Rural Health and Economic Development Forum
Meeting Notes
Thursday, February 14, 2008
10:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
WI Department of Commerce offices in Madison, Wisconsin
Forum Members Present:
Rita Black-Radloff, WI Department of Workforce Development
Byron Crouse, UW School of Medicine and Public Health
Joel Davidson, Southwest WI Area Health Education Center
Anne Dopp, WI Division of Public Health
Eric Gass, Center for Healthy Communities at the Medical College of Wisconsin
Karna Hanna, WI Economic Development Association
Erica Hoven, Westby Co-op Credit Union
Kathy Schmitt, Dual Status: WI Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection and Wisconsin Rural Partners
Tim Size, Dual Status: Wisconsin Health and Education Facilities Authority and Wisconsin Rural Health Cooperative
Others Present:
Zach Baeseman, WI Office of Rural Health
Padraic Durkin, Department of Commerce
Jim Frymark, Department of Commerce
Kevin Jacobson, Wisconsin Office of Rural Health (recorded these notes)
Abby Keller, WI Rural Health Cooperative
Jon Morgan, WI Division of Public Health
Don Percy, The Management Group
Joanne Stormer, WI Rural Leadership Program
Don Percy convened the meeting and introduced the first speaker, Eric Gass, who talked about the history of the healthy communities movement and current policies and practices related to developing and maintaining community health. He identified some of the historic links between maintaining community institutions and public health. Healthiest Wisconsin 2010 incorporates many of the health community principles that influence public health, including education, environmental factors, economics, and cultural beliefs. More information on the health community movement can be found at the following website he referenced in his presentation:
http://www.waltham-community.org/HealthyWaltham/HealthyHistory.html
http://www.healthypeople.gov/Publications/HealthyCommunities2001/default
.htm
http://www.design.asu.edu/apa/proceedings99/LUND/LUND.HTM
http://www.euro.who.int/document/E56270.pdf
http://www.ncl.org/publications/ncr/92-2/Wolff92-2.pdf
Tim Size said that it’s important for other sectors of the community (e.g., education and finance) to support the medical/health sector, but also that support goes in the other direction. The health sector should be part of economic and community development.
Karna Hanna talked about a community/economic development project in Baraboo centered around brownfields and the medical/health and economic development connection. In this case, the EPA is looking at the overall health of the community and its interaction with development. This type of development should be outcome oriented and include goal measurements, including health measurements. Anne Dopp said the coordination between public health and Healthiest WI 2010 is very focused on specific issues, such as fitness and nutrition, but there isn’t a broad collaboration.
Size said the business community is beginning to see (as in the Strong Rural Communities Initiative) the dollar value of wellness and they’re willing to pay, for example, for health risk assessments or even for worksite wellness programs and to work with the broader community on wellness programs. Jim Frymark gave an example of a private development project in Darlington that will include a satellite dental office of the Beloit Community Health Center. Developers saw the benefit to the community and themselves by including this facility in the project. It might be a good idea to bring local businesses and developers and local non-profits involved in community health to the table as well the current state, federal and other agencies.
Joel Davidson said it’s important to determine what it is you want to change—what’s the desired outcome? Kathy Schmitt said that taking an urban model into a rural setting doesn’t always work. There are cultural differences. Rita Black-Radloff said that a regional approach doesn’t always work. Public health, for example, needs to be tangible to the local population. From a workforce point of view, what do employers look for in a community? Healthy people are part of it. Size said that small employers know the importance of employee health. One employee out sick for a long period of time can be devastating. That’s why we want to see them involved in wellness programs.
Worksite Wellness Programming in Wisconsin
Jon Morgan, Coordinator of DHFS’ Worksite Wellness Pilot Projects, gave a presentation on the Department’s Worksite Wellness Toolkit and distributed copies of the toolkit. The presentation is available on line at http://www.worh.org/RHEDFmin. The handbook can be downloaded or ordered at http://dhfs.wisconsin.gov/health/physicalactivity/Sites/Worksitekit.htm. He said in order for a worksite wellness program to be successful, there must be administrative support and buy-in. Without that, a wellness program is futile. It’s also important to have a diverse worksite group involved in program planning. The return on investment for these programs is 3:1 ($3 savings for every $1 invested), although there’s no data on this yet for WI’s pilot programs.
Karna Hanna asked if he makes presentations to groups of employers; this is a popular topic. Morgan said he could if it will eventually reach a broader audience. They also offer a train the trainer program to help provide support to local champions of worksite wellness initiatives. Kevin Jacobson asked if there’s been any follow up on health impact for participants and whether the programs are continued after the pilots finish? Morgan said there hasn’t been follow up with these pilot programs, but research on other programs shows there is a positive impact on participant health. Employers do tend to continue the programs beyond the pilot stage.
Wisconsin Rural Leadership Program
JoAnn Stormer, Executive Director of WRLP, talked about the Program. The goal is address the shortage of opportunities to develop community leaders. It’s important to look at issues (education, environment, health, etc.) in a community context. The Program helps participants understand the interconnectedness of problems. This is a two year program; participants meet about 55 days over the two years, in and outside WI, including an international trip. Recently, participants returned from 17 days in India. There are about 500 applicants for 35 positions. Don Percy asked if there are opportunities to engage the participants in issues of concern to the Forum, and vice versa. Stormer said wellness and the health/economic development connection would be of interest. There were questions about the rural nature of the program, given the number of urban participants. Stormer said the program isn’t exclusively rural, but also open to urban residents. It’s important that rural and urban residents talk and work with each other on problems that are statewide in nature. More information on the program can be found online at http://www.uwex.edu/ces/wrlp/.
Other Issues
Tim Size asked for input on the draft SRCI discussion paper on expanding wellness programs in the state. The goal is to finalize a Forum policy recommendation on how to expand worksite and community wellness programs. The draft paper is online at http://www.worh.org/RHEDFmin. Forum members can email their comments to .
The next Forum meeting is April 10. John Eich will contact members about the location.
Don Percy adjourned the meeting at 1:15pm.
RHEDF Meeting notes 2 of 3
Feb. 14, 2008