Update: According to a club spokesperson, a complete list of schools aided by the Women Who Care behavioral health services program includes St. Joseph’s Catholic School in Fort Atkinson, the Cambridge School District and St. John’s Lutheran School in Jefferson. 

By Chris Spangler

A group of women, who have dubbed themselves, “Women Who Care,” assembled last month to discuss their mission and upcoming initiatives. 

According to its website, Women Who Care is a philanthropic group committed to making a difference in the health and well-being of its communities.

The group, through its initiatives, serves the Whitewater, Jefferson and Fort Atkinson school districts by helping students overcome the effects of stress, anxiety, depression, and trauma that impedes their ability to participate fully in their education. 

The group met for its quarterly business and social event on Sept. 24, at the Bridge, a restaurant located in Fort Atkinson’s downtown area, during which time the group outlined three areas of focus for 2024. They are the school nursing program, cancer screenings and Meals on Wheels. 

According to the group, improving the health and well-being of area residents of all ages is a focus.

Members advocate for the building of meaningful relationships, loving families and vibrant communities. The group works in partnership with the Fort HealthCare Foundation, and seeks to build on the understanding that the health and well-being of the community is tied to people’s connection with each other.

Additionally, the group finds its shared purpose, according to its members, by building and enhancing personal and professional relationships with one another, learning together about area health challenges and seeking out ways to help their loved ones and neighbors to live healthier lives.

During the recently held quarterly meeting, group member Rochelle Mitchell welcomed guests and outlined future and past projects supported by the group.

Among projects outlined, Mitchell said that Women Who Care is committing $13,180 for 2023-24 to support school nurses in 11 districts with a total of 18,000-plus students. 

Additionally, she said, Women Who Care will provide vision and hearing screening equipment and mental health first aid training to district school nurses. Nurses will be trained with equipment such as Stop the Bleed kits, which teach three quick techniques to help save a life before someone bleeds out.

Mitchell also shared past efforts the group has supported during its 19 years. They have included funding school-based behavioral health counselors and school nursing services, including motivational interviewing and ACES (Adverse Childhood Experience (Trauma) training.

ACES targets stress and trauma that can interrupt healthy child development, putting youngsters at risk for lifelong health issues, including obesity, autoimmune disease, diabetes, heart disease, poor mental health, alcoholism and even reduced life expectancy by as much as 20 years, she noted. Multiple challenges can put individuals at a greater risk for adverse outcomes, including poor school performance, unemployment, and the development of high-risk health behaviors, such as smoking and drug use.

Motivational interviewing is a counseling method used by the school nurses that helps students find the motivation to change their behavior. The nurses use motivational interviewing to guide students to find their own motivation to make necessary changes for success, Mitchell explained. 

In addition, Mitchell said that Women Who Care has contributed $11,900 to the Rock River Community Clinic to purchase scientific electrode sensors, a pharmacy refrigerator to store vaccines and a nitrous oxide regulator for the community dental clinic.

Group history 

According to a history offered by the group online, Women Who Care traces its roots to 2004, when the Women’s Giving Circle was established by the Fort Memorial Hospital Foundation. A group of area women gathered for quarterly lunches for information and inspiration about their health and well-being. Member contributions helped fund various services throughout Fort HealthCare and the community, including hospital equipment, new health and wellness services, and scholarships.

In 2014, some members suggested expanding the group by engaging members to determine ways in which they could make a measurable impact on the health and well-being of people in the area. A Governing Committee was formed, and the group started identifying opportunities for service.

In the spring of 2015, members voted to focus on the health of area youth for its first project as Women Who Care. At the time, the Whitewater Unified School District was seeking assistance for students who needed behavioral health services, so the group funded a pilot project to have a counselor available in the school to serve students whose behavioral health needs interfered with their ability to focus on their education.

That grew into the program that today serves the Whitewater, Jefferson and Fort Atkinson school districts, helping students overcome the effects of stress, anxiety, depression, and trauma that impedes their ability to participate fully in their education.

In 2019, Women Who Care funded an educational opportunity for Fort HealthCare’s school nurses serving nine area school districts. The nurses were able to train on helping students manage chronic disease such as diabetes, high blood pressure or epilepsy; take medications that require assistance; and assist students in need of support for behavioral health.

Women Who Care meets four times a year, with two lunches and two evening social events. The recent September gathering featured magician James Ember, a social hour, hors d’oeuvres and a gift basket raffle.

Upcoming gatherings include luncheons on Thursday, Nov. 9, at the Hoard Historical Museum and on Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024, in Classroom A of Fort Memorial Hospital. Both take place from noon to 1 p.m.

Mitchell noted that Women Who Care always welcomes women who are interested in networking and philanthropy. To join the organization, visit  www.forthealthcare.com/wwc.

For more information, contact the group by email: WomenWhoCareforthc.com or phone: 920-568-5406.