Wisconsin Hospital Association

Wisconsin Hospital Association - A Valued Voice

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Primary Staff Contact:
Tammy Hribar
thribar@wha.org

2007 Global Vision Award Winners

Award Winner: Fight Asthma Milwaukee (FAM) Allies
Nominator: Children's Hospital of Wisconsin
Asthma is the most common chronic childhood disease in the United States, is the number one cause of pediatric emergency visits and preventable hospitalization, and a leading cause of school absenteeism. In 1994, a combined review of emergency department, hospitalization, Medicaid and public health data established a real need to control asthma among children in Milwaukee. It was realized that asthma was the most frequent reason for admission to Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, and that Milwaukee's central city was a key geographic focus for intervention, with 70 percent of the children hospitalized for asthma living in 11 targeted neighborhoods.

Children's Hospital of Wisconsin collaborated with other Milwaukee-area health care providers, community leaders, government officials, and families in Milwaukee's central city to establish "Fight Asthma Milwaukee (FAM) Allies," a coalition designed to connect children with asthma and their families to the right health care resources, reduce hospital stays, and support healthy lifestyles. Coalition objectives include family/community education in schools and child care facilities; care coordination and case management in homes, schools, churches and clinics; reducing environmental tobacco smoke and home allergens; and eliminating disparities in asthma hospitalizations, ER visits and medication use. In the past four years, FAM Allies programs have reached over 10,000 participants. In the past 10 years, the program has seen a 69 percent decrease in asthma hospitalizations of children receiving Medicaid, saving millions in health care expenditures, and a dramatic rise in the use of appropriate asthma medication. Through the efforts of FAM Allies and all its partners, children who suffer from asthma are better supported and aware of the resources available to prevent and treat their illness.

Award Winner: Blanket of Love
Nominator: Columbia St. Mary's, Milwaukee
The need for the "Blanket of Love" project was identified by infant mortality disparities in Milwaukee. In a 2003 Infant Mortality Disparity Fact Sheet from the Milwaukee Health Department, Milwaukee ranked "a poor 40th for IMR (infant mortality rate) among the 50 largest cities in the US." In addition, in Milwaukee "four times more African American infants die from prematurity than white infants," according to the Fact Sheet.

Blanket of Love, sponsored by Columbia St. Mary's, was developed in January 2005 with support for young (16-25 years old), pregnant, at-risk African American women in Milwaukee, "wrapping" them in a blanket of education, guidance and care provided in a setting the women find comfortable. In collaboration with area prenatal caregivers, central city churches, and the Milwaukee Health Department, a variety of services are provided to participants. Those services include a community consultant, parent educator, financial coordinator, food service coordinator, program coordinator, as well as various educational sessions focuses in prenatal care through early parenthood and infant care to ensure the babies' well-being through the first year of life. The weekly sessions include a healthy meal for mothers and their families, and include education for the babies' fathers and grandparents.

Columbia St. Mary's has found Blanket of Love to be highly effective in addressing prenatal and parenting needs of its young participating mothers. The 2006 outcomes data shows 50 women participated in the program; 100 percent of births were healthy; and 21 percent improvement was achieved in participants understanding the concepts presented on prenatal care and parenting, based on pre- and post-testing measures. With outcomes showing significant success, Blanket of Love promises to become an excellent model for addressing infant mortality disparities.