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Initiative Status:
Active since 2016
Led By:
Wisconsin Department of Health Services
– Maternal & Child Health Program
Wisconsin
Ensure families have access to adequate breastfeeding services,
and experience improved health outcomes, by developing sustainable partnerships across WIC and other maternal and child health organizations.
Initiative Status:
Active since 2016
Led By:
Wisconsin Department of Health Services
– Maternal & Child Health Program
THE PROBLEM
Quality care is not accessible to all Wisconsin families
In some areas, quality breastfeeding and healthcare services that reflect the community served and match that community’s needs might not exist. If quality services exist, families might not know about them. If families know about the services, they might not be able to access them at the right time or at all. If families can access the services, they might not experience the same quality of care over time.
These barriers have a large impact on families’ health outcomes, and disproportionately affect Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC), people with limited income, and rural populations.
THE CAUSES
Why is this happening?
Unestablished Maternal & Child Health Organization Relationships
A lack of connections between local maternal and child health organizations makes it difficult to coordinate services. A majority of Wisconsin hospital and WIC leaders said they have weak or no relationships with other organizations in their communities — including WIC and home visiting programs, prenatal clinics, and hospitals.1,2
Lack of Knowledge About Available Support Services
Community and clinical organizations offer a wide range of programs and services for families. However, not everyone knows about existing resources in order to share current information. Less than half of hospital, WIC, and home visiting leaders believe organizations in the community are aware of their existing practices or services.1,2,3
Hospital Breastfeeding Task Forces without Community Representation
Less than half of hospitals have an active task force to address lagging breastfeeding outcomes and their community’s specific needs. None of the task forces include community support providers (i.e. doulas) or community members,1 and only 15% of WIC agency leaders said they have a staff person on their local task force.2
THE INITIATIVE
Improve families’ access to care
The Wisconsin Community Collaboration Project focuses on improving families’ access to adequate breastfeeding services and other evidence-based maternity care practices.
Maternal and child health organizations are provided resources and support for developing sustainable partnerships that work toward improving breastfeeding rates by addressing access to services, continuity of care, and consistent messaging. State and local organizations can benefit from…
State Program Alignment
Find alignment opportunities by analyzing state-level policies, programs, and priorities.
Partnerships & Referrals
Enhance referral systems by leveraging existing networks and building new connections.
Collaborative Learning
Get expert technical assistance and learn from other communities on how to improve access to care.
LOCAL RESOURCES & SUPPORT
What’s Available to Local Organizations
Coffective works alongside public health to focus on achieving shared goals related to increasing access to care for the maternal and child health population. The opportunities below are available in your state.
Community Partnership Technical Assistance for Local Title V MCH Programs
Health departments which chose the community strategy breastfeeding objective receive one-on-one assistance from a Community Partnership Coordinator to help build referral networks and efficient, sustainable collaboration across community partners. A flexible, yet structured, model tailored to meet your timeline and goals.
Cross-Border Collaborative Activities
Community Partnership Technical Assistance is provided to local organizations along and across state borders to develop sustainable partnerships, expand networks, and align services.
TIMELINE
Partnership History
Since 2016, Coffective, the Wisconsin WIC Program, and the Wisconsin Department of Health Services have partnered to support community success across the state. See how our journey has evolved!
Learn more about Wisconsin’s initiative
Find out more about the initiatives, tools, and activities available to Wisconsin maternal and child health organizations.
Contact usSources
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Coffective Wisconsin Hospital Leader Survey, 2019
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Coffective Wisconsin WIC Leader Survey, 2019
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Coffective Wisconsin Home Visiting Leader Survey, 2019