Thursday, April 3, 2003

CONTACTS:
Pam Tauscher, Madison Public Health, 294-5312
David Carlson, Dane Co. Human Services, 242-6424

City of Madison and Dane County officials are joining to present the sixth annual Public Health Awards. Mayor Susan J. M. Bauman and County Executive Kathleen Falk will present six (6) Public Health awards for important contributions to public health programs in Madison and throughout Dane County.

The City of Madison Department of Public Health, the Dane County Division of Public Health, and community organizations had the opportunity to nominate individuals and organizations that have improved the public’s health. City and County Public Health staff will discuss the specific contributions that each honoree has made to public health in the community.

Public Health Awards will be presented in six (6) categories:

§ Leadership Award – Michelle Reinen, Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection [For leadership with a number of organizations and projects to help prevent injuries to residents of Dane County, especially children]

Michelle Reinen is being recognized for a leadership award in injury prevention, especially pertaining to safety for infants and toddlers. Michelle’s background and experience as a Product Safety Investigator with the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, along with her energy and creativity, has led the Safe Nursery Action Group of the Madison Area SAFE KIDS Coalition to expand its focus and activities. Michelle was instrumental in the creation of the Madison Area Resale/Thrift Store Owners Advisory Council, which works to remove hazardous products from circulation, to establish communication networks between storeowners and to promote nursery safety to all consumers. Michelle has also led the Action Group in producing a number of educational materials that have been distributed locally and throughout the state, e.g Safe Nursery Newsletter, Falls Prevention factsheet, Safe Nursery display.

§ Volunteer Award – Kelly Lindgren, UW-School of Nursing, and the UW-Nurse Midwives (Ann Rifenberg, Carol Carr, Cally Christenson, Judith McNeel, Erika Ono, Lisa Wachholz) [For volunteering to provide culturally competent perinatal care and case management services.]

Kelly Lindgren, and her colleagues, the UW Nurse-Midwives, have voluntarily provided high quality prenatal, postpartum, and women’s health care services to women with high need and severely limited access for years. Their clients include primarily low-income women and families, most of whom are uninsured and Spanish-speaking immigrants who receive care through the Madison Community Health Center. Besides volunteering their professional time, this group of nurse midwives have been known to spend their own money to purchase prenatal vitamins or medication for a client who cannot afford them. Kelly, in particular, has dedicated herself to assuring culturally competent care by spending her free time learning Spanish and sharing her knowledge of Latino cultures with her colleagues. Additionally, the UW-Nurse Midwives voluntarily provide educational clinical opportunities and preceptorships for nurse practitioner students, nurse-midwife students, undergraduate nursing students and medical residents and students.

§ Advocacy Award - Sally Zirbel-Donisch, Coordinator, Madison Metropolitan School District, Dane County Coalition for Neighborhood Child Health [For advocacy to assess and assure access to health care for children in Dane County.]

Sally is presented the advocacy award for her contributions to improving access to health care, especially dental care, for children in Dane County. Sally is a persistent, creative and dedicated advocate for children. She is never stopped by what seem to be insurmountable barriers, such as finding dental care follow-up for children seen at the Neighborhood Child Health Clinics. Sally writes grant proposals, which get funded, and has talked extensively with community and policymaking organizations to highlight the needs of the uninsured in our community. As a result of Sally’s vision, commitment and influence, her advocacy efforts have lead to more and more Dane County children having their dental needs met. In 2001, 15% of the children referred for dental care were actually seen for follow-up. Through Sally’s efforts, 30% of children had their needs met in 2002. Sally steadily, but gently pushes the Coalition for Neighborhood Child Health and others to provide more and better care for families that is culturally appropriate and high quality.

§ Partnership Award – Wisconsin Heights School District and School Board [For partnering with public health and multiple other organizations to build community support systems for families with young children.]

The partnership of the Wisconsin Heights School District and School Board, the Dane County Division of Public Health, the Dane County Department of Human Services and many others represents and effective collaboration to: make information and parenting support available early and appropriately; focus on asset building; nurture all families in becoming the best parents they can be; and enhance and sustain a community-based system of family-focused resources that builds and support relationships in which "Every Child Is A Promise" and children thrive and are well-prepared for life. This partnership builds upon existing community assets, like 2 Family Resource Centers in the elementary schools, which provide a place for people-to-people connections for support and learning. Other available resources include a public health nurse, two family visitors, parenting networks, play groups, parenting education programs, a literacy program, telephone support for non-emergency parenting support, on-site childcare for participants in workshops and classes and an annual community baby shower.

§ Prevention Award – Home Health United [For working with public health and other health care organizations to immunize Dane County residents against the flu.]

Home Health United is given the prevention award for its work in providing public influenza immunization clinics in Dane County. In addition to being Dane County’s oldest provider of home health care, the agency provides over 40,000 influenza vaccinations to Dane County residents each year. This is a significant contribution to assuring that Dane County’s vulnerable populations have access to community-based flu clinics. Without these clinics, Dane County would not have the high percentage (about 70%) of the elderly population immunized against the flu. Home Health United has, through the years, worked with public health in flu immunization publicity and awareness efforts and has shared flu vaccine with public health and other providers when their shipments of vaccine didn’t arrive on time.

In 2002, when Dane County Public Health decided that, if we could assure other providers would provide influenza immunization clinics, we would discontinue our flu clinics in order to focus our limited resources elsewhere. Home Health United stepped to the plate and formally partnered with Dane County to provide at least 1 flu clinic in every community, waive the fee for those unable to pay, and expand its service to those aged 3 and older. With Home Health United providing flu immunization services, we can be assured that a high percentage of Dane County residents will be protected against the flu, preventing needless illness and death.

§ Distinguished Service Award – Harambee Dental Clinic [For distinguished service in proving access to dental services to low-income populations across Dane County]

Since 1994, Harambee Dental Clinic has been providing dental services to low-income Madison and Dane County residents, including emergency care, preventive care and comprehensive restorative care. During their 8 years of operation, dental care has been provided for more than 2,579 patients and well over 5,000 patient visits. It began as donated dental services by Dane County dentists and with increased community support dollars was eventually able to hire personnel, which greatly increased their capabilities. The clinic has also provided the clinical environment for many area dental volunteers: 55 dentists (including specialists in oral surgery, endodontics, peridontists and pedodontics), 19 dental hygienists, 24 dental assistants, 10 receptionists and 5 interpreters. These devoted volunteers and staff have tirelessly restored dental health to countless grateful patients. Harambee Dental Clinic has also been a great partner in sharing their facilities, equipment, supplies and personnel with the dental projects of Madison and Dane County Public Health, such as their free sealant programs and Neighborhood Child Health Clinics. Harambee Dental Clinic has filled a gap like no other dental program in our community by providing care for uninsured, underinsured and Medical Assistance/Badger Care patients, making a vital contribution to our community.