Frequently Asked Questions
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What is the Healthier Wisconsin Partnership Program?
The Healthier Wisconsin Partnership Program administers a portion of the Medical College of Wisconsin Advancing a Healthier Wisconsin Endowment through annual requests for proposals. The program funds community-based, community-academic partnership projects that address health prevention and promotion. The program operates with a staff of seven and is housed in the Curative Care Network building on the MCW campus.
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How did the Healthier Wisconsin Partnership Program begin?
- In 1999, Blue Cross & Blue Shield United of Wisconsin announced its intention to convert to a for-profit stock insurance corporation. With approval from the Wisconsin Commissioner of Insurance in early 2000, Wisconsin's two medical schools, the Medical College of Wisconsin and the University of Wisconsin Madison Medical School, were designated as stewards of these conversion funds to be dedicated to improving the public's health. In March 2004, the Medical College of Wisconsin received its distribution of these funds, and a permanent endowment was established.
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How much funding is available through the Healthier Wisconsin Partnership Program?
Currently, 35 percent of the endowment, is dedicated specifically to the Healthier Wisconsin Partnership Program and investment income from the endowment is distributed through annual funding cycles. Proposals are solicited and reviewed in order to award funding.
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What is the Health Improvement Model?
Projects funded by the Healthier Wisconsin Partnership Program must fit within the program's Health Improvement Model. Using the model, projects to improve health can emphasize any one of the four approaches as a starting point, with the requirement that the project also incorporate the other components into the project design. The model includes four major interrelated approaches to improving the health of Wisconsin:
(1) addressing major areas of health risks;
(2) focusing on specific populations;
(3) emphasizing prevention of death and disability; and,
(4) transforming health improvement efforts through capacity-building and strengthened systems.
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What is the Five-Year Plan?
- The Five-Year Plan is a document that guides the use of the Medical College of Wisconsin's endowment funds designated for the improvement of the health of the public through community-based initiatives (the Healthier Wisconsin Partnership Program), research and education. It was created by the MCW Consortium for Public and Community Health as a result of statewide listening sessions and public feedback.
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Does the Healthier Wisconsin Partnership Program support both urban and rural initiatives?
The Healthier Wisconsin Partnership Program supports projects that can effectively promote the health of Wisconsin residents. Projects are considered from every part of the state, including rural initiatives. Please link to the program's Resources web-page to view several resources specifically directed to support rural initiatives.