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2011-2012 Public Health Legislative Grid

Overview of Legislative Proposals

NACCHO Workforce Report

WEHA Accepting Award Nominations

posted 1.18.2012

Nominations are now being accepted for Wisconsin Environmental Health Association (WEHA) Environmental Health Professional of the Year Award.  WEHA consists of environmental and public health professionals in the public, private and academic sector throughout the state. Even with the diverse professional background, all WEHA members share one common thread: to improve the health and well-being of Wisconsin residents by focusing on environmental and public health issues.

The Environmental Health Professional of the Year Award recognizes an individual for their contributions and commitment to environmental and public health.  The recipient of this award will personify our dedication to serve and protect the citizens of Wisconsin from the health risks posed by the environment in which we live.  Peers, management or the community at large can nominate an individual. 

This is an ideal time to recognize someone for their outstanding and committed work to the profession of environmental and public health.  Take the time to nominate a deserving individual for this distinguished award. Nomination materials can be found at http://www.weha.net/awardsandscholarships.php. The deadline to submit materials is February 29, 2012. 

Cancer Screening Program Shifts to Winnebago County

posted 12.29.2011

By John Fauber of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Dec. 28, 2011

Gov. Scott Walker's administration will end a contract with Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin, which is used to help women get cancer screenings, and transfer it to Winnebago County, a Department of Health Services spokeswoman said Wednesday.

The program, which Planned Parenthood had been administering as part of a $130,000 contract, provides screenings for women in Winnebago, Fond du Lac, Outagamie and Sheboygan counties. The program will be taken over by Winnebago County after a 60-day transition period that will include Planned Parenthood.

Through the contract, the state had paid for two caseworkers from Planned Parenthood, which doesn't perform the tests but instead helps low-income women sign up for and receive them.

"It will be managed the same way," said Health Services spokeswoman Beth Kaplan.

Republicans have been critical of Planned Parenthood, and in some cases stopped public funding for the group because its work includes providing abortions and contraceptive services.

Planned Parenthood does not do the sign-up work for cancer screenings in other counties outside the four involved in the contract in question.

In most counties, including Milwaukee County, it is handled by public health departments.

"Our agreement with Winnebago County includes a transition plan to ensure that service coordination continues without interruption to help women access vital breast and cervical cancer screening services in this four-county area," Health Services Secretary Dennis Smith said in a statement.

Legislative Update - Required Budget Lapses

posted 12.28.2011

The 2011-13 biennial state budget bill (2011 WI Act 32) directed the WI Department of Administration to develop a plan for lapsing $174.3 million over the current two-year budget cycle. Last week, DOA released their lapse plan for Fiscal Year 2012, which requires state agencies to lapse $123.2 million (the remaining $51.1 million will be lapsed in Fiscal Year 2013). The plan was submitted to the Joint Finance Committee on December 23, 2011, for a 14-day passive review. If approved by the Committee, the plan will be implemented on January 18, 2012.

Under the plan, “high-priority programs,” such as school aids, Medicaid, child welfare programs and higher educational financial aid, were exempted from the lapse requirements. Also, the WI Department of Health Services (DHS) met its lapse requirement by utilizing the Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act (CHIPRA) Performance Bonus the state received from the federal government. As a result, no public health or direct care programs at DHS were negatively impacted.

This issue will be placed on the WPHA-WALHDAB Joint PA Committee January meeting agenda for further discussion.

James Stecker Elected Regional Director of National Board of Health Association

posted 12.28.2011

James Stecker, a member of the Calumet County Board since 1997, has recently been elected to the Board of Directors of the National Association of Local Boards of Health (NALBOH). Stecker, who in 2011 was appointed to the NALBOH Board as State Affiliate Director, will represent the West Great Lakes Region in his new role.

Stecker has also been a member of the Calumet County Board of Health since 1997 and served as its chair for 8 years. He recently completed a term as President of the Wisconsin Association of Local Health Departments and Boards (WALHDAB) and is currently the Northeast Regional Director for WALHDAB. In 2010 he was elected the Public Affairs Committee Representative for the Wisconsin State Board of Health.

Stecker and his wife Ruth reside in New Holstein, Wisconsin and have been married for 59 years. He retired with 10 years of service as a department head at a senior care and rehabilitation facility and 28 years in the transportation services industry. Since retirement he has been actively involved addressing quality of life issues at all levels and for all ages. This includes 13 years of service on the Children with Disability Education Board that oversees the cooperative special education services for Calumet County schools.

Stecker’s other volunteer interests in his community include American Legion activities honoring veterans at ceremonies and programs and fundraising to build a Veteran’s Memorial; assisting high school students attend County Government Days and scholarship competitions; and serving at his church for committee activities, local food pantry collections, and community service projects.

The National Association of Local Boards of Health was established in 1992. NALBOH works to strengthen and improve public health governance by ensuring that boards of health are effectively and competently serving the public health needs of their community.

Updated Forward Health Provider Relation Contacts

Forward Health recently published an updated list of telephone numbers for Provider Relations field representatives. A revised field representative map including the new telephone numbers is attached. Users can also access the information on the Provider Relations Representatives link in the Quick Links box on the Providers page of the Portal.

WALHDAB Announces 2011 Health Officer of the Year

Janet Lewellyn

Former Health Officer

Shawano County

Janet Lewellyn is being recognized as the Health Officer of the Year.   Jan, as she is known to everyone in public health, is the former Health Officer of Shawano County,  having retired on December 31, 2010 much to the dismay of her staff, colleagues and friends.   She has given 39 years of dedicated service to public health.

“We’re proud to recognize Jan Lewellyn as our Health Officer of the Year,” says WALHDAB co-president Jean Durch.  “Jan's service to her community and beyond exemplifies a true public health leader.   She has left a legacy that will continue to make a difference in the years ahead.”

Jan's leadership in public health has lead to many successes in Shawano County including promotion of smoke free initiatives long before the statewide smoking ban, initiation of local hospice services and implementation of the first domestic abuse shelter in her county.   Jan also demonstrated leadership that benefited the people of Wisconsin and the public health system.   Jan volunteered her department to be a pilot site for the Wisconsin Immunization Registry which now accounts for 50 million immunizations given to 7 million clients.  She served on the WI Division of Public Health Performance based contracting Lead Team and she initiated a regional work group to establish consistent public health policies and procedures for local health departments.

Because of Jan's leadership, her agency and Board of Health were among the first in the state to perform a self-assessment by using the National Public Health Performance Standards.    Even in retirement, Jan's public health passion continues.  Jan plans to continue to advocate for a bike and trail system in her community and plans to stay involved in professional organization.