Wisconsin assisted living group honored by Harvard University

For Immediate Release

February 25, 2015

Contact: Jennifer Miller, DHS,

Daniel Harsha, Ash Center,

Wisconsin Coalition for Collaborative Excellence in Assisted Living recognized as part of the 2015 Bright Ideas Program

MADISON—The Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation at the John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, has recognized the Wisconsin Coalition for Collaborative Excellence in Assisted Living (WCCEAL) as part of its 2015 Bright Ideas Program. The distinction is made for programs in all levels of government that are at the forefront of innovative action.

WCCEAL is a collaboration that includes the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS), the state’s ombudsman programs, assisted living and residential provider associations, and the Center for Health Systems Research and Analysis (CHSRA). The group is collaborating on the implementation of a comprehensive quality assurance, quality improvement program.

“Collaboration is the key to success in any endeavor, and for WCCEAL to be recognized for its collaboration toward improving the quality of assisted living in Wisconsin is a great honor,” said DHS Secretary Kitty Rhoades.

“The Bright Ideas program demonstrates that often seemingly intractable problems can be creatively and capably tackled by small groups of dedicated, civic-minded individuals,” said Stephen Goldsmith, director of the Innovations in Government Program at the Ash Center. “As exemplified by this year’s Bright Ideas, making government work better doesn’t always require massive reforms and huge budgets. Indeed, we are seeing that, in many ways, an emphasis on efficiency and adaptability can have further-reaching effects than large-scale reforms.”

According to the Ash Center, the Bright Ideas program is an initiative of the broader Innovations in American Government Awards program. For consideration as a Bright Idea, programs must currently be in operation or in the process of launching and have sufficient operational resources, and must be administered by one or more governmental entities. Bright Ideas are showcased on the Ash Center’s Government Innovators Network, an online platform for practitioners and policymakers to share innovative public policy solutions.