2005-2006 Annual Report

In response to the conference findings, a steering committee was formed and held its first meeting on April 13, 2005. In attendance at this meeting were Dan Drury, Options for Community Growth; Bob Eisenbart, Southern Wisconsin Center for the Developmentally Disabled; Perry Mueller, Goodwill; Debbie Capener, Racine County; Carolyn Lien, Department of Health and Family Services; and Martha DeGraw, Bureau of Long Term Support. Jack Iverson, Waukesha County and Mary Schinkowitch, United Cerebral Palsy were unable to attend the first meeting but later joined the committee. The Steering Committee organized the first meeting of all volunteers which occurred on June 2, 2005 at Goodwill-Vogel in Milwaukee. Six workgroups were formed and facilitated by Steering Committee members. Attached is the work plan developed by the Steering Committee.

Following is a brief description of work group accomplishments during this first year:

CREATED A HEALTH LOG

The Communication and Training Groups joined forces to design a comprehensive health record and communication tool to be used by all residential providers in the region. The goal of the health log is to provide consistency and continuity in health care. The log will become the legal property of the individual and will follow the individual if/when a move is made from one location to another throughout the region. The group sought input from health care providers as well as residential providers in developing a tool, which is concise, yet user friendly. It will be available on disk and can be used as a hard copy or an electronic record. The group has arranged for the Health Log to be used by six agencies of varying size during a 90 day pilot program. Analysis will occur at the end of the pilot program with modifications as needed. Following this period, the training portion of the program will begin.

DEVELOPED A DENTAL/ORAL HEALTH SURVEY

Members of the Dental/Oral Health Work Group worked with Marquette University Dental School to develop a survey for dentists and oral hygienists to assist in identifying barriers to oral health care in the State of Wisconsin. This research project was funded by a research grant obtained by Dr. Brian Hodgson, a Marquette Dental School faculty member and by contributions from the Wisconsin Council on Developmental Disabilities, Milwaukee Association of DD Service Agencies, Milwaukee Training Initiative and Southeast Wisconsin Regional Training Group. Volunteers at Independence First prepared the survey for mailing on June 21, 2006. Survey results will be analyzed by Marquette Dental School students and staff, and the results will be published. The goal of this effort is to allow the work group to develop effective strategies for overcoming barriers to oral health care.

DESIGNED A PILOT TRAINING PROGRAM FOR ORAL HYGIENE STUDENTS ENROLLED AT THE REGIONAL TECHNICAL COLLEGES

Members of the Dental/Oral Health Work Group worked with Milwaukee Area Technical College and Waukesha County Technical College oral hygiene program faculty to incorporate field experiences into the Community Oral Health Course. Students will be required to complete a project which places them at a day service site where they will complete oral health screenings on individuals with developmental disabilities. The students will also be required to facilitate training of day service and interested residential program staff on oral health. The Milwaukee Center for Independence  and Curative have committed to participation in this pilot program which began in the fall of 2006. The goals of the pilot are: to offer oral hygiene students the opportunity to meet and treat individuals with developmental disabilities, to provide oral health screening to some individuals with developmental disabilities, and to offer oral health training to staff working in the field of developmental disabilities. Faculty from the technical colleges are very excited about this program and hope to be able to expand it in the future.

CREATED A COLLECTION OF HEALTH CARE STORIES

The Advocacy Work Group has gathered a collection of personal stories which describe good and bad interactions between persons with developmental disabilities and the health care system. These stories will be used to put a personal face on the issues of health care disparities when advocating for improved services with elected officials, health cared systems administrators, health care professionals and educators. The work group is pursuing a web-based tool to promote interest in resolving disparities in health care.

ORGANIZED A REGIONAL ETHICS COMMITTEE

In response to recommendations made by the Health and Wellness Group and the Advocacy Group from the March 2005 conference, an ad hoc committee has obtained advice and recommendations from faculty and staff at the Center for the Study of Bioethics of the Medical College of Wisconsin and has organized a regional Developmental Disabilities Ethics Committee. The committee conducted its first meeting on June 26, 2006 at the Medical College of Wisconsin.  The goal of this effort is to grow a resource for families, guardians, county personnel and other interested parties who are facing difficult decisions about end of life issues. The committee will help to identify community resources and educational opportunities in the area of bioethics.

Educated Agencies and County Personnel on Health Care Disparities Issues

The Administrative Work Group assumed a lead role in providing information to County DD Coordinators, AFH Coordinators, and agency administrators on the issues of health care disparities and the efforts of the various work groups in providing resolution. Carolyn Lien has provided continuous education and advocacy to all regional administrators to promote the work of the SW WI Health Disparities Initiative.

Registered as an Unincorporated Association

The Steering Committee has taken the first steps to register with the State as an unincorporated association. This will allow this initiative to raise funds in support of the efforts. Funding is needed for mailings, printing, copying, training, and meeting expenses. Thus far, much of the funding has been graciously provided by the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Training Group.

Membership

SueAnne TeStrake, Dungarvin Wisconsin
Linda Draayers, Options for Community Growth
Gene Hughes, Family Faith Homes
Pam Scheferman, Easterseals-Kindcare
Dr. Leah Algiers
Bob Glowacki, Easterseals-Kindcare
Lisa Lynch, ARC-Milwaukee
Holly Nygro, Healthspan
Jim Hutchison, SWC
Kay Bjelde, Milwaukee County
Rachel Shuppe
Linda Witzlib, Good Hope Manor
Terri Couwenhoven, Down Syndrome Clinic
Dr. Brian Hodgson, Marquette Dental School
Dr. Iga Hjerstedt, Marquette Dental School
Alie Kriofske-Manella, Independence First
Chris Bruseth, MATC
Pam Brilowski, WCTC
Barb Kramer, Gateway Technical College
Matt Crespin, Children's Health Alliance
Mike Garveyk, Easterseals-Kindcare
Darlene Kindt, DHFS
Faith Fanger, DHFS
Marie Mace, Curative
Dr. Michelle Urban, DHFS
Geri Lyday, Milwaukee County
Lois Degner, CCLS
Mary Grabot, Goodwill
Lori Lauderbaugh
Cheri Burch, Cardinal Care
Sandy Ceranski, Community Care
Kate Thiel, Goodwill

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Last Revised:  January 24, 2008