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Regional Alliances Map > Milwaukee Workforce Development Area (WDA) Regional Efforts

Milwaukee WDA Regional Efforts

Metro Milwaukee Hospital Partnership

Region Covered

The Milwaukee Metropolitan Area.

Mission/Purpose

The Partnership develops and implements solutions to Workforce Development challenges affecting Hospitals in the Metropolitan Milwaukee region.

Leadership

The Partnership includes:

  • Aurora Health Care
  • Columbia St. Mary's
  • Covenant Healthcare Systems
  • Froedert Hospital
  • Private Industry Council

Membership

Organizations:

  • Cardinal-Stritch University
  • Milwaukee Area Technical College
  • Milwaukee Public Schools
  • UW-Milwaukee

Funding

Currently the partnership is operating a Surgical Technologist Training and Surgical Assist Training program funded through a combination of Workforce Investment Act funding and private contribution.

Schedule of Meetings

The group meets on and Ad Hoc basis to consider opportunities to develop program with an emphasis on Allied Health Professions.

Milwaukee Aging Consortium

Websites

Region Covered

Milwaukee County

Mission/Purpose

In response to the problem of staff turnover within the care-giving profession, the Milwaukee Aging Consortium initiated The Caregiver Retention Project with a mission of “fostering new models of community collaboration among older adult service providers.”  The project’s focus is three-fold:

  • The work life of the caregiver,
  • Intra-organizational programs and structures affecting retention, and
  • Concerns across the industry

The Caregiver Retention Project Workgroup and its task forces are comprised of professional caregivers, older adults, educational and training representatives, union representatives, and employers. 

The three Task Forces and the Work Group function under the umbrella of the Consortium’s Board of Directors.

For more information, contact: Susan Duvall at (414) 289-0890.

Leadership

  • Amy Ambrose, Executive Director, Milwaukee Aging Consortium
  • Susan Duvall, Project Leader, Caregiver Retention Project
  • Sue Kelley, Project Coordinator, Core Leadership Group for the Connecting Caring Communities umbrella project
  • Stephanie Sue Stein, Director, Milwaukee County Department on Aging

Funding

  • Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
  • Local Support:
    • Helen Bader Foundation
    • The Faye McBeath Foundation
    • Greater Milwaukee Foundation

Schedule of Meetings

  • The Connecting Caring Communities Partnership Core group meets every 4-6 weeks
  • The Milwaukee Aging Consortium Board meets monthly and the Caregiver Retention Project Work Group meets monthly
  • Task Forces meet on a regular basis dictated by the projects that they are working on.

Highlights

  • A survey was developed and administered to collect baseline data regarding actual caregiver retention rates and best practices among local organizations in 2005. A “Best Practices Symposium” for employers was conducted in 2005 for 110 employer representatives
  • Responding to the needs of caregivers for support in their work life, the Caregiver Retention Project developed a series of “Circles of Caring” resource events on topics such as dealing with grief and loss, body mechanics and lifting, dementia care, and handling challenging behaviors. The response has been overwhelming: each event was attended by 80 caregivers on average. The opportunity for caregivers to come together to learn about issues affecting their work lives has proven invaluable to many
  • Disseminate resources for caregivers and employers through the Consortium’s website and bi-monthly Consortium Updates that include a “Caregiver Matters” section
  • Coordinate and facilitate the provision of four Leadership Development training series (16 hours total) for middle manager supervisors of Direct Care Workers during the period of February – September 2006

The Caregiver Retention Project (Milwaukee Aging Consortium)

A component of the nationally funded Connecting Caring Communities Project

Mission/Purpose

The Milwaukee Aging Consortium’s Caregiver Retention Project will foster new models of collaboration among older adult service providers and long term care stakeholders to:

  • Improve caregiver retention rates, and
  • Develop capacity of agencies to efficiently and effectively meet the needs of older adults.

The project efforts focus on direct care workers who work in long-term care communities and facilities in job titles ranging from homemaker/companions to supportive home care workers to C.N.A.s

Connecting Caring Communities is a project that strengthens the system of long term care for Milwaukee County’s older adults through developing, nurturing, and supporting partnerships with all stakeholders.

The four year implementation project is one of eight funded nationally under Robert Wood Johnson’s Community Partnerships for Older Adults Program. Local foundation support comes from the Greater Milwaukee Foundation, Helen Bader Foundation, and the Faye McBeath Foundation.

On a national level, three presentations were given at national annual meetings (n4a, NCOA/ASA, Robert Wood Johnson/Community Partnership for Older Adults).

Locally, a seminar was held to identify best practices in caregiver retention and a three day workshop was sponsored to train Peacemaking Circle facilitators. 

Working in partnership allowed project participants to use their individual expertise to accomplish the following tasks: 

  • Working with neighborhood partners to plan the film series and discussions; and
  • Facilitating two neighborhoods in sharing information about peacemaking circles and innovations to provide a gathering place for older adults.

For more information, contact Amy Ambrose, 700 W. Virginia St., Suite 207, Milwaukee, WI 53204 at 414.289.0890 or via e-mail at aambrose@milwagingconsortium.org or visit http://www.milwagingconsortium.org