Encore Event: Social Connectedness and Youth Mental Health
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A second, encore community briefing will take place on social isolation and loneliness and how it is connected to youth depression and anxiety.
This presentation will be identical to the one hosted on June 19th. The Foundation is asking partners who attended in June to encourage attendance by those who missed the earlier event.
Second Community Briefing: Social Connectedness and Youth Mental Health Wednesday, August 7th
11:30am to 1:00pm at the Watertown Public Library
Complimentary lunch served from 11:30 to noon; program from noon to 1pm
The goal is to activate hundreds of community members to pledge support to building a more connected community and to host additional community conversations at agencies, workplaces, schools, and civic groups across Jefferson and Dodge Counties.
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Get involved!
Volunteers are needed to raise awareness and activate support for the community pledge. Sign up for FREE Connected Communities Facilitator Training.
Connected Communities Facilitator Training
Monday, July 29th
1pm to 3pm at the Collective
672 Johnson Street in Watertown
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Kudos to Foundation Leaders and
Supported Partners
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Karla's insight and commitment to lifelong learning continually inspire the Foundation's work.
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- Michele Altman, Founder/Director
- Nancy Zimmermann, Board Chair
- Deb Portman, Board Secretary
- Jeff Finger, Board Treasurer
- Linda Oberbrunner
- Casey Hushon
- Matt Keever
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More than $1 billion in new factory investments are coming to Jefferson County, a success story for our forward-thinking partners, who are showing that rural Wisconsin can compete for large-dollar investments. Read the full Milwaukee Journal Sentinel article here.
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Latest on Early Care and Education
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Our commitment to startup coaching and funding have made an additional 132 licensed childcare slots possible this fiscal year:
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Foundation partners should feel proud to be recognized in his opinion piece for piloting an employer-sponsored care model, just one of the approaches our partners are using to stabilize this important sector.
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Construction is just one part of creating new childcare slots... staffing them is also a key issue Foundation partners are working to address.
A partnership with Madison College means residents with an interest in childcare can earn their basic credentials (three classes) for FREE, right at the Watertown campus (with an online option as well). The flyer at right details upcoming fall courses, and they will be hosting an open house for potential students to ask questions and register on August 14th (details to come). There is also a pathway through the Wisconsin Early Childhood Association that will enable early care educators to earn a full Bachelor's degree if they meet basic requirements, including working for a participating early care and education center.
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Coworking, Office Space at the Collective |
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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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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 $43 million in its three strategic, child-focused priorities: Strong Families, Kindergarten Readiness and School Success. |
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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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We fund responsive grants in three areas. We accept most grant requests year-round so that opportunities are available to our partners when the time is right for them.
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.
Capacity Building Grants help local organizations further advance their impact. Grants can support research and development, needs assessments, strategic planning, technical skills, board development, and grantwriting.
Our Health Equity Grants were created to support equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) initiatives focused on removing obstacles to health for populations not well served under current systems and policies.
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Save the Date: Upcoming Events |
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Over the past 30 years, Watertown Family Connections has worked tirelessly to ensure that all young children grow up healthy, happy, independent and resilient.
They have positively impacted over 5,000 families and are excited to expand programs to help all young children and families in our community thrive. Join them on August 2nd at 5pm for a celebration. All current and past families are welcome to attend.
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Save the date for the November 2nd "East Region Early Childhood Educators Conference," which will be held at the Watertown Campus of Madison College. It is such an honor to have this event happening in our backyard.
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Wisconsin's Social Isolation & Loneliness Awareness Week is November 10-16, 2024.
Topics will include: Accessible recreation, Coalition building & collaboration, Health equity/underserved populations, Intergenerational relationships and Technology. More information will be coming - save the dates on your calendar!
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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.
Teachers, social workers, and even neighbors and community members all can make a difference in vulnerable teens’ lives, said Lauren Berny, a doctoral candidate in prevention science at the UO’s College of Education and research fellow at UO’s Prevention Science Institute.
“It's all about bringing stakeholders to the table, realizing what resources are already [in the community], and how to more effectively partner,” said family physician Dr. Hannah Fields. Her referrals to the Mercantile [a local coffee shop] are inspired by a practice, more common in Europe, known as social prescribing.
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920.390.4000
672 Johnson Street, Suite 300, Watertown WI 53094
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