Author: Sean Kirkby

As members of FACT, Wisconsin’s youth tobacco prevention movement, our local group is excited to spread the truth about tobacco and make a difference in our community.  We recently made a video to raise awareness about an issue that is easily overlooked: Many Milwaukee youth have easier access to tobacco than to healthy food.  In zip code 53206, near where we spend our time after school at Neu Life Community Development, there are 65 tobacco retailers, compared to just 27 tobacco retailers in Milwaukee’s Upper East Side and Shorewood, zip code 53211, which has more people.  Over 23% of underage youth were able to purchase tobacco during compliance checks in Milwaukee during 2016, compared to 7% of youth statewide. Creating the video was an amazing experience. We talked about our time doing retailer compliance checks with Wisconsin Wins and educating our peers through FACT to change our community and the community of others. We also want to recognize and thank the people who gave us this opportunity to inform our peers about the dangers of tobacco and how it can affect our family and friends. We also talked about being in a black community and being deprived from produce and healthy products that can help our community grow and flourish. As we share in the video, “Milwaukee is segregated.  On [our] side of town, you have more junk food,...

After weeks of overwhelming opposition, Republican politicians are still pushing a cruel health care repeal that increases costs, limits coverage and jeopardizes access to care. The Congressional Budget Office estimated that the latest repeal plan would double health care premiums and result in 32 million more uninsured Americans by 2026. The health care repeal, also known as TrumpCare, will affect every single resident in Wisconsin. So why are some politicians still supporting it? Gov. Walker and a handful of legislative Republicans have been vocal supporters of the health care repeal effort. Rather than lowering health care costs, they have sided with out-of-state HMOs and pharmaceutical companies whose CEOs profit by gaming the health care system. The latest version of TrumpCare continues to favor these special interests by cutting taxes for the wealthy, raising out-of-pocket costs on working families and making huge cuts to Medicaid. Even more troubling for Wisconsin families, Republicans have refused to stand up and protect individuals with pre-existing conditions from the uncertainty created by TrumpCare. Roughly half of all Wisconsin residents have some form of pre-existing health condition. From asthma and diabetes to cancer and heart disease, we all know someone who has been affected by a serious health condition at some point in their life. Through no fault of their own, these individuals could see massive price spikes or lose their coverage if the repeal...

WEST ALLIS, WIS., July 20, 2017 –  The Wisconsin Dental Association Foundation has announced $50,528 ingrants and designated funding to 19 programs that bring oral health care to low-income Wisconsin residents and provide other dentistry-related services. AIDS Resource Center of Wisconsin Dental Clinic will use $2,500 to purchase dentures and other prosthodontic items to provide oral care for Wisconsin residents living with HIV and AIDS. Bread of Healing Clinic annually serves more than 1,500 low-income individuals with chronic health conditions inMilwaukee’s north central neighborhoods. A $4,000 grant will go toward purchasing necessary consumables and equipment to expand capacity of the dental clinic. Brown County Oral Health Partnership, Inc. is receiving $2,500 to purchase dental equipment, oral supplies and educational materials. The Brown County OHP provides dental care and education to 9,500 children annually. Chippewa Valley Technical College will use $5,000 to purchase equipment and supplies for its dental clinic and oral health outreach events. HealthNet of Rock County, Inc. will offset the cost of oral supplies and equipment for its dental clinic with a $2,500 grant. Healthy Smiles for Portage County is receiving $2,500 to purchase sealant, fluoride, disposable materials and educational materials for this program that serves area school children. Lake Area Free Clinic serves those who lack health insurance and whose income is below 250 percent of the federal poverty level. It will use its $3,500 grant to cover the cost of purchasing personal oral hygiene supplies. Madison Dental Initiative will use...

WHAT: In an effort to help those in need, Molina Healthcare of Wisconsin will be giving away 200 personal care kits at the Word of Life Church parking lot in Racine this Thursday, 7/27. The event is free and open to the public. Personal care kits will be distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis to the first 200 individuals (one per person) while supplies last. The giveaway aligns with Molina Healthcare’s ongoing mission of giving back to the community and serving individuals and families in need. Each kit will include: Deodorant Dental Floss Soap Shampoo Toothbrush Toothpaste Tissue Adhesive Strips Emery Board Antiseptic Wipes Additionally, Kingdom Builders Fellowship Center will be distributing free groceries. WHERE:               Word of Life Church – Parking Lot, 3018 Rapids Drive, Racine, WI 53404 WHEN:                 Thursday, July 27, 2017 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. – while supplies last VISUALS:             200 personal care kits being distributed and individuals/families receiving care kits About Molina Healthcare of Wisconsin Since 2010, Molina Healthcare of Wisconsin has been providing government-funded care for low-income individuals. From the beginning and through today, our mission is to provide quality health care to people receiving government assistance. As of March 2017, the company serves approximately 137,000 members through Medicaid, Medicare and Health Insurance Marketplace programs across the eastern half of the state. Additionally, Molina Healthcare of Wisconsin has earned a place in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s list of Top Workplaces for the past three years. Visit MolinaHealthcare.com and connect with...

WAUSAU, Wis. — The Aspirus Health Foundation has received a $113,429 grant from Susan G. Komen Wisconsin® to continue offering an important breast health program through Aspirus Women’s Health. The program provides free screening, diagnostic and genetic breast services for women and men who would otherwise forgo these services due to the cost. Since the program began in 2008, it has provided free services and education to more than 1,500 women. “This tremendous gift from Komen will support those who cannot afford breast cancer screening and those who defer screening or testing due to high out-of-pocket expenses,” said Aspirus Women’s Health Outreach Coordinator Mary Noltemeyer Wachtl. “This is the 10th year that Aspirus has achieved grant funding from Komen, and we are grateful! This support allows us to continue our efforts to prevent and detect breast cancer at an early stage, and ultimately improve the health and well-being of the people we serve in north central Wisconsin.” Aspirus’ breast health program provides free screening and diagnostic services to eligible residents of seven counties in north central Wisconsin (Marathon, Langlade, Lincoln, Wood, Portage, Taylor, and eastern Shawano), including: Clinical breast exam Screening mammogram Diagnostic mammogram Breast ultrasound Breast MRI Breast Biopsy (or cyst aspiration as part of diagnostic workup) guided by ultrasound, stereotactic or MRI Interpreter services Assistance with transportation Participants can receive these services as needed at no cost to them...