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Success Stories

Health & Well-Being Success Stories
At Extension’s Health & Well-Being Institute, we’re on a mission to make Wisconsin a healthier place to live. We tackle the big challenges – like food security, preventing chronic diseases, and improving mental health – through research-based programs.
Make it An Active Summer! Cards Encourage Accessible Physical Activity in Wisconsin
Partnering with public libraries, spaces where families may already frequent, FoodWIse Dane County Healthy Communities Coordinator Claire Mance modified and expanded a 2021 ‘Make it An Active Summer! Cards’ pilot program to increase physical activity for youth and families.
Growing Together WI Garden Revives Historic Plot & Community Conversations
The SNAP-Ed funded program FoodWIse partners with McIntosh Library, Master Gardeners and Community Hunger Solutions in Viroqua, Wisconsin to develop a community education garden with Growing Together WI grants.
Trauma-Informed Approaches to Nutrition Build Foundations for Eating Well in Recovery
In Polk county, Wisconsin, the SNAP-Ed funded program FoodWIse partners with the HealthPartners Amery Hospital and Clinic, and local farming and food nonprofit Farm Table Foundation, to pilot Eating Well In Recovery.
Stockboxes in Central Wisconsin Help Nourish Seniors & Fill Pantries
In Portage, Wood, Marathon and Clark counties, partnerships support unique distribution models for connecting important food items to seniors with limited incomes.
StrongBodies in Manitowoc Centers Hmong Elders to Strengthen Selves & Community
In Manitowoc County, bilingual StrongBodies classes support Hmong and Southeast Asian elders as they stay active, build and maintain social connections.
Share Table in La Crosse Schools Pilots Ways to Reduce Waste & Cost
Share Tables help reduce waste, reduce food costs and increase the opportunity for hungry students to eat more. Food Service Staff at Hintgen, Harry Spence, Hamilton and Summit Environmental Schools in La Crosse county quickly embraced the benefits of Share Tables in their cafeterias.
Harvest of the Moon: Revitalizing traditional Menominee food knowledge and healthy eating habits in youth
The Kemāmaceqtaq (“We’re All Moving”) team of Extension Menominee County/Nation, University of Wisconsin-Madison, worked with language and culture keepers and community artists to create a unique curriculum anchored in Menominee knowledge of the 13 moons and their associated Indigenous food practices.
Improving FoodShare Utilization at Farmers’ Markets Through a Multilevel Intervention
To expand access to local farmers’ markets in communities with limited incomes, Extension FoodWIse programs increase not only the availability of EBT programs but also increase the awareness that SNAP participants have of EBT programs at farmers’ markets.
Exploring New Places & Foods Through Discover Wisconsin Farmers’ Markets
A long-standing partnership with Riverview Apartments in Fond du Lac created a strong foundation for FoodWIse educator Melanie Phillips to explore new education spaces with participants. With the support of Julie Schelk, Resident Services Coordinator, they worked together to encourage seniors to learn and enjoy the nearby farmer’s market.
Healthy markets, strong communities: Enhancing EBT at farmers markets
Food security has taken on a new prominence during the COVID-19 pandemic through major disruptions to access to healthy foods and family economic conditions. Extension and the Milwaukee Farmers Market Coalition tackled both, more than doubling the amount of federal food assistance used in Milwaukee-area markets.
Harvest of the Month Teaches About Wisconsin Fruits & Vegetables
Fond du Lac County Nutrition Educator Melanie Phillips’ unique approach to implementing HOM in her community built on teamwork and connections, from students supporting one another to taste a new food, to educators and administrators collaborating as they explored seasonal, local Wisconsin produce.
Supporting Recovery and Reducing Stigma: The Impact of Recovery Friendly Workplaces
Recovery Friendly Workplaces enhance employee well-being and contribute to overall organizational success, demonstrating the value of investing in recovery-friendly initiatives.
Empowering Communities with Compassionate Support and Practical: Mental Health First Aid
Mental Health First Aid is an essential course designed to teach participants how to recognize, understand, and respond to mental health and substance use challenges. It equips individuals with practical skills rooted in evidence-based practices.
Empowering Youth with Mindfulness for Emotional Resilience and Academic Success: Learning to BREATHE
Learning to Breathe continues to empower young learners with essential skills that foster resilience and mental well-being, equipping them for a healthier and more mindful future.
Growing Together FoodWIse
In Wisconsin, Growing Together has partnered with local communities to establish impactful projects like the Superior Community Gardens in Douglas County.
Video: Self Defense Adams County, WI
Discover how a team in Adams County, Wisconsin succeeded in getting self-defense classes added into their school’s physical education curriculum!
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Video: Youth Advocates for Community Health, Glean Manitowoc
Explore how a team in Manitowoc County, Wisconsin boosted access to fresh, local produce by collecting over 3,500 pounds from the farmer’s market and redistributing it to SNAP-eligible community members!
Strengthening and Engaging Local Health Coalitions
Health and Well-Being Institute professionals play a vital role in health coalitions around the state. By pooling resources and working together, health coalitions are very effective in implementing and sustaining changes that have long-lasting impacts on the health of their communities.
Promoting Adolescent Well-Being
Extension along with state and local departments of public health work with partners to improve youth mental health and prevent suicide and risky behaviors to promote adolescent well-being.
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Enhancing Health & Well-Being through StrongBodies
By addressing both the physical, social, and mental dimensions of health, StrongBodies is not only targeting the immediate health concerns of older adults but also working to build a resilient and connected community.