Riverwest Health Initiative

Creating a healthier community by addressing a range of factors that affect the overall well-being of Riverwest residents’ lives

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Full Project Name:Riverwest Health InitiativePrimary Community Organization:COA Youth & Family CentersPrimary Academic Partner:James Sanders, MD, MPH, Family MedicineAward Amount:$448,961

Award Date

May2005

Project Duration:36 months

Project Description Narrative:

In Milwaukee, the Riverwest area is a microcosm of racial, cultural, and economic diversity in an otherwise segregated city. The Riverwest Health Initiative (RHI) was formed to create a healthier Riverwest Community, and with this project, it will evaluate the impact of its unique community health improvement process and implements its strategic health plan.

Through this project, RHI will implement and evaluate interventions designed to address four major health priorities: access to health care, nutrition/food insecurity, mental health, and safety/security. Project partners will also educate health profession students through service-learning experiences, and advocate to improve health outcomes among low-income community residents.

Community partners: Columbia St. Mary’s and University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee