New program office to boost infant-mortality effort
CONTACT: Lisa Brunette
(608) 263-5830
MADISON — The Wisconsin Partnership Program, which funds the Lifecourse Initiative for Healthy Families in four Wisconsin communities, will establish a new regional program office to support efforts to implement community plans to reduce infant mortality.
The Partnership Program, based at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, has selected the Center for Urban Population Health to support the implementation of the projects aimed at eliminating the racial disparity in birth outcomes in Milwaukee, Racine, Beloit and Kenosha. Established in 2001, the Center is jointly supported by the School of Medicine and Public Health, UW-Milwaukee and Aurora Health Care.
“We are moving from the intensive planning phase of this effort to implementing those plans that have been developed by the communities themselves,” said Dr. Patrick Remington, chair of the Partnership Program’s Oversight and Advisory Committee. “With a multi-million dollar commitment, we want to support this effort to assure success and share the lessons learned across each of these communities. Having an office located at the Center, with a strong tradition in public health work and deep roots in the southeastern region, will move us closer to the goal.”
Headed by Dr. Ron Cisler, director of the center, professor of health sciences at UW- Milwaukee and population health sciences at UW-Madison, the Center will support program planning, training and communications as the four Lifecourse Community Collaboratives as they begin to implement a range of specific plans to improve birth outcomes in the African-American community.
“Our center strives to move data to action and that is exactly where the Lifecourse Initiative project is in its progress, said Cisler. “The lessons learned in one community can and should be shared among all to improve the return on investment and boost the chances of success. The Center has a well-deserved reputation for excellence in community assessment, program planning and evaluation and I look forward to bringing that experience to these projects.”
