Organization to raise profile of Milwaukee Healthy Beginnings Project and Agency overall
Clarene Mitchell
Black Health Coalition of Wisconsin, Inc. (BHCW) is pleased to announce the hiring of Clarene Mitchell as Director of Collaboration and Communications. Mitchell formally held roles as coordinator for BHCW’s Milwaukee Healthy Beginnings Project (MHBP) and the Faith-based African American Health Network (FAAHN).
“We are excited to have Clarene back at BHCW,” stated Dr. Patricia Mc-Manus, President & CEO of Black Health Coalition of Wisconsin. “She brings a wealth of expertise and a strong commitment to improving the health of the Black community.” In her new role, Mitchell will lead efforts in developing and advancing collaborations for the agency’s Milwaukee Healthy Beginnings Project (MHBP). BHCW has successfully operated MHBP since 1998. This project is supported by the national Healthy Start Initiative of the Maternal and Child Health Bureau, Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Department of Health and Human Services.
MHBP is a no cost confidential program designed to improve the health and well-being of women, fathers, infants and children. MHBP is one of two HRSA programs in the state of Wisconsin and the only one targeted to the African American community. This is a crucial service within a city that has one of the highest infant mortality rates in the United States. The black-white infant mortality gap in Milwaukee is tragic; the Black infant mortality rate is almost three times higher than the white rate and worse than in some under-developed countries.
“Black Health Coalition’s Milwaukee Healthy Beginnings Project is an essential component in the effort to reduce infant mortality rates in the city of Milwaukee,” said City of Milwaukee Health Department Commissioner of Health Bevan K. Baker. “I am encouraged to see the Black Health Coalition add Mrs. Mitchell as yet another qualified voice in our community who makes saving infant’s lives a top priority.” Milwaukee Healthy Beginnings Project offers an array of services and/or makes referrals to help with infant health care, nutrition education, immunizations, outreach, fatherhood enrichment, case management, health education and community forums.
Mitchell will also manage all public relations related activity for BHCW. Clarene earned her Bachelor of Arts in Communications from Cardinal Stritch University and has a long track record of advancing health issues as well as working within the nonprofit sector. Her work experience ranges from establishing the health communication officer role for the City of Milwaukee Health Department, the corporate communications position for Milwaukee Health Services, Inc. to her most recent position as a program manager of a health equity program for the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW). During her tenor at MCW, Mitchell is credited for developing the eHealth Equity Alert System and managing the Unlearning Racism Pilot. She has also done community organizing, and community outreach regarding asthma, domestic violence and hospice. Mitchell has over 20 years of print journalism experience that has included national publications. She is a member of the Black Public Relations Society of Milwaukee.
“I am absolutely thrilled to once again be working for an organization that is truly on the front lines addressing racial health disparities,” stated Mitchell. “This organization does tremendous work assisting individuals who face seemingly insurmountable challenges,” continued Mitchell “Unless you are on the receiving end of BHCW’s work, many just may know the organization by name without really understanding the full scope of our work.”
Since October 1988, Black Health Coalition of Wisconsin, Inc. has served as an ardent health advocacy champion.
“We are a small organization with very limited funds, yet we provide an invaluable service,” noted Dr. McManus. BHCW provides culturally appropriate placed-based (providing services where the clients are) and community driven services while focusing on the attainment of the highest quality of life for African Americans. BHCW will be celebrating their 25th anniversary in October of this year.
In addition to the Milwaukee Healthy Beginnings Project, the organization also has the African American HIV/AIDS program and the Wisconsin African American Eliminating Health Disparities Institute.
The African American HIV/AIDS program provides comprehensive education and awareness through pastoral workshops, SISTA groups, youth leaders workshops, task force and consumer issues groups, the annual Black Church Week of Prayer event and interventions for men who have sex with men (MSM). Through the Institute, BHCW held their 10th Annual Walk for Quality Health in June 2013.
This walk provides active attention on racial health disparities and the route goes through the community most affected by health disparities.
Over three-hundred people participate each year.
To learn more about BHCW, please visit the organization’s website at www.bhcw.org and stay up-to-date with current racial health disparities information and community health events via their Facebook page.
The agency can be contacted directly at 414-933-0064.