CONNECTING THE DOTS:
SOCIAL CONNECTEDNESS and
YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH
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Our Every Child Thrives network has a unique opportunity to take part in a leading-edge, national movement to build socially connected communities.
We are inviting you to play a leadership role as we kick off this journey for Dodge and Jefferson Counties.
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CONNECTING THE DOTS:
Community Leader Breakfast Briefing
Join us to learn about the state of youth wellbeing in Dodge and Jefferson Counties. Expect engaging research findings and thought-provoking table discussion. Your perspective is vital in shaping our community-wide movement. Registration is limited to the first 140 participants.
Wednesday, June 19th
Turner Hall in Watertown, 301 S. Fourth Street
7:30 am to 8:00 am Breakfast
8:00 am to 9:00 am Program
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Strategic Partner Spotlight: ThriveED |
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The Foundation equips community change leaders with the tools they need to build strong families and thriving communities. ThriveED is an important funded partner, receiving annual strategic grant support as well as additional contributions to specific projects.
We want to highlight ThriveED's exceptional work as they have grown into the role of housing champion for Jefferson County.
ThriveED is a 501c3 non-profit organization dedicated to helping businesses invest in Jefferson County, stay profitable here, and grow here in our region. They have provided assistance in more than 350 business investment scenarios since their startup in 2016, resulting in millions of dollars of new investments in the Greater Jefferson County area.
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“By recognizing housing as an integral part of economic development, we are actively investing in the prosperity of our community, attracting and retaining talent and building the foundation for a dynamic and competitive local economy,” states ThriveED President Deb Reinbold.
Live Local Development Fund
Launched in 2023, the Live Local Development Fund has already exceeded its initial goal of $5 million and has set a new goal of attracting $10 million in investments. It is a revolving loan fund used to loan low-interest capital to promote housing development in Greater Jefferson County.
Investors include:
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Ixonia Bank: $1.5 million
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Jefferson County: $2 million ($1 million from the federal American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) and $1 million from proceeds generated by the anticipated sale of county-owned land)
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Greater Watertown Community Health Foundation: $2 million
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Why housing matters
The current reality is that much of our workforce – including nurses, manufacturing professionals , teachers and other middle-class employees – are being priced out of affordable homes in Dodge and Jefferson Counties.
The housing shortage is impacting communities across Wisconsin and the nation. There is no single reason for the lack of affordable housing, but rather a "perfect storm" of trends. There is also, unfortunately, no simple solution.
This doesn’t have to be our future. Communities that are proactive in attracting needed housing are more likely to keep and/or attract the next generation of workers and families needed to thrive.
The Foundation is working on many fronts to increase the number of available units in our region at costs that are as reasonable as possible.
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HUD Home Counseling Agency
Jefferson County was recently certified by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) as a Home Counseling Agency. With this certification, ThriveED is launching Jefferson County At Home, a program offering an array of resources and guidance to residents.
Learn more about ThriveED and its role as housing champion in Jefferson County.
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Early Care and Education
Spring 2024 Progress Report
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Thank you to our coalition members for your work to grow access to early care and education in Dodge and Jefferson Counties.
From the Dream Up grant partners, to center leaders, to partners in business, education and advocacy... the formation of our coalition is in itself a powerful step toward more progress on this vital community priority.
There is still much work to do, but we are taking a moment to summarize our collective 2023 accomplishments and to provide a preview of projects that are underway in 2024.
Why invest? Early education is a powerful place to invest resources because nearly 90 percent of brain growth takes place during the first five years of life. Studies from all over the world demonstrate major short- and long-term benefits, including progress in school, increased earnings, and reductions in antisocial behavior and welfare participation.
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Collective Highlighted in Liveability Magazine |
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We are proud to have been featured in an article about Madison-area community projects, and we are in great company. Read the full article here.
The Collective is an innovative shared workspace for entrepreneurs, remote workers, small businesses, freelancers, and anyone looking for an environment where shared resources support an exponentially better work experience. Your membership includes wraparound amenities that foster collaboration and connection.
Join us for the day or grab a monthly membership. We also offer reservable rooms for conferences, retreats, events and more.
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Now Accepting Grant Applications
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- Research and development, needs assessments, feasibility studies and strategic planning
- Quality improvement to help organizations become more efficient and effective, including Board and leadership development, technical skills, and fundraising strategies
- Grant writing for multi-sector initiatives that support children and families
Community Collaboration Grants support collaborative efforts that build a sense of connectedness between people or create/enhance community spaces where individuals can be active together.
Health Equity Grants support equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) projects or initiatives focused on removing obstacles to health for populations not well served under current systems and policies.
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We empower community change leaders with the tools they need to build strong families and thriving communities, helping local organizations learn, grow, collaborate, and move their missions further. |
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The Foundation provides resources, tools and support to changemakers who work toward measurable improvement in community health. To date, the Foundation has invested more than $42.7 million in its three strategic, child-focused priorities: Strong Families, Kindergarten Readiness and School Success. |
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Leadership and Learning: Kudos to Foundation-Supported Partners and Staff |
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Foundation President and CEO Tina Crave was among nine individuals honored by Governor Tony Evers and Department of Children and Families (DCF) Secretary Emilie Amundson at the inaugural 2024 Secretary’s Putting Families First Awards. The award was accepted by Kim Melcher on behalf of all of our Every Child Thrives partners. The awards were presented during a celebration at the State Capitol as part of Wisconsin’s proclaimed month-long recognition of Family Strengthening Month. Pictured (l-r) are DCF Secretary Emilie Amundson, Director of Jefferson County Human Services Brent Ruehlow, Kim Melcher, Board Chair Richard Jones, and Governor Tony Evers.
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There has been great success in the campaign for a new Watertown Area YMCA, the Y is still in need of the community’s help to equip the new, state of the art facility and continue to work towards building Phase 2. With over $19.5 million raised overall, the Y is still about $5.5 million away from building Phase 2.
The Y is also asking for the community’s help in securing a state grant that would provide $4.5 million in support of the overall project. Please consider taking a moment to write a letter to the Department of Administration in support of continuing the Y’s capital project: click here for details.
Thanks to a generous donation from Barton and Laura Bentzin, the new YMCA will be known as the Tom and Mary Schultz Family YMCA.
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Mental health is something that everyone has, from infancy to adulthood, that affects how people think, feel, and act. Although it is often thought of as the opposite of mental illness, mental health includes both the absence of illness and the presence of high levels of wellbeing.
Learning opportunity!
Change Starts with You(th):
Supporting Teen and Adolescent Mental Health
A full-day workshop in Wisconsin Dells this July with NAMI-Wisconsin! You will leave with valuable and tangible resources to support the teens and adolescents in your life.
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What We're Reading (click on the links to access)
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Sharing a variety of news articles that address issues prioritized by our Every Child Thrives partners and Foundation leaders.
Child Aware of America shares its latest report on access and affordability of early care and education. Understanding the child care landscape is a crucial first step toward advocating for an equitable, accessible and affordable child care system.
This report from Nurture Connection outlines the actionable implications of ten foundational principles of early relational health.
It is now widely accepted that investing in early childhood development helps build the foundations of a healthy, productive, and equitable society. Guided by that knowledge, a range of broad-based programs and targeted services make a significant difference for millions of young children, yet a closer look shows that some children benefit greatly, some benefit less, and some not at all. Within this variation lies opportunity. Read the latest briefing by the Harvard Center for the Developing Child.
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920.390.4000
672 Johnson Street, Suite 300, Watertown WI 53094
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