association of the Blind and Visually Impaired, and Disability Rights Wisconsin, to dispute the proposed Transit Plus fare increases and cuts to services. During the fall and winter months of 2007, Autumn arranged an information forum to let consumers know about the cuts and meet with legislators and supervisors. She then organized a very well-attended and publicized protest outside of Scott Walker’s office. She also arranged for consumers to attend public meetings to voice their opinions regarding the cuts to service. As a result of her leadership efforts, there were no Transit Plus cuts or rate increases.
Julie
Julie Alexander was recognized on March 14th by the United States Postal Service at their 10th Anniversary Women’s History Month Awards Luncheon. Julie was one of 15 outstanding women recognized in the Metro Milwaukee area. Julie was honored for her life-long work in the independent living movement; for her tireless work assisting individuals with disabilities residing in nursing homes or other institutions to relocate into the community; and for her many years of service on the Wisconsin Rehabilitation Council. Julie has advocated for countless individuals with disabilities over the years and assisted them in realizing their independent living goals. She is truly is one of the Women Putting Their Stamp on Metro Milwaukee!
Congratulations Autumn and Julie! We are very proud to have you both on staff at IndependenceFirst. You have proven once again, that one person with “a fire in their belly” can make a difference to improve the quality of lives of individuals with disabilities. In the words of the greatest advocate of the independent living movement, Justin Dart, Lead On!
Marian Ecklund – 20 Years and Counting
By Deb Langham, Program Director, Independent Living Services
Back in the eighties, Marian Keller began her association with IndependenceFirst as a volunteer working with Arvilla Rank. Then, on February 1st, 1988, Marian started her official career as a case manger for individuals who are Deaf. Just to put this into perspective, on TV, "Murphy Brown" had just debuted while "Facts of Life" and "Magnum PI" were heading into reruns. Time marched on; and in 1990, Marian gave up her single life and married the charming and debonair Paul Ecklund. After a couple of years and a few more job titles, Marian became the IL Coordinator in the newly formed IDEALS Program. Then, in January of 1998, she became the Program Director for IDEALS. This program flourished under her guidance and many individuals who are Deaf were able to learn the skills they needed to live independently and become employed. She remained the director until the program ended in late 2002. Marian made the decision to change her focus completely and became our Volunteer and Outreach Manager. Time went by and after much negotiating (ok, I was begging) we convinced Marian to join the ILS Department and accept the position of Assistant Program Director. Over the years, Marian has had an array of supervisors, including Lee (a couple of times), Charlene Dwyer, Dick Barthel, Sue Kay Bailey, Karen Avery and finally, me. I’m hoping that we are able to work together for a good long time to come.
It has been my great pleasure to work side by side with Marian for nearly five years. She doesn’t chase after glory or awards, although she has won a few. She puts 100% of her efforts into getting the job done. Marian is one of those people who goes about their job with quiet determination. She reminds of the Energizer Bunny, she just keeps on going!
When she started at IndependenceFirst in ’88, the Hubble Space Telescope went into operation and is still in use today mapping our universe. Prozac was sold for the first time as an anti-depressant and some of the year’s great movies included "Rain Man", "A Fish Called Wanda" and "Die Hard" (the first one!). It seems that Bruce Willis (who recently completed yet another "Die Hard" movie) and Marian (who continues to make her mark) are still making a difference in their chosen professions.
It’s impossible to gauge the impact that Marian has had at our agency. But I can tell you that it’s huge when I see the relief that comes over the face of someone who is Deaf, thinking they will somehow have to try to get their message across to yet another hearing person; and then they see Marian. Since she has been the Assistant Director of our department, she has completely reorganized us! The curriculum has been updated; high school and community workshops are meaningful and timely, she is a resource to staff and a fountain of knowledge (I can’t believe the stuff she remembers or has filed away), and I have found her to be a fair and supportive supervisor.
Okay, what else but outstanding could be said to describe Marian? After all, her dad became the first Deaf Deacon in the Milwaukee Archdiocese and her Mom’s name is Helen Keller! …no relation, but it’s a great story!
Congratulations, Marian! Not everyone can say that they make a true and meaningful contribution to society in what they do, but you sure can! Marian, thank goodness that you’re only 29 years old and will have the strength and energy to stay another 20 years!
Self-Directed Supports Waiver
By Michelle Martini, Long-Term Care Specialist
The Department of Health & Family Services (DHFS) submitted a self-directed supports (SDS) waiver application to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) because CMS directed Wisconsin to provide choice in order to expand Family Care. This waiver will provide consumers with the option to fully direct their services outside of Family Care. People in the SDS waiver must self-direct ALL of their services. Because of this requirement, it is expected that people who will choose this waiver will be those who fully understand the services they need and have sufficient experience with the system to be able to navigate without much assistance or who have highly involved guardians or family members who have this level of knowledge and experience.
Have you managed your own Personal Care Workers, Home Health Workers or Supportive Home Care Services, developed and kept your own schedules? Have you interviewed and hired your own staff? Have you terminated them? These are things to consider. If you need training in these areas, your Independent Living Centers or Independent Consultant should be able to provide training.
This waiver at this point covers long-term care services that are typically Long-Term Care Waiver Services; such as, COP Waivers, CIP Waivers, and Classic COP. These are the services you receive through Milwaukee County. Personal Care services like the ones IndependenceFirst provides are not covered at this time. Many other services such as home modifications, employment counseling, and adaptive equipment are included.
Participants in the SDS waiver will accept a fixed individual budget amount, developed from the results of their Long Term Functional Screen. This budget will be used to plan for and self-direct all of their waiver services. They will also be able to use their Medicaid card for other Medicaid covered services; for example, Personal Care Service, doctor’s visits, physical and occupational therapy, etc. This will allow for maximum flexibility for a participant to coordinate services and supports. It also assumes significant involvement and responsibility for self-direction on the part of the participant and/or his or her representative. Persons who are not prepared to assume the level of self-direction in this waiver will still be able to self-direct services on a selective basis based on their preferences within Family Care.
DHFS will contract with two agencies to support the participants in the SDS waiver. The Independent Consultant Agency (ICA) will provide limited case management services, assist the participant in developing the service plan, provide limited ongoing contacts with the participant to monitor implementation of the service plan, and review monthly expenditure reports to assure appropriate use of the authorized budget, following up with the participant as needed. The Financial Services Agency will assure that providers meet appropriate requirements, process claims, do required data reporting to the Department, and provide monthly expenditure reports to the ICA and the participant.
The state has put together an Implementation Committee to work out the details and implementation of the Waiver in Wisconsin now that the Waiver has been approved by the federal government. IndependenceFirst has representatives on the committee. The program is targeted for implementation in July 2008. Contact Michelle Martini at IndependenceFirst at 414-291-7520 (v/tty) or mmartini@independencefirst.org if you have questions or would like to give feedback. We will continue to update you as more information becomes available.
Get Out to Vote!
Although the November elections are 6 months away, it’s still good to learn what you need to do to get out and vote. If you or someone you know has questions about the process of voting, or has problems with the voting process on Election Day related to disability, Disability Rights Wisconsin has a toll free Voting Rights Hotline 1-800-928-8778, voice or 1-888-758-6049, TTY. They are open throughout the year on most weekdays to respond to your questions or concerns.
Another way to get involved is to join the Wisconsin Disability Vote Coalition. You can find out more information about the coalition by going to
www.disablityvote.org. If you have questions about the Coalition, feel free to contact Melissa Mulliken at 608/231-3859 V/Relay.
Peer Support is Alive and Well
By Leah Simmons, Lead Independent Living Services Coordinator
Peer support is everywhere. Peer support is so important and so empowering for people with disabilities. If we actually think about it, we wouldn’t be here in the first place if there was no peer support. I see people with disabilities working together in advocacy teams. I see people with disabilities volunteering and helping one another. I see people with disabilities playing recreation sports. I see people with disabilities socializing in the lobby. We just see people, but what they are actually doing is peer support in widely various ways. We just have an official label: peer support! Peer support rocks!
Anyhow, we actually do have a peer support program at IndependenceFirst. We have Different Directions support group happening at the River Park Apartments on the 2nd Wednesday of the month. It takes place in the basement of the building at 1:00 PM. You’re more than welcome to join! There is another support group happening in Waukesha as well called, “Waukesha Women’s Support Group” for women with disabilities. If you have any questions about our support groups or peer support program itself, do not hesitate to contact me via Relay 866-327-8877 and give the operator my number which is 414-226-8374.
Youth Leadership Summit Brought to You by IndependenceFirst & WI FACETS Summer 2008
The Youth Leadership Summit is a week-long gathering of Milwaukee and surrounding area high school students with disabilities that is held in the summer. Participants learn about independent living topics such as conflict resolution, college and employment issues, money management, disability rights, healthy & safe relationships and more. Participants have the opportunity to meet, socialize, brainstorm, and participate in activities with youth with disabilities from other area high schools, hear from panelists of college providers, employment agencies and other successful community young people. The summit includes breakfast and lunch each day, travel reimbursement options and a $100 stipend for participating in the entire program. The Youth Leadership Summit is a great way to meet others, learn about independent living and talk about issues affecting young persons with disabilities who are making the transition from high school to “the real world.”
The Youth Leadership Summit 2008 will be held twice:
June 23rd – 27th
July 28th – August 1st
For more information or for an application, call:Alie Kriofske Mainella at 414-226-8112 V/Relay
Accommodations must be requested 3 weeks prior to the Forum
NCIL Side Trip
By Brian Peters, Housing Policy Advocate
While I was in Washington DC for a conference, I took a side trip to visit the office of the National Council on Independent Living, or as I tease a NCIL staff person, “the World Headquarters of NCIL.”
I am glad to report that, yes, NCIL’s office is accessible! While there, I had the pleasure of meeting numerous NCIL staff, including Deb Cotter, who has worked closely with the Housing Subcommittee, and John Lancaster, the President of NCIL.
Looking for a Mental Health Care Provider?
Mental Health America has a free provider directory online: http://www.mhawisconsin.org.
In an effort to improve access to mental health care in the Milwaukee area, MHA has created a directory of local therapists to test as a pilot project. We currently have close to 200 providers in our database, including Licensed Professional Counselors, Clinical Social Workers and Psychologists.
Email info@mhawisconsin.org or call (414) 276-3122 V/Relay to request additional information and a data form.
2008 U.S. Bank Championship Golf Tournament Info Milwaukee Christian Center, Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, $15,900
By Barbara White, Executive Administrative Assistant
IndependenceFirst will once again be participating in the U.S. Bank Championship Golf Tournament ticket sales program. The Tournament will run from July 14th through July 20th at the Brown Deer Park Golf Course. Tickets are $20 each and can be used for any one day of the event. If you are interested in purchasing tickets, please contact Barbara White at 414-291-7520 or email bwhite@independencefirst.org. Tickets will be on sale from April 1st through June 13th and the event promises to be as exciting as ever. So get your tickets early to secure a spot on the course!
Governor Doyle Awards $447,142 to 32 Organizations to Sign up Kids for BadgerCare Plus
On behalf of Governor Jim Doyle, Department of Health and Family Services Secretary Kevin R. Hayden awarded 32 community-based organizations a total of $447,142 to reach out to Wisconsin families and enroll children in BadgerCare Plus starting February 1, 2008. These community partners will share information about the program’s benefits and provide direct, confidential application assistance. In some cases, children will be able to receive immediate, express enrollment in BadgerCare Plus through these community partners.
Secretary Hayden was joined by Steve Martenet, president of Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Wisconsin and State Medicaid Director Jason Helgerson. Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield has partnered with the Department to promote enrolling uninsured individuals in BadgerCare Plus. Families began signing up for BadgerCare Plus on February 1, 2008 — you can too by visiting www.BadgerCarePlus.org or calling 1-800-362-3002 V/Relay.
“Affordable, comprehensive health care for all children in Wisconsin is within our reach,” Secretary Hayden said. “In fact, within several weeks, every child in Wisconsin will have access to health care when Governor Doyle’s BadgerCare Plus program launches. I applaud these 32 community-based organizations for their commitment to our state’s children and families and for becoming one of our many partners in signing up kids for BadgerCare Plus.”
“Identifying and enrolling the eligible uninsured are important because a lack of health insurance impacts all of us," said Steve Martenet, president of Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Wisconsin. "The purpose of these grants is to reach children and families who live in Wisconsin and lack access to quality health care because they are uninsured. Identifying the children eligible for BadgerCare Plus is a first step in alleviating the number of uninsured individuals in Wisconsin."
BadgerCare Plus offers health coverage to every child in Wisconsin by streamlining Medicaid, BadgerCare and Healthy Start into one comprehensive program. BadgerCare Plus will allow every Wisconsin family, regardless of income, to buy affordable, comprehensive health care coverage for their kids. Low income families will be able to enroll their children into BadgerCare Plus at no charge. Families with higher incomes will be able to buy into the program for as little as $10 a month.
The BadgerCare Plus mini-grant recipients are as follows:
AIDS Resource Center of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, $12,916
Atonement Lutheran School, Milwaukee, Milwaukee
County, $6,000
Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, Odanah, Ashland County, $23,005
Boys and Girls Club of
Dane County, Madison,
Dane County, $10,000
Catholic Charities of the Diocese of La Crosse, La Crosse, La Crosse County, $13,600
Catholic Charities –
Diocese of Madison,
Madison, Dane County, $11,480
Chippewa County Department of Public Health, Chippewa Falls, Chippewa County, $15,062
City of Milwaukee Public Health Department, Milwaukee, Milwaukee
County, $10,000
Community Memorial Foundation, Menomonee Falls, Waukesha County, $11,000
Community Memorial Hospital, Oconto Falls, Oconto County, $20,305
Day Care Services for Children, Inc., Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, $12,760
Dodge County Human Services and Health Department, Juneau, Dodge County, $9,156
Eau Claire City-County Health Department, Eau Claire, Eau Claire County, $19,080
Forward Service Corporation, Madison, Dane County, $21,269
Hebron House of Hospitality, Inc., Waukesha, Waukesha County, $18,500
IndependenceFirst, Inc., Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, $9,000
Integrated Community Services, Inc., Green Bay, Brown County, $10,000
Juneau County Health Department, Mauston,
Juneau County, $10,000
La Casa de Esperanza, Inc., Waukesha, Waukesha County, $19,870
La Crosse County Health Department, La Crosse,
La Crosse County, $13,570
NEWCAP, Inc., Oconto,
Oconto County, $18,265
Northwest WI CEP, Inc., Ashland, Ashland County, $24,000
Polk County Health Department, Balsam Lake,
Polk County, $14,200
Positive Alternatives, Inc., Menomonie, Dunn County, $7,000
Pregnancy Support Connection, Inc., Waukesha, Waukesha County, $9,500
Rock County Human Services Department, Janesville,
Rock County, $11,004
Social Development Commission, Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, $10,000
South Madison Health and Family Center - Harambee, Madison, Dane County, $14,460
St. Croix County Department
of Health and Human Services – Public Health, New Richmond, St. Croix County, $22,340
The Workers’ Rights Center, Inc., Madison, Dane County, $10,000
Washburn County Health and Human Services Department, Spooner, Washburn County, $13,900
To learn more about BadgerCare Plus, go to
www.BadgerCarePlus.org
About Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation
Through charitable grant making, the Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation promotes Anthem’s inherent commitment to enhance the health and well-being of individuals and families in communities that Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield serves.
The Foundation focuses its funding on strategic initiatives that address and provide innovative solutions to reduce the number of uninsured as well as organizations and nonprofit charities that promote the Healthy Generations Program, a multi-generational initiative that targets specific disease states and medical conditions. These include: prenatal care in the first trimester, low birth weight babies, cardiac morbidity rates, long term activities that decrease obesity and increase physical activity, diabetes prevalence in adult populations, adult pneumococcal and influenza vaccinations and smoking cessation.
The Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation is an affiliate of the WellPoint Foundation. To learn more about the WellPoint Foundation please visit
www.wellpointfoundation.org
This article was reprinted with permission from the State of Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services.
Disability Rights Wisconsin Launches Redesigned, Accessible Web Site
Visit the site at www.disabilityrightswi.org
On the site you'll find:
• Constantly changing "What's New items" (e.g. DRW featured in the media, announcements of DRW training events, employment openings, new DRW staff, DRW awards, etc.)
• A growing list of DRW publications (many can be downloaded from the site)
• Links to numerous disability resources
• Information about the agency's priority areas and our advocacy strategies
• Contact information for each of the 3 DRW offices.
IndependenceFirst Board of Directors
John Mitchell / Chair -
Marshall & Ilsley Trust Company
Martha Valerio / Vice Chair -
Northwestern Mutual
Bob Driscoll / Secretary -
Community Volunteer
Ron Jodat / Treasurer -
Community Volunteer
Luis Arroyo -
Michael Best & Friedrich
Michael Ash -
Godfrey & Kahn S.C.
Barbara Corriveau -
BDO Seidman, LLP
Joshua Gentine -
Acacia Growth
Patricia Jerominski -
iCare
Angela Jodie -
Community Volunteer
Ronald Kuramoto -
Further Education Consulting
Mindy Michalski -
Rockwell Automation
Ignatius Smetek -
Arcataur Capital Management
Dave Strelitz -
Associated Trust Company N.A.
Jeremiah Swicher -
Community Volunteer
Tobie Tyler -
Community Volunteer